Coach needing assistance with balks

[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

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE]

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).

I believe USSA is an OBR based organization, BUT depending upon one's area they have adopted SOME FED rules namely the FPSR and Malicious Contact rule.

Personally I do not know too many 11U leagues that use STRICTLY FED rules.

Also, I do not know how developed these young F1's ( you said 11U) are so I would not "go crazy" about the Balks.

I would simply go over the "no brainer" ones and then later on as the child develops and gets older is where I would work on the pick-off moves and the "other" type balks.

The no brainer ones would be: F1 starts his pitching motion and then stops as he sees a runner taking off for the next base.

You cannot fake a throw to first base while in contact with the pitcher's plate.

Whenever the young F1 does get flustered (until he gains experience) it's best to simply instruct him the proper way to disengage the pitcher's plate (step backwords with pivot foot) That way he is a fielder and can fake a throw etc. without being called for balk.

As far as the "other" balks as previously mentioned I would not worry about these at this young age. It's more important for an 11 yr. old to throw strikes and not walk the ball-park.

Pete Booth

[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.

[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.

[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

[QUOTE=DG]Since I don't know what ruleset I will offer a few basics.

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).

DG - I've seen enough of your posts, but on this one you either kicked it or just mis-stated. (I'd like to think the latter) From either position, you can only step off with your pivot foot. Any movement of the non-pivot foot unless it is going into the "stretch", pitching to the plate, or stepping to a base for the purpose of picking off a runner is a balk.

[DG]

[QUOTE=BigGuy]

Originally Posted by DG

Since I don't know what ruleset I will offer a few basics.

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).

DG - I've seen enough of your posts, but on this one you either kicked it or just mis-stated. (I'd like to think the latter) From either position, you can only step off with your pivot foot. Any movement of the non-pivot foot unless it is going into the "stretch", pitching to the plate, or stepping to a base for the purpose of picking off a runner is a balk.

You got me. I don't know what I was thinking. Stepping off with the same foot as the pitching hand IS stepping off with the pivot foot, not the non-pivot. Stepping off with the non-pivot is a balk. Thanks.