LCK and LCP to test out Coach Comms system in 2026

After being rumored at the start of the offseason, Riot Games has officially announced that it will introduce the Coach Comms system in the first part of the 2026 season, allowing the coaching staff to communicate directly with the players during the matches.

Coach Comms will bring more strategic dynamics to the esports scene

Throughout the last 15 years of LoL esports, the coaching staff was unable to help the team during the game as they were only involved in the drafting phase, also known as pick and bans (PB).

While time was allocated between games of best-of series to help teams quickly review and discuss details for the coming rounds, this is set to be an innovative change that will likely bring a whole new level of strategic depth to the professional scene. 

Teams will now not only depend on their level of preparation coming into the matches, but we will get to see which squads can quickly adapt and reset their level of play based on the inputs brought by the coaching staff. It will also give a new perspective to the fans as they will be able to better understand how teams approach games from a strategic point of view.

For now, the system has been confirmed to be applied to the LCP and the LCK, and it won’t be applied to global competitions or other regional leagues. The LCK will only have Coach Voice in the group matches of the LCK Cup, excluding the Play-In and Playoffs stages, while the LCP will apply it during the regular season of Split 1.

How does the Coach Comms/Coach Voice work

Based on the official announcement made by Riot Games for the LCP, Coach Voice will have teams nominate one member of their coaching staff before the game begins, who will take part in Coach Comms.

During games, the nominated coach will only be restricted to the team-only perspective, and all external communication will be prohibited until the game ends.

Each game, teams may use coach comms up to three times, with each one lasting 45 seconds. The game will not be paused, and requests must be approved through approved equipment and procedures.

Introducing Coach Comms in the LCPhttps://t.co/u17nhzlyIT pic.twitter.com/PCSah4ndB0

— LCP (@lolpacificen) December 3, 2025

The enemy team will not know if the Coach Comms have been activated. Teams can switch the nominated coach after each game ends. If a coach leaves the designated area due to unavoidable reasons, they won’t be allowed to return until the game concludes. Once a coach has used all their Coach Comms opportunities in a given game, they may leave the designated area. The audio between the coach and players won’t be displayed on the broadcast. According to a report by Daily Esports, the LCK will have two nominated members in the Coach Comms.

How will it impact the pro scene?

While we still have to see how it will work in practice, the addition of Coach Comms could be a big difference maker in specific scenarios where players are unable to quickly assess their game state and call the upcoming plays or strategies. It could also be great for coaches who are able to help with the mental aspect in case the team is tilting. Overall, this system will grant coaches the chance to increase their overall impact, although it could also make them more accountable if they are unable to help the team. For a role that was often questioned over the past years, this is seemingly a great addition for pro play.