[AtlUmpSteve]

Speaking ASA only. Any time a coach advises you he intends to make a change prior to talking with the players, that is a change, not a charged conference. The coach may continue to talk with the players during the "one minute to throw no more than five warmup pitches" game stoppage. If the coach talks (confers) with the players first, then announces a pitching change, it is a charged conference, regardless any changes made after the conference. Unless coach says he just wants to make sure they are okay; then the umpire should go with the coach, to be sure conversation is limited to a possible injury or illlness.

NFHS rules as you understood previously; if a pitching change, no conference.

In NCAA, it is a moot point; they use the old version, one allowed conference per inning per pitcher. Nothing accumulates, so the new pitcher gets one conference, no matter what you call the previous "discussion".