What action should a judge take when Unsporting Conduct - Minor is observed?

When a judge observes Unsporting Conduct - Minor, the appropriate action is to provide an educational warning. This type of infraction is generally not severe enough to warrant a harsher penalty like disqualification. Instead, the goal is to address the behavior and help the player understand why their actions were inappropriate in a tournament setting.

By providing an educational warning, the judge informs the player about their behavior, encourages sportsmanship, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a respectful and fair environment during gameplay. This method fosters learning and allows the player to adjust their behavior moving forward, which is in line with the overall intention of promoting a positive atmosphere at tournaments.

Calling for a tournament official meeting may be unnecessary for a minor infraction, as it could overburden the event officials without significant justification. Directly disqualifying a player would be inappropriate for a minor infraction, as that level of punishment is reserved for more serious violations. Ignoring the behavior could lead to escalation, which is counterproductive to maintaining a friendly and competitive environment.