[joemoore]

This cheer was in no way inducing a balk it was simply a continuous monotone chant that did not change as the pitcher was delivering.

I have seen American Legion teams doing similar chants. Despite your opinions about it being bush league the umpire should not create a rule out of thin air.

I disagree with umpires changing the momentum of the game and taking the wind out of the sails of one team. I saw a game where kids put pebbles in empty plastic drink containers and used them to make a rattling sound only to have a "district rep" from the home team silence them, calling it illegal. How is showing enthusiasm and making noise to support your team illegal?

I guess with my years of coaching softball, I was bush league by helping the girls to choose cheers that would help give our side momentum.

Why do coaches yell to their players to talk it up? Why do teams prefer to play before a noisy home crowd and dread playing against one? Because it is a crucial part of the psychology of the game. Players feed off of it.

The umpire giving the warning to one team gave an unfair edge to the other team.