Soccer Coaching Certification Soccer Coaching Certification Rules & Referee Coordination 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to FIFA Laws of the Game, how many players must a team have on the field to continue a match?
- 5
- 7 (Correct answer)
- 9
- 11
Correct answer: 7
A match may not continue if a team has fewer than 7 players on the field.
Question 2: Which official is responsible for timekeeping and assisting the referee with substitutions in a standard match?
- Assistant referee
- Fourth official (Correct answer)
- VAR operator
- Match commissioner
Correct answer: Fourth official
The fourth official manages the technical area, substitutions, and serves as backup timekeeper.
Question 3: A coach wants to protest an offside call that affected a goal. What is the correct procedure?
- Shout instructions from the technical area
- Submit a written protest to the match commissioner after the game (Correct answer)
- Confront the assistant referee on the field
- Call for an immediate VAR review
Correct answer: Submit a written protest to the match commissioner after the game
Formal protests must be submitted in writing to the appropriate match official after the game, not during play.
Question 4: Under US Soccer coaching guidelines, which document outlines expectations for coach conduct during matches?
- FIFA Technical Report
- US Soccer Code of Conduct (Correct answer)
- USSF Player Development Manual
- National Coaching License Agreement
Correct answer: US Soccer Code of Conduct
The US Soccer Code of Conduct sets behavioral standards for coaches before, during, and after matches.
Question 5: When can a coach legally enter the field of play during a match?
- Any time to give tactical instructions
- Only with the referee's permission (Correct answer)
- During any stoppage in play
- Only during halftime
Correct answer: Only with the referee's permission
Coaches must receive explicit permission from the referee before entering the field of play.
Question 6: A player receives a red card. How does this affect the coach's substitution options for the remainder of the match?
- The team gets an extra substitution to compensate
- The team plays with one fewer player and no substitution replacement is allowed (Correct answer)
- The coach may substitute a goalkeeper only
- The team may appeal for a temporary replacement
Correct answer: The team plays with one fewer player and no substitution replacement is allowed
A red card permanently reduces the team to ten players; no substitution is permitted to replace the sent-off player.
Soccer Coaching Certification Soccer Coaching Certification Rules & Referee Coordination 1
According to FIFA Laws of the Game, how many players must a team have on the field to continue a match?