High Scool Varsity game. Right Handed pitcher takes sign from catcher with right foot on the rubber, left foot in front of the rubber, and right arm dangling down in front of his body as he leans forward. While still taking the signs, he brings his right hand up and puts it behind his back, still leaning forward. Is this a balk or not?
Thanks in advance.

The first position you described before he moved his hands sounds like the infamous "gorilla arm" stance and is ruled a BALK in FED ball.

From the 2005 Fed Interpretations - SITUATION 5: While in the set position, F1 has his pitching hand down in front of his body, swinging slowly as he gets the sign from the catcher. RULING: The use of this “gorilla” stance in the set position is illegal. A pitcher, for the set position, shall have his pitching hand down at his side or behind his back. (6-1-3)

Thank you both for your reply and the FED reference.
The BU called this a balk - AFTER the pitcher put his hand behind his back, not when the arm was hanging in front.
The PU argued it was not a balk. I didn't hear the conversation because I was not on the field, but the BU won the discussion and the balk was called by the BU.

This "Gorilla Arm" is not a balk in OBR is it?

Well,
 

I would answer but Mr. OOO won't allow me in any of his threads.

No.

Why wouldn't this be a balk in OBR? Is it just a "don't do that"?

8.01(b)
"Prepatory to coming to a set position, the pitcher shall have one hand on his side;..."


[Edited by CraigD on Apr 10th, 2005 at 03:13 AM]

This provision of 8.01(b) is interpreted loosely: it certainly allows, for example, that the pitching arm is behind the back when the pitcher leans in for the sign.

This looseness extends to the gorilla arm in OBR, as it used to but no longer does under FED. You could read the new FED restriction as a new interpretation of what "have one hand on his side" means (if that phrase appears in FED - don't have the book with me).

Under OBR gorilla arm is not even a "don't do that" (DDT? that has a nice ring to it). It's not regarded as a violation, and so requires no umpire intervention whatever.