Riot Games has announced plans to test coach communication during the 2026 League of Legends Championship (LCP) Split 1 and the group stage of the LCK Cup.
The change enables team coaches to communicate directly with players during live League of Legends esports matches.
LCK Coach Voice
For the LCK, coaches can communicate with their team up to three times during a series for a period of 45 seconds. Communication requests are made using pre-determined procedures to minimise any disruption to live matches.
Up to two managers, coaches, and analysts can speak during the 45 seconds and aren’t permitted to communicate with anyone outside of the team until the match has concluded.
Interestingly, ‘Coach Voice’ will be used will the game is played live, with no separate time-outs occurring. Moreover, coaches using this benefit will only be able to see the same view as a player’s client screen, with no full spectator mode.
The use of Coach Voice is optional, but teams must confirm their decision before a match.
The LCK says it will ‘closely analyse the impact of Coach Voice on match management’ and decide whether to implement the feature across the rest of the league. Moreover, it has yet to be determined if the LCK will incorporate Coach Voice content in broadcasts.
LCP Coach Comms
The LCP will introduce coach communications during the first split of its regular season. Like the LCK, coaches can talk to their teams three times for a 45-second period.
In contrast to the LCK, LCP teams must nominate one member of the coaching staff before the game begins to communicate with the team during a match. Teams can switch the nominees once a game has concluded.
Following the end of Split 1, the LCP will conduct a review to determine whether coach communication will feature in future splits and regional tournaments.
How Will It Impact Esports?
Allowing coaches to communicate with their teams during a match gives them an option to provide real-time strategy calls that could be the difference between victory and defeat.
If the new feature is deemed a success in the LCK and the LCP, it will be interesting to see if the LEC and the LCS adopt Coach Comms along with international tournaments.
