Rule Submission TitleSpectators shall not be consulted on calls
USAP Board VoteApproved with Amendment
USAP Board Vote ReasonThe proposal is appropriate. The current rule is not mandatory and it should be. Section 13.G.1 lists the various actions for which a verbal or technical warning can be issued, so it is appropriate to add a subsection to clearly establish the potential consequence.
Existing Rule #13.C.2.a
Proposed Rule Change (edited)

2026 Rule:

8.J Spectator Involvement. Spectators must not be consulted on any call.

2025 Rules

"Approve the change to the first sentence and add an amended version of the proposed to the list of verbal and technical warnings under 13.G.1.
13.C.2.a. Spectators shall not be consulted on any calls.
13.G.1.k. Consulting spectators on a line call."

Proposed Rule Change

13.C.2.a Spectators shallshould not be consulted on any calls. The referee may choose to penalize this behavior with a Warning or Foul for coaching per 13.G

Original Rule Text

13.C.2.a Spectators should not be consulted on any calls.

Reasoning Behind Suggested Change

The proposed rule change clarifies that spectators are not part of the game and shall not be consulted on any call. Rule 6.C.4 specifies spectators "shall" not be consulted on any line calls so the proposed rule change upholds that precedence.

Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies

Team B claims that a ball hit a player on team A and asks a spectator, who agrees. When team A says that the spectator shouldn't be consulted, the spectator says that the rule only applies to line calls. This rule change would apply to all calls.

Rule Book Year2026
Rule Change ID2075
Date CreatedApril 3, 2025
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