Umpire Not Coach I Know But..

[Rich Ives]

I'd have to go look up FED but in OBR the pitcher has to start from a position standing on the rubber.

This was NOT happening here.

[Robert Goodman]

If you let someone pitch without 1st coming to a stop on the plate, what's to prevent him from taking a running start as in cricket?

[john5396]

I'd like to understand what balk the OP was observing.

If the pitcher is stepping on and quick pitching or not stopping, then agree this is a balk and should be delt with. For me at the JH level this will be a discussion with the coach between innings if offense is not being hurt (quick pitch affecting batter).

If the OP is identifying taking the sign while off the rubber as the balk, then probably have nothing. The only way I'm balking taking a sign off the rubber is if the pitcher is clearly trying to fake the runners that he is on the rubber. Since in this case, he then steps on and continues with pitching, then nothing.

[DG]

Technically, in FED, the pitcher must take signs from the rubber, not doing so is a balk, with runners on (in OBR it is a don't do that from the umpire). More importantly, what is described is a quick pitch... balk.

[MTDv2.0]

Originally Posted by DG

Technically, in FED, the pitcher must take signs from the rubber, not doing so is a balk, with runners on (in OBR it is a don't do that from the umpire). More importantly, what is described is a quick pitch... balk.

In NFHS, there is no penalty for taking a sign while off of the rubber. The rule book is clear about the only 3 ways a pitcher can balk while they are not on the rubber:

NFHS 6-2-5: ... It is also a balk if a runner or runners are on base and the pitcher, while not touching the pitcher's plate makes any movement naturally associated with his pitch, or he places his feet on or astride the pitcher's plate, or positions himself within approximately five feet of the pitcher's plate without the ball.

Pitchers are required to take a sign while on the rubber, but there is nothing prohibiting him from taking a sign while not on the rubber. Until he contacts the pitcher's plate he is just an infielder and, unless violates Rule 6-2-5, he cannot be balked.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by MTDv2.0

In NFHS, there is no penalty for taking a sign while off of the rubber. The rule book is clear about the only 3 ways a pitcher can balk while they are not on the rubber:

NFHS 6-2-5: ... It is also a balk if a runner or runners are on base and the pitcher, while not touching the pitcher's plate makes any movement naturally associated with his pitch, or he places his feet on or astride the pitcher's plate, or positions himself within approximately five feet of the pitcher's plate without the ball.

Pitchers are required to take a sign while on the rubber, but there is nothing prohibiting him from taking a sign while not on the rubber. Until he contacts the pitcher's plate he is just an infielder and, unless violates Rule 6-2-5, he cannot be balked.

Unfortunately, some people add this, from 6-1-1, "He shall take his sign from the catcher with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate" and this, at the end of 6-1-1,2,3, "PENALTY (ART. 1,2,3): The ball is dead immediately when an illegal pitch occurs. If there is no runner, a ball is awarded the batter. If there is a runner, such illegal act is a balk...."
and call it a balk.