Coach needing assistance with balks

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 I believe we are using NFHS rules, where they are not superseded by USSSA or county rules, but am not sure (and have an email into the league coordinator to find out).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

[mattmets]

I don't have the experience of some of the other guys here, but just some very common things I've called in the 5 years I've been working:

• Pitchers who "step off" with their left foot
• Pitchers who come set and separate the hands without making a delivery or stepping off first
• Last year I had one kid who, after coming set, would bob up and down without delivering.

I'll leave it to the other guys to describe exactly what constitutes a balk because they can do it more clearly than I can, but those are the more common balks I've seen/called at the 13-16 level.

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 I believe we are using NFHS rules, where they are not superseded by USSSA or county rules, but am not sure (and have an email into the league coordinator to find out).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

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by mattmets

I don't have the experience of some of the other guys here, but just some very common things I've called in the 5 years I've been working:
[*]Pitchers who "step off" with their left foot

Rufus, this is only an issue with right handed pitchers. Left handed pitchers need to disengage with their left foot.

[*]Pitchers who come set and separate the hands without making a delivery or stepping off first

Rufus, pitchers may also separate their hands if they are stepping and throwing to a base.

Your best bet is to first find under which rule set your team will be playing. Then read the pitching regulations and come back with questions that arise.

[fitump56]

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).

Howdy Coach Rufus, I used to call a lot of ball up your way. Bennett, Sawnee, etc. Treated very nicely excepting I was an independent and the Old Guard ump org, nice guys, clueless though.

You guys have gone to USSSA?

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.

Good luck with that.

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.

Don't see the need for Fed rules, USSSA is based off OBRs BUT most Atlanta ttravel teams play the GHSA FED rulebook. So best be ready for all kinds of rules as you do the rounds.

Watch out for East Cobb, they're umps are home grown.

[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.

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. New rules in FED are difficult for some to understand, but if you follow this guidance you will be fine for any ruleset.

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).

3. Step directly toward any base you want to throw to in an effort to pickoff a runner. (In Fed you can not step toward a base from the windup). 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. 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. You don't have to throw to 2b or 3b.

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.

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.

6. If the pitcher in windup or set ever brings his hands together, he can not separate unless he steps off first.

That should be enough for an 11 year old to learn.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Rufus

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.

Gotta watch who you're listening to on this forum.

...would appreciate any guidance you could provide from your experiences and/or common mistakes/legal moves you've seen while umpiring.

Thanks in advance.

Drop me an email at:

http://tinyurl.com/yobtd9

and I will send you back a phone number, we can talk you through this. Used to teach this sorta class all the time, coaches, parents, kids, lotta fun, lotta learning

[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.

[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.

[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.