[NM FP Ump]

I'm not a veteran like so many of you, but what I have been taught is:

New balls presented at pre-game conference: Give the balls to the BU and have him/her rub dirt on them during the conference. Toss one into the circle and keep the other one.

New balls coming into the game: Have the coach throw it to the catcher, check the ball to see if it conforms, rub some dirt on the ball and then give it to the pitcher.

Applying foreign substance: Incidental dirt/chalk on the ball happens, but a pitcher (or teammate) applying dirt/chalk/moisture on a ball is illegal. Give them a warning the first time it happens (hopefully before they pitch the ball), and the next time call IP.

I've only called this IP once, on a pitcher who would take the chalk from the circle and rub it between her fingers and would wipe off the chalk onto her pant leg. Then she would lick her fingers and wipe the fingers off on the same spot on her pant leg. Not very smart, if you ask me. It was so obvious that her coach didn't even argue.