It is truly a non-traditional rule.
Now, how many would say something to the coach before he/she goes out or just let him/her have the conference without any comments until the ejection.:D

It is no different than the penalty for excessive offensive conferences in ASA.

I would always alert the coach that they are not permitted. If they continue, it is at their own peril.

I totally agree. I wish the other codes would actually adopt this penalty in place of the "removing the pitcher" one!

We are very fortunate in the game of softball to have the exposure and media coverage that we do in the NCAA. Over the past 7 years games are being televised more and more. TV is an excellent tool to use, to watch and learn from other umpires. Even the best umpires make mistakes and "blow" calls. We all do it. Others more than others but thats another topic...lol jk. TV can be very deceiving when it comes to angles and perception at times. Dont be so quick to "rip" the umpire. He/She is there for a reason. It can be hard to determine if the ump was in the right place at the right time to make the correct call due to camera angles. And one piece of advice for all that dont know this already: DON'T LISTEN TO RULE INTERPRETATIONS FROM COMMENTATORS! Most of the time they are absolutely clueless as to the proper rule or what the proper ruling on the field was. Previously at WCWS Kathy(NCAA coordinator of umpires) would sit with/near commentators to give them the proper interpretation of a rule. Hopefully she or someone will do the same this year. Enjoy all the games the next few weeks and cheer on our fellow brothers and sisters in blue! Good luck to all this summer!!

Ump was standing at least 3 feet (that is generous) to the left of 3rd base line on a diving try by pitcher to catch a fly ball. It hit her and her glove before she went into foul territory where it hit her again. So we all learn that was a bad place to be on that play. I'd better move to 3rd base line extended and if I need to move move in and to the right a hair.

Reply shows when we blow calls. Ain't nothing to do with ripping. It is a great tool for learning. Off board but NBA refs, college refs and I imagine MLB umps are graded using video. Great tool. And by the way, when they see they missed one, their bosses say something to the effect that the call was blown or incorrect.

Same ump calls foul ball on swing by batter with 2 strikes with no hesitation. Pitch was high. Could not tell if pu was asked to go for help or she had doubt created but went to 1b ump who now calls it a complete miss. Reply showed it was fouled. Also one could hear it hit the bat. So that play is a great learning experience.

As plate ump, you have called foul ball. Are you going to go for help on whether it was or not with somebody 66 feet away or keep you call if asked or ask for help? IMO it was a double boo boo.

Both of these plays were at crucial junctures of the ball game.

I learned from the incorrect calls.