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PROTEST OF A GAME

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While it does not happen very often, handling a protest situation correctly is important.  The full NCAA procedure to address protests is listed on pages  61 – 63 of the 2022-2023 rule book (Rule 7.2.5).  Listed below is a summary of that procedure.

Once a call that a coach believes is based on a misapplication of a rule or the improper effect of a rule and before the next pitch (legal or illegal) is thrown, the offended coach may inform HP of his/her indentation to protest the game. The protesting coach shall identify the alleged failure to apply the correct rule or misapplication of the effect of the rule to HP

  1. HP shall ask the opposing coach to provide input if he/she chooses to do so

  2. The umpire crew shall meet privately, use an NCAA rule book, and attempt to settle the issue.

  3. The crew shall then bring both coaches together to explain its ruling, using a rule book to settle the issue.  The NCAA secretary rules-editor may be called (her phone number is in the rule book) in a last ditch effort to settle resolve any dispute.

  4. If the meeting resolves the issue, the protest is dropped

  5. If the protesting coach decides to continue the game under protest, HP must announce to the opposing coach and scorekeepers that the game will continue under protest.   He/She must ask the public address announcer to announce the game will continue under protest

  6. HP and protesting coach must gather the relevant information, including

    1. Opponent, date, time and place of the game

    2. Names and contact information of umpires and official scorer

    3. Rule and section of NCAA rules (or relevant ground rules) under which the protest is made

    4. The essential facts, details and conditions pertinent to the protested decision.

  7. If the protesting team wins the game, a written protest form is not completed.  If the protesting team loses the game, at the conclusion of the game,   the plate umpire will notify the NCAA softball secretary- rules editor of the protest.  Then, within 24 hours, the two coaches and the HP umpire shall send a completed the electronic protest form to the NCAA softball secretary-rules editor.

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