Charged defensive conference
 

Nfhs. This has happened to me multiple times and I'm unclear as how to rule this. I have allowed it to date but am unclear.

In between innings, as the pitcher is warming up, the defensive coach will go to the mound and talk to his pitcher. Is this a charged defensive conference or just legal bush-league coaching?

Rule 2.10.1 states a conference is a meeting which involves the coach or his non-playing rep and a player(s) of the team.

However, in rule 3 section 4 it's not clarified. And in the case book, 3.4.1 sit H, it allows the third base coach to visit the mound as he returns to the bench. But it doesn't clarify any other coach.

As long as the warmups happen and the game is not delayed, I'm not even noticing the coach saying a few words to F1.

It was also happening during the warm up prior to the first pitch of the game. I ignored it as well. But was unsure because the opposing coach questioned it.

Not only is it not a conference, I don't even think it's bush league. So what if he wants to talk to his pitcher? That's his job, to coach his players. Some players need more hands-on coaching. The opposing coach is just trying to be a weasel in attempting to get you to intervene in this.

Tell the opposing coach to mind his own business. The best way to fix it is to remind him that you call things 'both ways', so if he wants you to be a nit picker, don't complain when it happens to him.

There are always coaches who like to help you call balks, so what I do to stop it is to call the next one on his pitcher. They stop immediately.

"Thanks for bringing it to my attention."

Then walk away and do absolutely nothing.

"Yes, you're correct. He is out there. I see it."

Then, do nothing.

"I'm charging you with an umpire visit. That's your last free one."

"It's not considered a trip" might head off the question in the future.