its got to be obvious to the umpire that the player is making an appeal. I'll give 2 examples.Can you go into this a little more? What is the "something"? A catcher simply tagging isn't enough, then?
1. Throw to 1st base is late. runner ran past 1st base but didn't touch the base. 1st baseman is now standing on the bag with the ball. Do you call the runner out? No. it just looks like a late throw. But if the first baseman yells to the umpire, she missed the bag, now you can call the runner out because a) the fielder touched the bag and b) she made a verbal action that told the umpire she was making an appeal. Just standing on the base would not have been obvious to the umpire that F3 was trying to make an appeal.
2. Runner on 2nd base. Fly ball to the F8. Runner took off at the crack of the bat but F8 caught the ball. F8 quickly throws the ball in to F4 who steps on the bag before the runner can return to tag up. In this case, it is obvious to the umpire that F8 & F4 were making appeal on the runner who left early. In this case the fielders don't even need to say anything. Their action is enough to alert the umpire that they are making an appeal.
3. In the case of the catcher going after the runner who missed home. best thing to do is step on home and say she missed it or tag the runner and say she missed the plate. That notifies the umpire the defender is making an appeal. It might also be obvious without the verbal, but in this case it does help clarify why the catcher is stepping on home. if she has to chase the runner and slaps a tag on, that should be obvious without the verbal.
does that help?