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WARNINGS

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In NCAA play, there are certain situations that require an umpire to issue a WARNING to offending players, coaches or teams.  Warnings can be informal or formal.  Informal warnings may be issued at an umpire’s discretion to prevent a situation from escalating to a level requiring an umpire to act.  Formal warnings are used to prevent inappropriate behavior from occurring or reoccurring and when the rules require action to be taken by an umpire.  The term WARNING used herein refers to formal warnings. 

Listed below you will find a set of plays or situations that require a warning to be issued and the appropriate follow up response by the officiating crew.  When these occur, NCAA rules require that the home plate umpire keep a record of the warnings and take appropriate follow-up action should the same violation be repeated.

1.  Removing or covering any required lines or covering home plate with infield material
   Offending team is warned.  A strike is assessed on the batter if the offense violates the rule; a ball if the defense is in violation.  Repeated violations by the same team shall result in ejection of the offender.  (Rule 2.20.3)

2. Players not legally equipped or properly attired.
   Offending player is warned and any illegal or inappropriate equipment is removed from the game.  Players failing to comply are ejected. (Rule 3.1.2)

3. Inappropriate bat or inappropriate number of bats in on deck circle.
   Inappropriate equipment is removed from the game and from the on deck circle. The player in possession of the bat shall be warned.  If removed equipment reappears in on deck circle, on deck batter is ejected. (Rule 3.5)

4. Offensive players, student-athlete base coaches, and catchers must wear required protective equipment.
   Whenever the ball is live or when a player is receiving warm-up pitches, protective equipment is required.  Anyone on the field not properly equipped shall be warned by the umpire.  Failure to wear a legal helmet when directed by the umpire shall result in the offender’s ejection.  Not wearing protective headgear while warming up pitchers between innings shall cause the offender to be banned from receiving warmup pitches for that game. (Rule 3.7)

5. Uniforms – identical, worn properly and as intended by the manufacturer
   The umpire shall warn any player not complying with uniform rules.  If possible, the player shall make any needed correction.  If not possible or if the player refuses to comply, she shall be ejected. (Rules 3.10.1 – 3.10.8)

6. Team personnel may not be outside team areas, may not video tape or take photographs from the dugout, may not use T.V. monitoring or replay equipment or receive scouting information from outside the dugout during a contest.
   When brought to the attention of the umpire by a coach, the umpire shall warn the violator and the head coach.  If the violator does not immediately comply, the head coach shall be ejected (if present).  If not, the violator shall be ejected. (Rule 5.9.1-5.9.8)

7. Artificial noise makers (anything other than a body part) may not be used in team areas. 
   The umpire shall issue a team warning.  Subsequent violation by the same team shall result in ejection of the violator (Rule 5.11.2) 

8. Offensive personnel (except batter, base coaches, base runners, and on deck batter) shall remain in dugout, bullpen, or dead ball area while ball is alive
   The umpire shall warn the violator and issue a team warning.  If the violator does not immediately comply, the violator shall be ejected.  Next violation of this rule by the warned team shall result in the ejection of the head coach (Rule 6.5.3)

9. Team members or coaches may not position themselves behind home plate or the backstop while the pitcher is throwing warmup pitches or throwing to a batter
   The umpire shall warn the violator and if the violator does not immediately comply, the umpire should eject him/her. (Rule 6.5.5)

10. Defensive personnel (except nine defensive players on the field) must remain in dugout, bullpen or team area while ball is in play
    The umpire shall warn the violator. If the violator does not immediately comply, the umpire should eject him/her. (Rule 6.6.5)

11. Warmup at start of game and between innings – max 5 warm up pitches, max 4 players in the infield, warmup running and throwing in the outfield
    The umpire shall warn the violator and her coach  for the first violation of this rule.  For a second offense, a ball is awarded to the batter.  The head coach is ejected for the third violation. (Rule 6.6.6.2 – 6.6.6.4)

12. Defensive huddles after an out is recorded are prohibited.  Throwing the ball around the infield is permitted.
    The umpire shall warn the violator and her coach for the first offense.  A ball is awarded to the batter for any subsequent offense by the warned team. (Rule 9.1)

13. A fielder may not obstruct a runner who is legally advancing or returning to a base.  She may not position herself in the runner’s line of vision to distract her or to intentionally prevent her from seeing the release of the pitch.  She may not push a runner off a base. 
    The umpire shall signal a delay dead ball and permit any play to finish.  He/She shall then  issue a warning to the offending player and notify her coach.  A subsequent violation of the same rule by the same individual shall result in a one base award to the obstructed runner. (Rule 9.5.3.7 – 9.5.3.10) 

14. A fielder may not position herself in the batter’s line of vision or attempt to distract the batter
    If the ball is hit, a delay dead ball is signaled to permit any play to finish.  If the batter reaches first base and each other base runner advances at least one base, all play stands.  If not, the offensive coach has the option of taking the result of the play and advancing each runner one base.
    The umpire shall issue a warning to the offending individual and notify her coach.  Subsequent violation by the same individual shall result in ejection of that individual (Rule 9.5.3.11)

15. A player or coach may not call out a word or phrase for the purpose of causing the pitcher to throw an illegal pitch.
    The umpire shall declare “no pitch” and then warn the offending team.  A repeat of this action by any member of the warned team shall result in the violator’s ejection (Rule 10.10.8)

16. A pitcher may use a drying agent on her hand/fingers but no team personnel may apply any substance to the ball that would deface the surface of the ball.
    When noticed by the umpire, a delay dead ball is called.  The pitcher is warned when the substance comes in contact with the ball and a ball is awarded to the batter.  For a second offense, the pitcher is ejected. (Rule 10.13.1 – 10.13.2)

17. The pitcher shall not intentionally attempt to hit the batter with a pitch.
    If the umpire judges that the pitcher intended to hit the batter, he/she shall warn the pitcher, catcher and the head coach that any subsequent violation by any pitcher on the same team shall cause the immediate ejection of the pitcher, catcher, and the head coach. (Rule 10.14.1) 

18. The pitcher may not intentionally attempt to hit an umpire with a pitch
    If the umpire judges that the pitcher intended to hit the umpire with a pitch, he she shall eject the pitcher, catcher and the head coach.  Additionally, the head coach shall be suspended from the next two games. (Rule 10.14.2)

19. After each foul tip or pitch not contacted, the catcher must return the ball directly to the pitcher.
    While there are exceptions to this rule (e.g., a strike out or a batter running to first base when she is not entitled to), the umpire shall rule “dead ball” and award a ball to the batter.  In addition, the offending player shall be warned on the first offense.  On subsequent offenses, the offending player shall be ejected (Rule 10.16)

20. Once she receives the ball in preparation for the next pitch, the pitcher has 10 seconds to assume the pitcher’s plate, 10 seconds  to bring her hands together, and 5 seconds to deliver the pitch.  
    If this rule is intentionally violated in order to walk a batter without pitching, the umpire shall warn the offending player.  On the second offense, the offending player shall be ejected. (Rule 10.18)

21. A player other than the pitcher of record throws a warm up pitch (any pitch delivered to home plate during suspension of play).
    A warning is issued to the offending coach for the first violation.   Subsequent violations by the same team shall result in ejection of the head coach (Rule 10.19.4)

22. Once in the batter’s box and prior to the pitcher delivering a pitch, the batter may not deliberately attempt to cause an illegal pitch by holding up one hand or stepping out of the batter’s box.
    If the umpire judges the batter’s action as a deliberate attempt to cause an illegal pitch, the ball shall be ruled dead and “no pitch” shall be called.  In addition, a warning shall be issued to the batter and to the offending team.  A repetition of this type of action by any member of the warned team, shall result with the offender being ejected. (Rule 11.2.4)

23. The batter may not throw the bat so that it might endanger anyone who is not making a play on the ball.  Interference shall be called.
    The umpire shall signal delay dead ball to permit any play to conclude.  For the first violation, the umpire shall warn the offending team.  For any subsequent violations, the offended team is given the option of the result of the play or the batter declared out and runners return to the last bases occupied at the time of the pitch. (Rule 11.20.5.3)

24. Offensive team personnel may not interfere with runners who are legally running the bases, advancing on dead ball awards until they touch home plate, touch base runners until they have reached home plate and may not congregate in fair territory to congratulate other runners.
    For the first violation, the umpire shall issue a warning to the offending team.  For second and subsequent violations, the ball is declared dead, the batter-runner is declared out and credited with the last base touched at the time  of the violation. (Rule 12.17.3.4.1)

25. Players or coaches may not kick or throw equipment as a result of disgust or frustration.
    The umpire shall issue a warning to the offending individual.  Any subsequent offense shall result in the ejection of the offender. (Rule 13.6.1)

26. Equipment must be used in a manner intended by the manufacturer.
    When brought to the attention of the umpire by the opposing coach, the umpire shall issue a warning to the offending coach.  Subsequent violation shall result in the abused equipment not returned to the dugout and the ejection of the head coach. (Rule 13.6.2)

27. No participant may use profanity or vulgarity toward an umpire or opponent or make insulting or disparaging remarks to or about opposing players or game officials or question the integrity of an umpire.
    If a violation of this rule occurs during a game or after a game but still under  the jurisdiction of the umpires , the offender may be ejected with or without a warning. (Rule 13.8.1 – 13.8.3)

28. No participant may  question the strike zone or any call based purely on the judgment of an umpire.
    A team warning shall be issued for the first offense.  Subsequent violations by the same team, shall result in ejection of the violator. (Rule 13.8.4)

 

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