Enthusiastic coach, but. . .
 

I worked a USAV event this past weekend and have 1,000 or so stories and situations that I could share, but I have a rules/situation question that I'd like some opinions (and/or rule citations) on.

At this event, I didn't have an adult second referee. We work with work teams, and the kids usually try their best, but they are kids. In one match, one of the coaches was super amped, very enthusiastic, and ALWAYS positive and encouraging with her players. But she was so excited that she repeatedly ran into the substitution zone when celebrating a nice play by her team.

She never used the area for coaching and she NEVER said or did anything to the R2 from the work team. Nevertheless, I wanted to let her know that she couldn't be in there.

The first couple times, she was in and out, and I wondered if I really wanted to insert myself into the match for that. Then she was in there and clapping for like 5 seconds. So I toot-tooted and just motioned to her to please step back, which she did immediately. Then she did it again. So I called the captain and said, "Please just remind your coach that she CAN'T be in the substitution zone". And after that, she was really fine.

So I'm just wondering if/when it would be appropriate to card her for this. She's not doing anything abusive. She's just not supposed to be in there. And if I decide that I really have to issue a card, can I get away with a Delay Warning? Because if I give her a yellow for conduct, it applies to the whole team for the rest of the match, which seems pretty severe for what she's doing.

Thoughts?

I don't work USAV, but I'd handle it the same way in sub-V matches we work with one official and no LJs.

I've been known to tell male women's VB coaches when they drift into the sub zone that if they keep passing the attack like, they're going to have to put spandex on and sub in. That usually gets the point across.

Easier to do that as R2, but as R1, you could certainly have the captain relay that message to the coach. Good opportunity at a little levity.

I have used a similar line on coaches in basket ball who are outside the coaching box -- "Are you getting ready to chcek into the game?"