Authorized person

[David B]

Originally Posted by BigGuy

Re-read penalty for 3-3-1j in FED. Specifically for 3-3-1j - COACHES WHO VIOLATE -TWO OPTIONS ONLY RESTRICT, EJECT

VERBATIM
For coaches who violate g, h, i, j, k, or l, the umpire may (1) restrict the offender to bench/dugout for the remainder of the game or (2) eject the offender. Any coach restricted to the bench shall be ejected for further misconduct. A coach may leave the bench/dugout to attend to a player who becomes ill or injured. This is not one of those "judged to be a minor offense"

The rules here are different for players as opposed to coaches -

I know what the rules states; however, if you read 3-3-1a, what does it state? Penalty is ..... a warning!

As mentioned throughout this thread, its NOT clear for this exact play.

There the umpire is left to use his judgment (which is why he is there to start with)

But if the umpire judges it to be "minor" by nature he is instructed to not eject the offender. The umpire may warn the offender and then eject him if he repeats the action.

The section that you state verbatim says the umpire "may" restrict or eject.

The key word is "may" - does not state shall, or should, but "may".

Thus my post above about being judgement all the way.