I disagree that it's part of your job to echo the call of your partner. You don't echo his out/safe calls, his strike/ball count, his proclamation that the ball is now in play, or his call to his wife after the game...why would you echo a balk UNLESS (in FED) play is continuing because the players may not have heard him?

-Josh

Echooooooo0000
 

It is OK to ecko a foul call.

I had the plate last weekend (13-14s, modified OBR). I heard my partner call a balk, but I couldn't see what the pitcher did. When described after the game it turned out to be an easy call (for the BU).

Now, if had repeated the balk call, the manager came to ask me about it, and I had to say, "The BU called a balk, but I don't know what it is so you'll have to ask him," how does that help answer the manager's question?

It is okay to echo a time call, which we also did after the balk.

The way I've been taught for balk calls is:

Partner 1: "that's a balk!" (point to pitcher)
All other partners: "that's a balk" (point to pitcher)
Partner 1: "time!" (time signal)
All other partners: "time!" (time signal)
Partner 1: "you" (point to runner)
All other partners: "you" (point to runner)
Partner 1: "second base" (point to second base)
All other partners: "second base" (point to second base)
Point all other runners to whereever they go using the same process as above.

Same goes for infield flies. One partner says "infield fly" other partner says "infield fly" first partner says "batter's out" second partner says "batter's out".

Don't pound me too hard.

I don't place the runner(s) when my partner calls a balk unless he precedes it with "Simon Says."

Not quite the way we do it here.
Balk
Umpire: "That's a balk!"
Everyone (if doing FED) "TIME!"
Umpire that called the balk will place the runners "YOU! 2nd base!" and partners will quietly usher the players as needed.
The only time we want more than one umpire calling the balk is if it was seen by multiple umpires. If you see it, call it, otherwise just echo TIME. The coach can't question you for that.

IFF
Umpire "Infield fly!"
Partner's echo "Infield Fly"
No one calls the batter out, he already knows that. The PU will signal the batter as out when the time is right.

You were taught wrong. Maybe it's a Canadian thing?

The "time" thing I agree with, that should be echoed and signaled by partners.

An infield fly is only verbalized by the umpire who's call it is. For example, if the fly ball turns the BU toward the outfield, it becomes his primary call, and the PU merely gives an arm signal. If the fly is in front of BU, then it is the PU's call, and BU only gives the arm signal and is silent. And we were taught to say "Infield Fly, batter's out" only when it is clearly not near the foul line. On windy days, or if the ball is near the lines, always say, "Infield Fly, if fair."

Immulate
 

Perhaps the echoing balk call is an interpretation of two partners making the same call at the same time. It happens in the competitive nature of our work. Of course to prevent something happing in the OP, neither of us can call a balk unless we have a short verbal explanation to follow the award. This is part of our unwritten ground rules. I take pride when my partner calls one before I do and quickly wonder why or when I did not interpret the action as quickly. We always post-game this w/ a congratulatory alertness comment and a detailed discussion. It let us both know we intend to get the next one first.

I was taught to always start with the runner closest to the plate, then work your way around to first.

Of course, you could use the explanation that a former member of our chapter used when a coach asked him what the pitcher what he had done. He said, "I don't know, Coach. It just didn't look right." :)