“Coaches Don’t Play” is a catchphrase used online to describe people who give advice, strategy, or criticism despite not actively participating themselves. The phrase draws from sports culture, where coaches direct players from the sidelines rather than competing in the game.

The phrase became popular on social media platforms such as TikTok, X/Twitter, Instagram, and meme pages in the mid-2020s, often used ironically in reaction images, captions, and quote reposts. Users commonly apply it to situations involving hypocrisy, armchair analysis, or people giving expert opinions without direct experience.