Manager/Coach/DOR - Pitchside or in the Stand?

Why do Football managers stand at the side of the pitch yet the Rugby equivalent sits in the stands?

As that’s a so called punishment for football managers!

Simple Hersh

Soccer players miss their Mums a lot, and the manager becomes a surrogate. If they can't see him easily they might get upset, trip over and have to be hospitalised with a broken fingernail.

Some coaches (e.g. Guy Noves) always appear to be pitchside.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:Simple Hersh

Soccer players miss their Mums a lot, and the manager becomes a surrogate. If they can't see him easily they might get upset, trip over and have to be hospitalised with a broken fingernail.

I would be in favour of sitting in the stand. If I was a player I think it would be off putting to have a coach roaring at you from the sidelines.

Soccer managers do it all the time but to me it looks egotistical. Having a word from the sideline once in a while is perfectly alright.

Soccer players are dumb and need to be told what to do?

I remember when i was at school and our coach would yell all game from the sideline.

Very annoying.

Our school teacher/coach was very calm during a game, he'd save until the next training session, the Bar Steward

gowales wrote:I remember when i was at school and our coach would yell all game from the sideline.

Very annoying.

Very true. Last season when refereeing an U14 schools match I dismissed a coach from the side line for essentially bullying one of his kids who was playing badly. Poor kid was nearly in tears by half time. Theres shouting and there is just being a chunt.

I would find it easier sitting at an elevated positon (in the stand) to see some of the patterns of play in rugby, such as back line moves, positioning, etc. At pitch side, and with the size of these guys, I'd be mainly staring at their hips!

At the Cardiff Blues I remember the Scrum V programme always used to try to find Rob Howley when he was assistant as he liked to be in the stand looking down the length of the pitch, while the head coach (Dai Young) would always be in the satand but at the side of the pitch. I have watched a game from hospitality at Rodney Parade looking down the length of the pitch (so elevated view) and it does give you a good view of the lines that players run and their ability to find gaps or put players into space. Maybe as a backs coach this is what Howley liked about it too?

The all important laptops are too difficult to stay pitchside.

Coaches like to pretend to get a better view.

Coaches are generally lazy, and have a radio pack on to give instructions to the 'water boys' / 'Physio' etc...



IMHO it is always easier to see more when elevated, why coaches need to pithside is beyond me, all of their instructions can be relayed to who ever is pitchside.

Football is different as players constantly come up against differing situations and opponents, and therefore constant direction can aid a footballers positional play, tectical play and technical issues. Rugby is far more structured by team tactics and issues rarely arise that can't be adressed at half time.