League of Legends esports coaches have long been the quiet architects of victory, working behind the scenes to shape winning strategies for their players. That changes soon, as the developer prepares to begin testing an official Coach Comms feature early next year, bringing their tactical voices directly into the spotlight.
Starting in the LCP Split 1 and group stages of the LCK Cup 2026, Coach Comms would allow teams to field a League coach, specifically for the live match broadcast. Each team will have up to three Coach Comms uses per game, each lasting 45 seconds, and the match will continue without pauses.
Since the game does not pause, this works differently from the strategic timeouts seen in titles like VALORANT. The Coach Comms happens during active play, and the opposing team will not be aware when it is happening. The coach will have to stay in a designated area with the same limited team view as the players, and cannot communicate externally until the game is over or they’ve used all of their Coach Comms uses.
However, teams can decide before the match starts whether they will use the feature because participation is optional. The feature is expected to reshape how teams approach drafts and mid-game adaptations. Traditionally, coaches are actively involved during the draft phase, and they give feedback or make changes between the matches. But with this change, coaches will be able to impact the game’s tempo directly by communicating with the players, especially during key objective fights.
Coach Comms audio will also not be included in broadcasts for the fans, ensuring that the feature remains a strategic tool rather than a spectator element during the initial testing phase.
The regional leagues will monitor feedback from players, coaches, and fans during this trial to determine whether the system will roll out more widely. For now, it will only be tested in the LCK Cup and LCP and will not appear at global League events.
Published: Dec 8, 2025 09:47 am