Riot Games will pilot a new in-game communication feature called “Coach Voice” during the upcoming LCK Cup in January, marking the first time in League of Legends esports history that coaches will be able to speak directly to players during a live match. The system represents a potential shift in competitive structure, where real-time coaching—long restricted to draft phases—could influence how teams navigate critical moments on the Rift.

Under current League of Legends rules, coaches are barred from communicating with players after the champion ban/pick phase ends. Feedback can only be delivered between games, limiting tactical adjustments while matches are underway. Coach Voice aims to introduce controlled windows of in-game communication without disrupting gameplay.

Coach Voice Pilot During LCK Cup

The new feature allows up to two registered coaching staff per team to communicate with players using the same team vision available in-game. Each team may activate Coach Voice up to three times per set, with each session capped at 45 seconds. Matches will continue uninterrupted during these communication periods, and all external contact remains prohibited.

Participation is optional, and Riot says it expects teams to experiment with different strategic approaches. Because coaches can intervene at key moments, analysts anticipate changes in how squads prepare game plans, manage tempo, and respond to unexpected situations on the map. The feature is also expected to add a new point of interest for spectators tracking how and when teams choose to use their communication windows.

The pilot will run only during the group-stage portion of the LCK Cup. It will not be used in the Play-In stage or the playoffs. Riot confirmed that the system will be tested exclusively in the LCK and the newly formed League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP), with no plans yet to include it in global tournaments.

Riot Games stated that it will evaluate competitive impact, viewer response, and logistical stability before deciding whether Coach Voice will expand to the regular LCK season or other leagues. The company emphasized that the feature is experimental and may evolve based on early feedback.