Coach needing assistance with balks

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by DG

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.

Mind if I interject? knew you wouldn't.

This going to the hand/fist had best be cleared by the PU at the home plate meeting.

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).

Keeping all hand still

3. Step directly toward any base you want to throw to in an effort to pickoff a runner.

Excpt LHP to 1B get a hyooge break, they are allowed to come 45 degrees toward home = stepped to base. Rufus, careful with this, the ump interps vary widely.

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.

The kids are 10 yos, jump turn can wait. The rest of the above can be wrong.

Any move to 1B by a RHP, if first started with a step off the rubber, can be a fake throw. Be careful withthis too. If your RHP pulls foot and spins quickly, umps at that level can call balks

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.

"Near bag" at 10 yos on a 65 foot field is where most F3's play; point, F3 does not have to be "on bag"

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.

Excuse the instruction by DeeGee Most 10yos are going to take 2B from R1 regardless. Point: have your pitchers err on the side of stopping.

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.

Not necesarily since you have to coordinate cover of the next base with Fx.