Please help a couple of coaches

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by DG

Not a balk any level.

Interesting first practice. I used to spend my first practice time finding out who could run fast, throw hard, and hit hard. Spending time on pitcher's pickoff moves was like, last practice before first game, if at all.

Spending time on what "GO" and "BACK" meant was last 10 minutes of every practice but was generally conducted at 3B not 1B.

Thanks for the response DG. This is a returning travel team (8 out of 10 kids returning and and we are familiar with them from last season and the 2 newbies from tryouts) so we were going over basic fielding (infield/outfield) mechanics then turned to baserunning. I was trying to provide examples of what to look for to the baserunners so that they could key off a couple of things when the other coach and I started our "chat" about legal pick-off moves.

I really try to keep it simple telling the kids to watch the pitcher's feet (and pitching arm on lefties). If the feet do anything other than go into the normal pitching motion then the runner needs to get back (that's why I preach studying the pitcher's motion during his warm ups and during the game so they have something to compare it to once they get on base). They're 11, however, so my expectations are at an appropriate level.

My concern with my fellow coach is that he's limiting them on what they might see in terms of pick-off moves and end up getting nailed as a result.

[johnnyg08]

Teach them the one way lead off of lefties...it's way easier than trying to pick is move...at that age, if the kids steal off of 1st movement you'll probably take the base since the defense will need to execute two throws to retire the runner...but it's your team...so what makes sense to you.

[RPatrino]

Rufus, I think the more relavent question should be what will your umpires think the differences between FED and OBR balks will be? I have worked youth league games where they "think" they use FED balk rules, I remind them, "ball will be immediately dead on a balk", and they say, "well we don't do THAT".... then maybe they really don't use FED rules.