Section 7: Violations/Penalties
Pitching Violations
- Illegal pitch: A delivery that does not meet the legal-pitch requirements. The penalty is a ball awarded to the batter, and base runners are awarded as provided by the rule.
Equipment Violations
- Illegal or non-compliant bat: Use of a bat that is altered, non-certified, or that fails bat/compression testing carries a penalty that can include calling the batter out, ejection, and removal of the bat from play.
- Helmet and equipment requirements: Failure to wear required protective equipment is corrected by the umpire and can carry penalties for repeated or willful violations.
Batting and Base-Running Violations
- Batting out of order: An appealable violation; the proper penalty (an out and adjustment of the order) depends on when the appeal is made.
- Leaving a base early: A runner who leaves before the pitch is released is penalized as provided in the rules.
- Interference: When a runner, batter, or coach illegally hinders a fielder making a play, the offending player is declared out and other runners return.
- Obstruction: When a fielder without the ball illegally impedes a runner, the umpire awards the runner the base(s) that would have been reached absent the obstruction.
- Malicious / flagrant contact: A runner who deliberately initiates flagrant contact is declared out and is ejected.
Conduct and Ejections
- Unsportsmanlike conduct by players or coaches — abusive language, throwing equipment, contact with an official — results in warnings, ejection, and, where applicable, further disciplinary action by the conference or the NCAA.
- An ejected individual must leave the playing area; the head coach is responsible for compliance.