What's the difference between restricting and ejecting someone?
Rule- USA
- NFHS
- High school softball
- High school (grades 9-12)
- Fastpitch
- NFHS rules
- 2027 season
- Umpires
Restricted (2-48, 3-4-2): the player or coach must stay in the dugout or bench area for the rest of the game. Many penalties start with a team warning to the head coach, and the next offender is restricted.
Ejected (3-5-20, 10-1-2):
- An ejected player stays in the dugout or bench area.
- An ejected coach must leave the vicinity of the playing area immediately (out of sight and out of sound) and have no further contact, direct or indirect, with the team for the rest of the game.
- If the ejection isn't complied with, the game is forfeited.
Arguing balls and strikes (3-5-15): the offender is ejected, unless the offense is judged minor, in which case they're warned and ejected if it's repeated.
Your jurisdiction starts when one umpire arrives within the confines of the field and ends when the umpires leave the field after the game.
Updated 21 Oct 2026