Balk Called by Coach....

[Crabnut]

Dash had it right to start with. If either coach or batter (but especially the coach) does something that you recognize as precipitating the balk, intentional or not, first call "TIME." You have about a half second to replay the situation in your mind. If the coach intentionally did it, the ejection is easy, but you could warn as well depending on the severity. The coach crossed the line and is at the mercy of your ruling. With the player, having asked for time, he has bailed the pitcher out himself. I don't like pitchers, but once the batter requests "time," the pitcher has the advantage.

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by Crabnut

If the coach intentionally did it, the ejection is easy, but you could warn as well depending on the severity.

FED rules don't prescribe "a warning" for this infraction. The penalty is to "eject"- period.

That's why it's important to be as close to 100% sure as you can that it was intentional, purposely designed to cause the balk. If you're not sure it was intentional, then the rule wasn't violated. You could then issue a warning- consider it preventive umpiring- and let the coach know the consequences if it happens again and you do consider it intentional.

And if it does happen again, it's going to take a lot less to convince me that it is intentional!

[DG]

Originally Posted by Crabnut

I don't like pitchers

Heck of a thing for an umpire to admit. At least you can be consistently sorry for both sides.