Coach needing assistance with balks

[mbyron]

I've never coached, but I have heard pitchers say that they will often decide whether to throw to a base or pitch before toeing the rubber. Knowing in advance what they're going to do, especially at age 11, might minimize improvisation, guessing, and accidents, any of which might cause a balk.

Some youth leagues don't call balks on 11U teams. You might check on that as well.

[Rufus]

Thank you all for the advice and links, they are very much appreciated.

fitump56 - Yes, Forsyth has moved to USSSA from Dixie. Not sure why but, as is usual with youth league sports, I'm sure politics had something to do with it. I don't mind because we get an extra post-season tournament out of it so that means more baseball.

Welpe & fitump56 - thanks for the tip on USSSA operating under ORB. I referee HS basketball and thought there was an alphabet soup of governing bodies there. That's nothing compared to baseball. Once I verify with our league coordinator I will definitely get a copy of the rules.

mbryon - they will call balks in our league as my oldest boy played fall ball and got to lead off for the first time last fall. He pitches as well and is somewhat familiar with what to do/not to do but am trying to get him and the other kids as ready as possible (realizing that you can never prepare them for everything - as a couple folks have noted they're 11 years-old).

GarthB - once I figure out which rule set we are operating under you better believe I will be back here with questions!

The one thing I've been teaching my base runners is that they need to watch the pitcher's foot that is in contact with the plate. If that comes off the plate they turn into a fielder like anyone else. I realize now there are other things to teach the pitchers, and base runners as well. I've been teaching an aggressive lead (primary - pitcher is on the plate take 3 step walking lead, pitcher comes set take two shuffles; secondary - pitcher goes to the plate take 3 shuffles). I'm thinking we may dial that back a bit until they get more used to what a pitcher can/can't do in terms of picking off, especially since it appears both lefty/righty can pick off if their non-pivot leg goes to 1st without breaking contact with the plate first.

Thanks again and I hope to be a frequent lurker/poster here in the future. You folks have been great.

[shickenbottom]

Rufus, although the Jim Evans Balk Video is directed toward Umpires. It is a great tool to use in understanding what a balk is or is not.

I would suggest getting a copy to help you coach, since we as umpires use this as a training tool in recognizing balks. It covers pirmarily OBR, however there are references to NFHS and NCAA that will help.

You can order a copy at http://www.umpireacademy.com/store/p...products_id=30

[johnnyg08]

to be honest, teach them to throw strikes at that age...I really wouldn't worry much about balks...if they learn how to correctly pitch, you won't see many balks...I've watched a lot of ball at that age and there's not much picking off going on anyway...there's my .02...don't get so caught up in technical stuff as angles and stuff...teach them to pitch properly and to throw strikes...that's what they need to learn at this age.

[RPatrino]

My advice echo's JohnnyG's. Teach them to throw strikes, hit the glove on a consistant basis. Also, teach the 'jump turn' pickoff move to your righties. Forget about the step off and throw to first move, which is a very poor technique to use, IMHO.

[UmpJM]

Rufus,

First of all, as others have said, USSSA plays under rules based on OBR, not FED. From the USSSA 2008 rules published on their website:

RULE 8.00 – RULES OF PLAY
Playing rules not specifically covered herein shall follow the Official Rules of Baseball (National League) as published by Major League Baseball on mlb.com. State Directors also have the authority to administer rules within his respective state as deemed appropriate with the approval of the Association’s Executive Vice President of USSSA Baseball.

You can find the complete text of the USSSA rules in a downloadable PDF at:

http://www.usssabaseball.org/documen...ulesMarch6.pdf

Now, it's still a good idea to check with your local association, because local associations have a proclivity to make all kinds of "local rules" without having any clue as to the unintended consequences of those local rules. And it wouldn't shock me if someone had added a local rule that said something like, "High School rules will govern any situation not addressed in these local rules..." or something like that.

Originally Posted by RPatrino

My advice echo's JohnnyG's. Teach them to throw strikes, hit the glove on a consistant basis. Also, teach the 'jump turn' pickoff move to your righties. Forget about the step off and throw to first move, which is a very poor technique to use, IMHO.

I have a different take on JohnnyG's advice (and Bob P.'s "endorsement") to "not worry about it very much". It has been my experience that, at the age that players first start playing with lead-offs, "unrestricted" base stealing, and balks, a team that has a good understanding of how to legally "hold" runners and how to properly "read" pitchers has a HUGE advantage over a team that does not.

While I would agree with the point that it is MORE important to teach your pitchers to throw whatever passes for a "strike" in your league, it is also, in my opinion, very important to teach them how to properly hold runners, throw pick-offs, and, for your baserunners, teach them how to "read" the pitcher so they know when to start their steal attempts.

A couple of people have mentioned the Jim Evans "Balk Video" which is by far the best resource I have ever found for learning about balks and what is and is not legal for a pitcher to do. So I would also encourage you to get it.

Having said all of that, it is also my experience that balks tend to be very "leniently" enforced at levels where the players are first playing under balk rules, AND that the umpires who work these games tend to have less experience & inconsistent understandings of the proper enforcement of the balk rules.

This is a big adjustment for the players (regardless of the age when they start playing under these rules), so try to keep it as simple as you can and don't overwhelm them by trying to teach them everything at once. By the middle of the season, most of them should have it down pretty well.

A couple of other things. Bob P. says,

Forget about the step off and throw to first move, which is a very poor technique to use, IMHO.

I completely agree with Bob on this point! This seems to be the most "common" move to 1B taught to young RHPs and it is very poor coaching, IMO. First, it is such a relatively "slow" move, that you're never going to get a runner out. Second, should the lad happen to throw the ball out of play, the runner will get TWO bases instead of ONE. (However, I have found that a "step off" and FEINT to 1B can be a VERY effective "setup" for a subsequent "jab step" move to 1B at this age.)

Bob also suggests that you teach RHPs the "jump spin" move to 1B. I have found that the youngsters do much better with the "jab step" than the "jump spin" - it is easier for them to learn to do properly AND it is easier for them to throw more accurately than the jump spin move.

The other thing you might want to spend some time teaching your players is the rules governing when a batter does and does not become a runner on a third strike not caught.

Best of luck.

JM

[DG]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

to be honest, teach them to throw strikes at that age...I really wouldn't worry much about balks...if they learn how to correctly pitch, you won't see many balks...I've watched a lot of ball at that age and there's not much picking off going on anyway...there's my .02...don't get so caught up in technical stuff as angles and stuff...teach them to pitch properly and to throw strikes...that's what they need to learn at this age.

Agreed, not a lot of pickoffs, but, if you don't teach them to hold runners including a throw over, you will get stolen on a lot.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by DG

Agreed, not a lot of pickoffs, but, if you don't teach them to hold runners including a throw over, you will get stolen on a lot.

As an Interested Ump/Coach/Fan we have been compiling statistics on Atlanta, Miami and Memphis competitive teams for quite some time now (20 years? ouch). This particular age group on this field size averages 12 SBs and .05 pick offs per game.

The determination is that the base lengths and speed of players are heavily in favor of the offense.The exchange rates (F1->F2->Fx) are such that the slowest of U12 players has a considerable opportunity to collect SBs over a season. Included in this equation are a high percentage of Es natural for this age group.

[johnnyg08]

true, but typically at that level, they're stealing off of the catcher and not the pitcher, especially if they're coached to slide step...but your point is true too

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Rufus

Thank you all for the advice and links, they are very much appreciated.

fitump56 - Yes, Forsyth has moved to USSSA from Dixie. Not sure why but, as is usual with youth league sports, I'm sure politics had something to do with it. I don't mind because we get an extra post-season tournament out of it so that means more baseball.

They had been talking about it, dissatisfied with PONY and others.

Welpe & fitump56 - thanks for the tip on USSSA operating under ORB. I referee HS basketball and thought there was an alphabet soup of governing bodies there. That's nothing compared to baseball. Once I verify with our league coordinator I will definitely get a copy of the rules.

The one thing I've been teaching my base runners is that they need to watch the pitcher's foot that is in contact with the plate. If that comes off the plate they turn into a fielder like anyone else. I realize now there are other things to teach the pitchers, and base runners as well. I've been teaching an aggressive lead (primary - pitcher is on the plate take 3 step walking lead, pitcher comes set take two shuffles; secondary - pitcher goes to the plate take 3 shuffles). I'm thinking we may dial that back a bit until they get more used to what a pitcher can/can't do in terms of picking off, especially since it appears both lefty/righty can pick off if their non-pivot leg goes to 1st without breaking contact with the plate first.

On 60-65 bases, getting an extra shuffle compared with being at ease about getting picked off - choose a shorter lead, concentrate on good "jumps" Voila!

Thanks again and I hope to be a frequent lurker/poster here in the future. You folks have been great.

If you are out at Sharon Springs, tell Lance Reid Hi! from Donovan. I used to call his high school gamees, a born F1 with a moron for a Coach.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Some youth leagues don't call balks on 11U teams. You might check on that as well.

This is Atlanta.