[parrothead]

I know the rule regarding required step, which Little League did not adopt the must throw to 3B rule. On saturday, our P did the "53" or "31" pick where he faked to 3B and threw to first. Umpire called "Balk" - said you cannot do that move anymore. I explained that I understood he is probably doing many different games with various governing bodies and that in travel ball that indeed is a balk, but that Little League and NFHS (high school) has not adopted the must throw to 3B therefore that is not a balk.

Even showed him Green book that only lists 1B as must throw. Still was not having it and this was just in a casual conversation between innings, I let his balk stand.

He played the "it all falls under the trying to deceive the runner umbrella" so its a balk. My thought was two-fold, first then you are basically adding a rule to a rulebook that is not there by forcing a throw to 3B, when clearly that is not there also I have been coaching over 25 years, the "deceive the runner" provision.

To me this was no biggie, I was trying to get on the same page so moving forward the coach on the other side etc can all get the right rule. But had it been a meaningful game, would a protest for misinterpreting the rule been upheld or does the "trying to deceive the runner" cover all when ump incorrectly calls balk in that scenario?