Coach needing assistance with balks

[Rufus]

You guys are really coming through! I did confirm with the league coordinator that they are using the USSSA rules and I've printed a copy of those off and will be reviewing them. I also spoke with the president of the official's association handling most of our games (fortunately we both officiated basketball this winter so I knew who to reach out to) and he reiterated most of what's been posted (keep it simple, throw strikes, don't do "obvious" balks).

Given this I'm definitely going to keep it simple at first (we've beened rained out of a bunch of practices - good for the drought, bad for developing skills), then I'll start introducing refinements as the season progresses. As weird as this sounds I'm hoping to play a team that does pick offs at a "higher" level so the kids can see, and experience, the difference. Sometimes that helps more than any coach-led demonstration can.

[johnnyg08]

I guess we can split hairs over coaching philosophies until we're all blue in the face, but I think as umpires we wouild all appreciate a young pitcher knowing how to propery pitch and throw strikes first, then the intricacies of a balk...I don't think there's a wrong opinion on here...but you'll win more games than you'll lose if your pitchers throw strikes. Typically a balk or two isn't going to kill you and getting a balk or two called on you is usually how pitcher's learn best.