But according to what you have said and directly what has been posted as the rule reference this would not be a charged conference because the pitcher/catcher called time had a discussion and their coach joined them? How can you rule that charged conference if the rule book specifically defines it as to when a coach ask and granted. So, what is it are you going with the word-for-word definition of the book? But you can't be because you said its a charged conference when the coach joined their conference. Which is it, is a charged conference when only when a coach request the time or the a coach and player have a conference. What is good for the defense needs to be good for offense as well.What difference does it make if the offensive coach called his players over during a defensive time out? If there were no runners and the catcher called time and then the coach came out later what do you have? It becomes a defensive conference. Having runners does not change that.
Is that wrong yes, of course it is a charged conference, why because it was a delay in the game for a coach to conference with their team. Why is it only a charged conference if the defense does it, but not if the offense calls their player over. Nobody has said they are restricted what we are saying is that a conference between a coach and player is charged or the face the penalties for it. If the player wants to go to the coach and give them a high five or get candy because they are on base then by all means go for it, no coaching was completed. It is charged when they give/receive the coaching or delay the game longer than the defensive conference. When a coach in high school does this, you have to be mindful of what is going on because it could or could not be a charged conference. In NCAA yes, they are restricted and to get/give a high five is a conference per rule.
By the way, Comp, I am still waiting on my answer on the situation presented earlier see below if you forgot. Unless the post I replied to was for that, but then why would a smart coach, there are many out there, who knows the offense is talking to their team so why can't I talk to mine, so long as there isn't an additional delay. And that coach might be watching from his car/bus because the argument, rightfully so, would be that the offensive coach should be charged a conference for talking to his players, because they know if they walked out to circle, they would be charged and then the offense can huddle, so why can't the opposite be true? And you would charge the defense even if the offense didn't huddle. Again, why is it for you when the defense huddles its charged even after the players confer, but when the offense does it is nothing? Does not seem to be a fair or consistent application of rules, which is what we umpire strive for during a game.
Want your honest call now, who would you charge a conference to if the situation happened F1/F2 conference, 3rd base coach calls over the runners from 2nd and 1st base to conference, once the catcher gets in the circle. After seeing this and the runners reach the coach, the defensive coach joins the F1/F2 conference. Who is charged a conference in this situation? The time-out was technically called by F2 or F1, so is either team charged a conference, even though both coaches are now involved? Would you charge the defense because their coach jumped in the discussion? The offensive coach called his players first 1st, so do they get charged?