How many times can a softball coach stop the game to talk to the pitcher?
A · Advanced · Pitching and base running · 5 of 6Three times in a seven-inning game, and once in each extra inning. A fourth conference costs the team its pitcher, who may not pitch again that day. The batting team may hold one conference an inning. The pitcher has 20 seconds to deliver each pitch, and World Cup games show that time on a clock.
How it works
- Three: "only three (3) charged defensive conferences in a seven-inning game".
- What counts: a team member coming onto the field to talk to a fielder, or a fielder going to the dugout for instructions.
- Running total: the count does not restart when a new pitcher comes in.
- Extra innings: one conference for each extra inning. Unused ones do not carry over.
- Too many: the pitcher in the game is declared an illegal pitcher. They may field and bat but not pitch again.
- Not charged: a visit made to change the pitcher, and instructions called from the dugout.
- Offensive conferences: one an inning. A coach who insists on a second is ejected.
- Twenty seconds: the pitcher's time to release the pitch. The penalty is a ball.
- Ten seconds: the batter's time to get into the box. The penalty is a strike.
- One foot in: between pitches the batter keeps a foot in the box, with listed exceptions.
- World Cups: the 20 seconds are shown on clocks, and no time-out is granted in the last five.
- Between innings: 60 seconds at World Cups.
The glossary has the charged defensive conference, the illegal pitcher, the pitch clock, the pitcher, the inning and the extra innings entry.
Tricky cases
A coach uses the third conference in the fifth inning and comes out again in the sixth. What happens?
The pitcher in the game is declared an illegal pitcher and cannot pitch again in that game. They may move to another position.
The coach tells the umpire about a pitching change and then walks out to talk to the new pitcher. Is a conference charged?
No. A conference is not charged when the coach reports a pitching change before or after speaking to the pitcher.
The shortstop runs to the dugout between batters and comes back. Is that a conference?
Yes, if the umpire has reason to believe instructions were given. It counts whether or not time was requested.
A team used no conferences in seven innings. How many does it have in the eighth?
One. Conferences not taken in the seven innings do not carry forward to extra innings.
Why the rule exists
A conference breaks the batting team's rhythm and gives a tired pitcher a rest, so a coach would call one before every dangerous hitter if allowed. Rationing them makes each a decision. The clock rules do the same job between pitches, where most of a game's dead time is found.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seven innings | Three charged defensive conferences | WBSC Softball Rule 4.2.1 a |
| Extra innings | One for each inning | WBSC Softball Rule 4.2.1 d |
| Batting team | One conference an inning | WBSC Softball Rule 5.2 |
| Baseball | Three free mound visits, and a second visit to one pitcher in an inning removes them | WBSC Baseball Rule 13.11 |
From the rule book
World Baseball Softball Confederation, Official Rules of Softball: Fast Pitch (2026-2029), Rules 4.1.1, 4.1.3, 4.2, 4.3.3 k, 4.8, 5.1.10, 5.2 and 5.4.2. WBSC, Softball World Cups Tournament Regulations (revised 3 March 2026), C7.5 and E3.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WBSC Official Rules of Softball, Fast Pitch, 2026-2029 (PDF).