The Rules to Remember Regarding Ejections

[POLOGREEN]

The Rules to Remember Regarding Ejections

Ejecting or disqualifying a game participant is one of the more unpleasant umpire duties. An ejection represents a failure of some sort — either that of a player or coach who failed to conform to the rules, or on occasion, that of an umpire who let a situation get out of hand.

NFHS rules contain an elaborate system of informal or formal team warnings as well as restriction to the dugout as a prelude to disqualification. An NCAA umpire first may warn any violator before ejecting the individual from the game (3-6d AR 1). Pro rules do not mention any warnings other than for throwing at a batter, but they are an accepted practice and are considered preventive officiating in all codes and at all levels of play.

An ejection may be made by any umpire. Any player, coach, trainer, substitute or other participant can be disqualified. On the rarest of occasions, scorekeepers and public address announcers have been ejected; however, one notable exception is spectators. Umpires should not deal directly with spectators and unruly spectators should be referred to game management for removal. The rules mandating ejections can be grouped into four categories: malicious contact, unsporting acts, objecting to decisions and other infractions.

Malicious contact. Although malicious contact can be deemed to be an unsporting act, it is worthy of a separate discussion. In the professional world, there is no such thing as malicious contact. Running over the catcher and taking out the pivot man are accepted practices. Not so in the amateur world.

The NFHS has the more severe penalty. Although malicious is not defined, use of intentional excessive force, intent to injure or any other vicious contact can be judged to be a violation of the rule. In NFHS, malicious contact is an act of interference and supersedes obstruction. Any offender is both out and ejected (3-3-1n, 8-4-2e).

Under NCAA rules, if a runner flagrantly contacts a fielder and is obstructed or is otherwise safe on the play, he is still safe but is ejected (8-7b AR).

Unsporting acts. Acts which are not in the spirit of fair play are too numerous to list here. Minor offenses can usually be handled with a warning. Two blatant acts that are sure fire ejections are fighting and intentionally pitching at a batter.

Unsporting acts can be, and probably most often are verbal. In NFHS, ill-will acts as taunting, profanity, intimidation tactics, abusive or insulting language such as racial slurs or innuendo, name-calling, slang references to sexual organs, sexual practices, or body elimination and verbal baiting, are all unacceptable (3-3-1g).

NCAA rules specifically mention violations of the code of ethics, which primarily addresses coach dignity and control (3-6d). One of the prohibitions in pro rules is inciting spectators (4.06a).

Objecting to decisions. Although rules decisions may be appealed, any umpire’s decision involving judgment is final. Arguing balls and strikes is specifically prohibited in NCAA and pro (NCAA 3-6f AR; pro 9.02a). Players and coaches may not leave the dugout or their position on the field to protest such a call. Also, coaches may not protest the call of a ball or strike on the pretense they are asking for information about a half swing. If a coach or player leaves his position to argue with any umpire, he should be warned in NFHS and pro and ejected if he persists in arguing. NCAA (3-6h AR 2) requires ejection without warning for leaving a position to argue ball and strikes or checked swings.

If the dugout occupants show violent disapproval of an umpire’s decision, a warning should be given and if such action continues, individual offenders should be ejected. If the offenders cannot be identified, the bench may be cleared of all substitute players. The coach may then recall to the field only those players needed to enter the game (3-7i).

Other infractions. The NFHS identifies the most ejectable offenses of any of the codes. They are listed in 3- 3-1. Actions such as leaving the dugout for an unauthorized purpose, faking a tag or throwing a bat require a team warning for the first offense with ejection of any subsequent offenders from the same team.

One offense that can result in a quick exit in all codes is enticing a balk (NFHS 3-3-1o; NCAA 5-15a2; pro 4.06a3). Under pro rules, any member of the offensive team who charges the mound and reaches the dirt portion of the mound is automatically ejected (NAPBL 1.6).

Ejected personnel. The rules also address where personnel may go after they have been removed from the game. Any person who is ejected from a high school game must leave the field immediately. Players must remain in the dugout under a coach’s supervision. Coaches and other non-players must leave the stadium and usually are relegated to the parking lot. They may return as the request of an umpire to attend to an injured player (3-3-2)

In college play, when a participant is ejected from the game, he must leave the field immediately and take no further part in the game. He may not remain in the dugout, runway, bullpen or press box, and must be removed from sight and sound of the contest. The ejected person may not communicate in any way with team personnel or umpires. Ejected personnel who refuse to leave shall be suspended for one game (3-6d AR 4).

If the person refuses to leave after a reasonable amount of time or returns to the playing field later in the game, the umpire-in-chief should contact game management or security personnel for assistance.

In pro rules, the only related statement is that the ejected person must leave the field immediately and take no further part in the game (4.07).

Reports. For high school play, almost all state associations require an ejection report, usually due the next business day. NCAA umpires must file an ejection report with the offending team’s conference administrator and/or athletics director, if applicable (2-Ejection). Conferences may also adopt a reporting policy. In MLB, all reports are due within 12 hours after the conclusion of the game.

Schools, high school state associations and NCAA conferences may choose to impose additional penalties, but the umpire should not suggest punishment on anyone he ejected from a contest.

On a final note, ejections do not take effect until after playing action ends (NFHS 10-16; NCAA interp; pro 9.01d). An ejection does not result in an immediate dead

From Ref mag

[LMSANS]

Well now what am I going to read in the bathroom?

[BrianC14]

Well now what am I going to read in the bathroom?

Get a laptop! :WTF

[scobes7]

Thought you did not have to chose the restriction to dugout as a prelude to ejection in FED. If the action warrants it, you can eject as a first response.:WTF

[mstaylor]

A bench restriction is an option you may use for a coach or manager. I've never used it and am unlikely to either. The bench restriction can be used for a player that is an illegal sub only. Anything else draws a warning or straight ejection.

[BrianC14]

Bench restriction = FED's answer to 'timeout' for coaches.

Me? I'm doing this if the coach earns it: :WTF

[scobes7]

Absolutely...the coach knows if he has crossed the "line" and to only get a dugout penalty would only say to him that you are weak and can be ridden the entire game....dump him and get on with the game.

[UmpJM]

Absolutely...the coach knows if he has crossed the "line" and to only get a dugout penalty would only say to him that you are weak and can be ridden the entire game....dump him and get on with the game.

Unless it's a March/April game in Chicago. If I have to stay & freeze my a$$ off, so does he!

JM

[scobes7]

Unless it's a March/April game in Chicago. If I have to stay & freeze my a$$ off, so does he!

JM

I like that..:BD: