balk

[just another ref]

I am not a baseball coach, but I function in that capacity, more or less, in the summer. This year my son and I make the move up to the big field.(13-14 year olds) Could someone briefly run over the balk rule in such a way that it could be taught to 13 year old pitchers having to deal with it for the first time? (not to mention their coach)
Thank you

[Whowefoolin]

Very hard in this type of forum. Read rule section 8 over and over and over. When you have a question, read it over again.

There are so many types of balks, that you can't begin to do that here.

My advise, have son remember when he is on and off the rubber. Be alert to it. When on it, be still and pitch. Be fluid. Step towards the base your throwing. Do not make any moves towards a base you don't anticipate to throw to.

...and have fun learning.

[jicecone]

In "THE UMPIRE'S ANSWER BOOK" by Carl Childress, April 1990 and edited by Tom Hammill, there are listed 30 ways that high school pitchers could balk. Some are also balks in Pro and College rules.

I have used this guideline over the years and find it very useful and still realavant. Hopefully, I am quoting this within the legal guidelines of the copyright.

As quoted on pages 13 & 14:

"1.Takes his sign while not on the rubber.
2.Assumes the windup position when his non-pivot foot
is not on or behind a line extending through the
frontedge of the rubber.
3.Rotates his arms more than twice before delivery.
4.Attempts a pickoff move from the windup position.
5.Pitches a defaced ball.
6.Delivers without facing the batter.
7.Throws to first or third after his non-pivot foot has
broken the plane of the back edge of the rubber.
8.Pitches when the catcher does not have both feet in the
catcherÂ’s box.
9.Pumps more than twice before delivery.
10.Assumes the set position without keeping his pitching
hand at his side or behind his back.
11.Comes to his stop with the ball above his chin.
12.Brings his pitching hand to his mouth and then delivers
without wiping off that hand.
13.Interrupts his pitching motion, once begun
14.Pitches from the windup position without maintaining
contact with the rubber.
15.Pitches from the set position with his pivot foot
outside the end of the rubber.
16.Makes a quick return pitch.
17.Steps forward off the rubber from the set position.
18.Pitches from the set without coming to a complete stop.
19.Stretches twice.
20.Drops the ball while on the rubber when the ball does
not cross the foul line.
21.Feints toward home.
22.Feints toward first.
23.Fails to step first with the non-pivot foot toward any
base before making a throw.
24.Feints or throws to an unoccupied base except when
making a play.
25.Fails to pitch after making any motion habitually
connected with his delivery.
26.Removes his hand from the ball in the set position
except to pitch or throw.
27.Stands on or astride or within five feet of the rubber
without the ball (NCAA and pro: the five-foot
restriction is not part of the rule).
28.After coming to a stop in the set position. Feints with
any part of the upper body, except the head.
29.Steps toward occupied third and then turns to throw to
first without first disengaging the rubber.
30.Commits any act which, in the umpireÂ’s judgment, is an
illegal attempt to deceive the runners."

In #29, the HS pitcher is allowed to make this move with or without disengaging the rubber.

Good Luck

[GarthB]

Just another:

Since you referrd to summer ball, don't get all tied up in FED rules unless you know for sure that they are used in your area. Most areas use Pro rules or Pro based rules for summer ball.

Read Rule 8.0 with special attention to 8.02 and 8.05 a-m.

It's not as hard as people make it out to be.

If you're a visual person, get your hands on Jim Evans video on Pitching Regulations. Stay away from the video "See a balk, Call a Balk"... it has factual inaccuracies.

[Patrick Szalapski]

MO, the best way to do this is to teach the pitchers a proper pitching motion, rather than telling them what not to do. Go over both the windup and the set.

When in the windup, a pitcher should: hold ball in throwing hand with arms apart, then step onto rubber with both feet facing home, then take the signs from the catcher. The pitcher should then bring his hands together as he takes one step back (toward 2B, not toward the side or home) with his free foot. Continuing smoothly, he should pivot his pivot foot, windup, and pitch, coming forward with his free foot.

When in the set, a pitcher should: hold ball in throwing hand, then step onto (or immediately in front of) the rubber with his feet pointed to third (first for a lefty), and go into "the stretch" if he desires, checking the runners as he would like. He should take the signs from the catcher, then come "set" by bringing the hands together while bringing his free foot close to his pivot foot, and then pausing (stopped) for a definite moment in a comfortable position with his hands together below the chin. Alternatively, the pitcher may wish to be in "the stretch" with his feet close together, and then come "set" without moving his free foot. Thence he should check the runners with his head only, not moving his shoulders. If he wants to step off, he should move his pivot foot off the rubber sideways (toward 2B) and then drop his arms before reengaging. If he wants to throw/feint to a base, he must step toward that base as he throws/feints, or step off first. He cannot feint toward 1B unless he first steps off; a feint is allowed towared 2B or 3B. Otherwise, he should rear back and pitch, lifting his free foot up, back, and forward strongly.

If we want to throw to the base, we throw there quickly and directly; we can worry about more deceptive tactics once we have the fundamentals sound. Teach pitchers that, once they have decided to pitch and started a motion with that intent, that they should follow through with the pitch, rather than attempting to abort it, even legally.

These procedures are not completely required--it is not necessarily a balk to deviate from the above. However, it will help you avoid most balks by avoiding "goofy pitcher moves" that umpires hate to see and hate to balk, but may have to. There are many balks that are unlikely to arise if the pitchers just use proper pitching mechanics and don't mess around.

Hope this helps; perhaps it is TOO basic for you. Comments welcome.

P-Sz

[gbeskow]

just another ref,
Jim Evans has a fairly good video out and I believed it's called: "See a Balk, Call a Balk". It is tailored to the Major League level, but he points out where there are differences in rules between levels. It should help you out. Check Jim Evans website http://www.umpireacademy.com for more info.

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by just another ref
I am not a baseball coach, but I function in that capacity, more or less, in the summer. This year my son and I make the move up to the big field.(13-14 year olds) Could someone briefly run over the balk rule in such a way that it could be taught to 13 year old pitchers having to deal with it for the first time? (not to mention their coach)
Thank you

Before you do anything, you need to figure out what rulebook this league will be using. Some leagues use NF Rules or OBR Rules with modifications. It might make a difference in what rules apply and what rules do not.

Peace