Coach needing assistance with balks

[DG]

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 I believe we are using NFHS rules, where they are not superseded by USSSA or county rules, but am not sure (and have an email into the league coordinator to find out).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.

I have sent this same request into the official's association that calls our games to get the "local" interpretation but also wanted to get the input from the folks who frequent this site.

I can, and probably will, order the NFHS rule and case books to get the chapter/verse, but would appreciate any guidance you could provide from your experiences and/or common mistakes/legal moves you've seen while umpiring.

Thanks in advance.

http://www.umpireacademy.com/store/p...products_id=30

Jim Evans Balk Video

[Welpe]

Also, USSSA operates under rules derived from the Official Rules of Baseball, not NFHS rules.

[Mrumpiresir]

The best thing you could do would to become completely knowledge of the pitching rules and how umpires interpret them. Continue to visit this board and ask questions.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Mrumpiresir

The best thing you could do would to become completely knowledge of the pitching rules and how umpires interpret them.

Then memorize the New Testament. Or the Old, take your pick.

Umpires can't do thi, coaches had best not try.