ASA - Bench player a team representative ?
 

Partner brought this up in our game yesterday, 14U,and we both were unsure if this should be a charged defensive conference ?

Catcher asks PU for time, a quick settle down the pitcher timeout.

He grants, and the herd all congregate in the circle.

The backup catcher came out of the dugout and participated in the gathering at the circle.

So the rule , 5-7-B , refers to "other team representative", so I say it is a charged conference,

What say you ?

First question I have, had the coach already used all his conferences?

I have been told if a player needs a drink of water, piece of equipment etc out of the dugout you tell the coach to have another player bring it out and do not charge a conference. However, in the situation you have described it sounds like the coach sent the backup catcher out into the huddle to deliver information so he wouldnt be charged a conference.

Charged conference. What rules?

For instance, 2011 NFHS defines it this way:

Subject line ^ :rolleyes:

It is a charged defensive conference if the game is stopped to confer with ANYONE from that team's dugout and there is no change of the pitcher (Rules 1.Dugout/team area & 5.7.B)

Forum Etiquette?
 

:confused: OOPS, remind me, what is the penalty for breach of forum etiquette?

;):D;)

Why would that be your first question since it isn't at all relevant to defining a charged conference?

Because as I said, at least locally we have been told to allow players to bring out water, equipment etc if needed without charging a conference.

But what does that have to do with whether they had already used their conferences? Whether they used them up or had some to spare, what's the difference? Is it not a conference now because they did have one left or they didn't have one left? It's completely irrelevant.

But what you are relating to the board does not fall under the definition of a "conference"

CHARGED CONFERENCE: When a team representative requests s suspension of play or delays the game for the purpose of delivering a message to another team member, unless the pitcher is removed from the pitching position.

Which includes a player in the game going to the dugout for info or message; for that player or to tell other player(s).
Do you always enforce that?

If it was apparent the requested suspension of play was for the purpose of private direction or discussion, why wouldn't you enforce that? Remember, you are the one who granted the suspension at the request of a team member, so I would have to assume you knew why you were granting it.

We just had a big discussion about this. we where told if the Catcher calls time talks to pitcher and then goes to dugout fence to talk to coach charge them with a conference. Same goes for any player going to the dugout to confer with the coaches.

Yes. Don't you?

For both Mikes, yes I enforce it, but coaches have told me I'm "the only one" and I'm just trying to verify that we all do.
Should have said that first I guess, my usual avoidance of typing. :rolleyes:

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Anyway while I'm at it, have you heard what I have heard, that some umps do not enforce it?

In that situation, I would go to the mound to make sure that's all that is going on. Otherwise, coaches will take advantage and send out a player to provide instruction to the pitcher and/or catcher.

Back to the OP, the BU catcher has no business coming out of the dugout to participate in a player-only pow-wow. She's not in the game, so what purpose is she serving? If the coach insists on allowing this, I would tell him/her that it will be a conferece.