Delay Dead Ball for a Balk in USSSA?

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

It's there - by effect.

Read the part about if the batter and runners advance one base safely the balk is ignored. The only way that could happen is if the ball were still live.

In HS rules the ball is immediately dead, but USSSA doesn't use HS rules.

Just emphasizing what Rich said about when to ignore the balk. Not sure how it is in the rest of U-trip country, but around here we hear too often this situation being "coach's choice" whether to enforce the balk or not. I hear that from both coach's and uninformed umpires.

[Rufus]

Not sure this is relevant or not, but USSSA rule 8.08.E (amended September 2008), which addresses balks, indicates that the penalty shall be:

The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one (1) base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first (1st) on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise and all other runners advance at least one (1) base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk.

Seems that this indicates it's a timing thing - if you call the balk and the pitch is not delivered as a result runners advance; if you call the balk and the pitch is delivered resulting in one of the above, play on. Otherwise runners advance one base.

Am I interpreting that correctly?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Rufus

Not sure this is relevant or not, but USSSA rule 8.08.E (amended September 2008), which addresses balks, indicates that the penalty shall be:

The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one (1) base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first (1st) on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise and all other runners advance at least one (1) base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk.

Seems that this indicates it's a timing thing - if you call the balk and the pitch is not delivered as a result runners advance; if you call the balk and the pitch is delivered resulting in one of the above, play on. Otherwise runners advance one base.

Am I interpreting that correctly?

Yes, but that's only two (balk followed by nothing; balk followed by pitch)
of the three possibilities (balk followed by throw)

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

Just emphasizing what Rich said about when to ignore the balk. Not sure how it is in the rest of U-trip country, but around here we hear too often this situation being "coach's choice" whether to enforce the balk or not. I hear that from both coach's and uninformed umpires.

Regarding the uninformed umpires, in your area or my neck of the woods, I suspect they have been informed and don't want to apply the brain power to understand the rule. Regarding the coaches, it's interesting that they know they have the "coaches choice" on a balk but we debate whether to inform them that they have a choice on CI.