This just happened last Sunday. Mind you this is AYSO, you can't card coaches. In a BU19 game, the coach from my town, a pretty big guy, commented on players from the other team wearing jewelry, to the center. Then this player from the other team said something about elbowing, another big guy. By the players comment, the center was well off to the opposite end of the field. I was the closest AR to the arguing. The coach then came to saying something a long the lines of, you can come off the field now and we can settle this. The other player was interested, but not willing. Players from both teams were trying to get their coach/teammate to stop arguing. Then they went on there separate ways. If things did escalate one more step I would have popped the flag and yelled for the center, as I would for any fight or potential fight. Then toady, since we have had problems with that particular coach and his technique in his practices, in a non AYSO way. Too aggressive, a pretty big guy, can easily take down a 19 year old, and he is pretty fast. He nearly did take down a kid once. He was one of my old coaches when I played, a very good one in fact. He explained to me why he did and said what he did that day. He said that he was trying to keep the player not paying attention to the game, get him mentally out of the game. Maybe even get him to come off the field, (to get a caution) and then come back on.(that would be another caution, correct? I feel doubtful about this, I think just because I don't like that would be cautionable). I found this reasonable since most U19 AYSO matches are played more to the high school flow. Now if this was in a league that allowed carding coaches, I would have popped the flag and since the coach was encouraging a fight, I would have suggested a send off for the coach. Do you give two cautions if someone leaves the field with out permission then re-enters? I would think so. Even though I don't like that, I think thats what would be the correct thing to do.
There is a difference between showing a card to a coach and dismissing a coach. A coach who doesn't behave in a responsible manner is told to leave the field. No card is shown. Not behaving in a responsible manner is the only reason given for dismissing a coach. Coaches are not sent off for one of the 7 reasons players are. The behavior must be described in the game report. A warning, equivalent to a caution, may be given first. Again, the coach is reported. If the coach who is dismissed is the only adult supervisor at the game, then the game must be terminated.
Wow, really bad brain fart... I sure am learning from experiences! That was only the 2nd time I've ever had a problem with a coach in AYSO. Next time I'll be sure to talk to the center about this kind of thing, not sure why I didn't. Oh well, I shall learn from my mistakes.
The coach should have been, at a minimum, warned for irresponsible behavior, if not dismissed. In general, talking to the opposing team to get them to do *anything* is irresponsible. Next time: 1. Tell the coach, "Coach your own players only." It's that simple. 2. Tell the CR at your next convenience. From an AYSO perspective, this coach's actions need to be brought to the attention of your AYSO Region (and/or Area if this was an inter-region game). You could just copy/past your description above into an email to your Regional Referee Administrator and let him/her run with it. That behavior is out of line for any league, but *especially* AYSO. I personally would have dismissed the coach without warning. That kind of behavior has no place in the AYSO game. This really has nothing to do with the coach's behavior, but the players should not have been allowed on the field with jewelry. If you noticed it - regardless of how it was brought to your attention - you could have called the players off to correct their equipment or gotten the CR to do so. As far as cautioning the player for leaving the field and/or returning to the field at the behest of the opposing coach, I'm not sure that's necessary or appropriate. Again, I'd have dismissed the coach LONG before carding the player. PM me if you want more AYSO-specific stuff. -AYSO Advanced Referee -AYSO Referee Instructor -AYSO Regional Referee Administrator