NFHS rules for balks
 

I had a right handed pitcher working from the stretch position who would look/turn his right shoulder. Why he would look over this shoulder I don' tknow other than the fact it might not be a balk. I thought the rules said any movement other than the head is considered a balk. I was unsure at the time so I didn't call him on it, but now think I should have. Any offical words?

[Edited by Mi-Umpire on May 27th, 2004 at 07:49 AM]

I had a kid do that early in the season and I was unsure if it was a balk, so I looked it up.

NFHS rules specifically state that the turning of the shoulders when looking at a runner is a balk.

I don't have the rule book in front of me or I would quote it directly.

FED rules: any turning of the shoulders while in contact with the pitching plate is illegal and a balk called.

Some guys around here call the shoulder turn at any time the pitcher is engaged on the rubber, while others refuse to call it until the pitcher has come to his "set".

Where about are you in Michigan?...I moved to the Cadillac area about 4 years ago after living down state.

I agree with the no balk until set. By definition of the stretch position and the set position - the pitcher can do anything before coming set. Once he becomes set he must keep his shoulders still.

But the FED restriction is in 6-1, not in 6-3 so it has nothing to do with stretch vs. set position. And, certainly the pitcher can't do "anything" prior to coming set -- under any code a turn sufficient to be a feint would be balked.

Different areas interpret / enforce the "no shoulder turn" provision of the FED rules differently. MI-Umpire should call it the way the others in his area call it.

Bob , I agree and sometimes, (most of the time) I am also at fault of not enforcing this by the letter of the law.

Are you aware of any possibilities that NHFS is ever going to take a look at this and possibily come in line with the other codes. I see this more and more becoming like the penalty strike for stepping out of the batters box. It just doesn't happen and IMO that there is no signifacant advantage/disadvantage, one way or the other.

Either way, this is not to involke a discussion about enforcing or not enforcing a rule however, just for information.

Re: NFHS rules for balks
 

If its a slight turn it might be a "dont do that" in our area, but as Bob stated if its interpreted as a feint then it should be a balk whether he's in the set position or not.

The limitations begin once he intentionally toes the rubber.

But we also might give the pitcher a warning if its only a slight movement and not construed as a feint.

Thanks
David

Just for the record:

NFHS Rule 6 Section 1 Pitching: "....The pitching regulations begin when he (the pitcher) intentionally touches the pitching plate. Turning the shoulders to check runners while in contact with the pitcher's plate is a balk...." (emphasis added)

Never, ever have called a balk & think that the rule is a joke!!!
 

i have played and umpired high school ball for the last 8 years and have never seen this rule been enforced (i.e.-as soon as the pitcher engages the pitchers plate and looks over to first set or not is a balk)!!! i, myself, have never enforced it and never will... the reason, a)it takes away the fact that the pitcher while not set could look to see where the runner is and gives the offense a higher advantage of putting runners in scoring position. making the game a little unfair and brings out the worse in coaches!!! i think that the NFHS SHOULD STOP TRYING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN ALL THE REST OF THE LEAGUES AND START TRYING TO BE SIMILAR! less problems & headaches would occur with both sides; coaches & umpires. plus, i believe more umpires would join and want to ump at the high school level!!!

Any turn of the shoulders, while in contact with the rubber, would be a "highly technical balk" in FED. I have never called a slight turn, and have never seen a slight turn called. Anything resembling a feint is always called. The Varsity pitchers know the rule and will have very little shoulder movement when looking at runners. I have never seen a right handed pitcher turn his shoulder to the right to look at a runner, but if I did I would not balk him if it was a slight turn, especially if he was looking at 1B (post did not say which base). I can't see a pitcher picking a runner on 1B by turning in direction of right shoulder.