High Fives and touching - Not assisiting

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

NCAA prohibits contact with another player prior to touching the plate; coach can. Penalty for first violation is a team warning; a repeat violation in the same game makes the home run nullified and the runner out. If third out, prior runners can score based on timing.

What is the basis for this rule? The only thing I can see is to prevent the offensive team members from crowding around the plate preventing the umpire from seeing a touch of home plate.