Balks from the preliminary set position

[jdmara]

Thanks gentleman! Out of all the leagues I've umpired (obviously I've never done a true college game) I've never operated under NCAA rules, always OBR and FED (and of course the modified rules).

-Josh

[umpjim]

Situation 3 is a balk and I would say the same thing. "Started .. or Not Continuous..." . You shouldn't get any grief from the coach. They all know it is a balk. But, after I called a balk this summer on something similar I perused the rule book that night for some rules refreshment to go along with the one I was drinking. I found that there is no penalty for not continuously coming set in OBR 8.01b. So what was I balking? Feinting without a step in OBR 8.05. Edited to add: If you're calling FED the same requirement is specifically penalized as a balk in 6.1.3.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by umpjim

I found that there is no penalty for not continuously coming set in OBR 8.01b. So what was I balking?

If it's not continuous, then there's a stop. "He started and stopped, skip." Balk.

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by mbyron

If it's not continuous, then there's a stop. "He started and stopped, skip." Balk.

That's fine. But Umpire Jim is saying that it doesn't specifically say in OBR that that is a balk.

8.01 says that it must not be done but doesn't give a penalty and it's not specifically listed as a balk offense in 8.05.

Rita

[umpjim]

It is a balk in OBR if you judge it as a feint without a step (nevermind 1B) under 8.05 which is usually the case at the levels I call. If you watch some MLB setup men and closers you will see some guys not co-co-co-tin-tin-usaully come set and they are not balked. It is not judged a feint because they always do it and the runners are not driven back. Like I said, if you tell a coach "started and stopped or not continuous.. * you won't catch any grief at my levels. Just be aware of what you are really balking. And of course in FED it is a rulebook balk. I don't know about NCAA etal.