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Originally Posted by Rufus
Hey there. I'm a first year coach for an 11U recreational league team operating under USSSA. I believe we are using NFHS rules, where they are not superseded by USSSA or county rules, but am not sure (and have an email into the league coordinator to find out).
My question is about balks and how to instruct my pitchers not to do it and what the players should look for when they are base runners. I understand that there is (legal) deception involved when trying to pick someone off a base so I'm not trying to take that out of the game. I am, however, wanting to make the players (and myself) as knowledgeable as I can about a facet of the game that is new to them this year and, based on my research of prior postings on this site, subject to some controversy.
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Since I don't know what ruleset I will offer a few basics.
1. Don't take the pitching hand to your mouth while on the dirt surface of the mound unless you are blowing into a fist on a cold day. New rules in FED are difficult for some to understand, but if you follow this guidance you will be fine for any ruleset.
2. When on the rubber in set or windup position, if you want to step off step off with the non-pivot foot (ie same as pitching hand side foot).
3. Step directly toward any base you want to throw to in an effort to pickoff a runner. (In Fed you can not step toward a base from the windup). Practice the jump turn, it's legal, but always throw the ball if you jump turn to 1B, unless of course F3 is nowhere near the bag. You may throw it away and runner get 2 bases, at least if you don't throw the runner will only get one on the balk. If F3 is nowhere near the bag and not moving toward the bag you are going to get a balk anyway. You don't have to throw to 2b or 3b.
4. When coming set, come to a complete stop. In fact, it is better to come set and vary the amount of time you are set until you pitch than to try to pitch immediately and risk a balk. If you always come set for 1 second, you are meat to a base stealer.
5. If a runner breaks for the next base while you are in the set position, step off first before making a play. You have plenty of time.
6. If the pitcher in windup or set ever brings his hands together, he can not separate unless he steps off first.
That should be enough for an 11 year old to learn.