Umpire question on conferences

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Team A has allready made two trips to the mound in the earlier innings. Team B gets a hit by the catcher and team B coach calls time out to see about putting in a courtesy runner, as he is talking to umpire team A coach crosses the foul line and goes to the mound, is this a 3rd conference?

 

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When either team has a charged conference the other team may also have a conference which is not charged provided it concludes when the charged conference does. I'm not sure how this relates to time being called for a sub/courtesy runner, as this is not a charged offensive conference. I could see this argued both ways...Play was dead due to sub entering therefore no conference, and coach visits the mound without a charged offensive conference, being the 3rd trip the pitcher must leave the game...How did it play out? I'd like to hear what our resident umpires have to say.

 

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When either team has a charged conference the other team may also have a conference which is not charged provided it concludes when the charged conference does. I'm not sure how this relates to time being called for a sub/courtesy runner, as this is not a charged offensive conference. I could see this argued both ways...Play was dead due to sub entering therefore no conference, and coach visits the mound without a charged offensive conference, being the 3rd trip the pitcher must leave the game...How did it play out? I'd like to hear what our resident umpires have to say.

Incorrect, teams are allowed 3 defensive conferences in a 7-inning game and have to remove the pitcher on the 4th conference.

Regarding OP's situation, it shouldn't be a charged conference. ASA rule 5-7 isn't clear, but rules supplement 9 says a defensive conference is charged whenever the defense requests a suspension of play for any reason - and - a representative enters the playing field to communicate with any defensive player or a player approaches the dugout to receive instruction. NFHS and NCAA rules only charge a conference when a coach is granted a time-out to meet with their players.

 

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SoCal, I stand corrected. NFHS 3-7-1 penalty reads a little vague. "After three charged conferences in a seven inning game, or for any conference in excess of one in each extra inning, the pitcher shall be removed as pitcher for the duration of the game." This could be written to clearly state that three defensive conferences are allowed in seven innings. Any further conferences will result in the removal of the pitcher as pitcher for the duration of the game. Or, Any defensive conference in excess of three in a seven inning game, or one per extra inning shall result in the pitcher being removed as pitcher for the duration of the game.

 

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I agree the Penalty for 3-7-1 is very poorly written because the phrasing for the first 7 innings is not consistent with the phrasing for extra innings. The rule is much clearer - Each team, when on defense, may be granted not more than three charged conferences without penalty during a seven-inning game to permit coaches or their representatives to confer with a defensive player or players. In any extra-inning game, each team shall be permitted one charged conference without penalty each inning while on defense.

ASA's Effect for 5-7 is very clear on the regular game portion and less clear on extra innings - The fourth and each additional charged conference in a seven inning game or for any charged conference in excess of one per inning in an extra inning game, ...

Anyway, lots of people are thrown by the rules saying how many conferences are allowed before the pitcher has to be changed.

 

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Team A has allready made two trips to the mound in the earlier innings. Team B gets a hit by the catcher and team B coach calls time out to see about putting in a courtesy runner, as he is talking to umpire team A coach crosses the foul line and goes to the mound, is this a 3rd conference?

No, this is not a third charged conference. Team B is the one that requested time. It is only a charged conference when the defensive team (team A in this example) requests time to confer with their players.

This possibly could become a charged conference if, once the offensive coach and the umpire finish their business, the defensive coach stays on the field and delays the game by continuing to confer with his players. In other words, once we're ready to go again the defensive coach needs to get off the field right away.

Crossing the foul line is immaterial. That's not part of what determines if a conference is charged or not.

Already covered...but the pitcher needs to be removed when the defense has in excess of three charged conferences (ie: after the fourth one) during the first seven innings, or in excess of one for each extra inning.

 

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Since the topic was raised, I would like a clarification. My catcher was told by an umpire that she could not appraach the mound to talk to her pitcher in between batters during a game. He said this would be considered a charged conference. Can you please explain.

 

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Another part of this rule, if the pitcher is removed it is not a charged conference. In essence. If the coach goes out the first time, and changes pitchers, he still has 3 conferences.

 

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Since the topic was raised, I would like a clarification. My catcher was told by an umpire that she could not appraach the mound to talk to her pitcher in between batters during a game. He said this would be considered a charged conference. Can you please explain.

Explanation: The umpire doesn't understand the rule.

Here is the definition of a charged conference from the high school rule book:

A charged conference is when the coach or dugout/bench personnel requests and is granted a time-out to meet with offensive or defensive personnel.

A player on the field doesn't meet the definition of "coach or bench personal".

 

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my 2 cents. there was no charged time out on the offense for making a substitution therefore no defensive charged conference. the defense apparently thought time was called for something else. umpire could just say hey this is not a charged conference..."play ball" if the defensive coach does not immediately stop their meeting then the umpire can tell the defensive coach charged conference. common sense umpire.