NCAA Appendix B Rules for Scoreboards, Video and Audio
Rules for Scoreboards, Video and Audio
The following regulations apply to all NCAA Baseball games, regardless of stadium or venue:
A. Scoreboards and video.
1. Scoreboards (and monitors) must not be used to “show up” an umpire or visiting team members, incite the crowd, or distract a player. The following situations may not be shown:
a. No replay may be shown during a dispute with an umpire.
b. Replays showing balls or strikes, including a half swing whether called by the home plate umpire or appealed to a base umpire (Exception: In-stadium replays of swinging third strikes are allowed, if shown immediately and before the next batter for either team);
c. Brushback pitches;
d. Fights or disputes between or among uniformed personnel on the field;
e. Any episode or event that would embarrass or denigrate an umpire, visiting team member, visiting team official, or official scorer;
f. The likeness of an umpire or an umpire’s name used in any way to embarrass an umpire; and
g. Fans or other unauthorized persons running onto the field. Exciting plays such as spectacular catches or players circling the bases after home runs may be shown more than once.
2. Replays may not delay the game. The next batter is expected to immediately enter the batter’s box.
3. Any instance in which an umpire has made a judgment call may be replayed only one time at regular speed and must be replayed before the next batter (for either team) enters the dirt area around home plate.
4. No live game action may be displayed. Close-ups of the batter in the on-deck circle are permitted, but once a player enters the dirt circle, all live action must stop. A still shot, statistics or other nonmoving pictures must remain on the screen until the batter finishes the plate appearance.
5. Arguments or disputes between umpires and players or coaches may not be shown.
6. Live shots of fans are permitted during dead-ball periods, but good judgment must be used. Unacceptable behavior should never be shown.
B. Audio and LED or LED/Matrix boards.
All music, chants or crowd-cuing messages must stop when the batter enters the dirt circle. Use of LED or LED/Matrix boards should stop when the batter steps into the batter’s box. Music, noise and cheers, and use of LED or LED/ Matrix boards, may be used during the following times:
1. Before the start of the game;
2. Between innings;
3. During pitching changes;
4. As the batter is heading toward the batter’s box; and
5. After the game.
LED or LED/Matrix boards may be operated during a lengthy stoppage in play, but their operation must cease when the umpire calls “Play.” Teams are to exhibit good judgment when using messages that encourage fans to cheer or make noise. Audio (music, organists, etc.) may not be played in a manner that may incite spectators to react in a negative fashion to umpires’ decisions or to visiting players. It is the home team’s responsibility to monitor its video and audio operations and abide by all guidelines and policies, including between-inning entertainment. Should any of the policies in this section be violated by a team, umpires have the authority to stop the game to have the matter corrected. Umpires are to inform their conference office concerning any violation of these guidelines.
C. Announcing the next batter and substitutions.
The public address announcer will announce the first batter of the inning immediately after the catcher throws the ball down to second base and announce any following batter no later than when the ball reaches the third baseman or any infielder on a ball being thrown in from the outfield. The public address announcers may not announce a pinch hitter or new pitcher until signaled in from the umpire. Umpires are to be alert for lead-off pinch hitters in the on-deck circle in order to confirm the substitution and have such batter announced on time.
