First year ump, confused by the number of interpretations of a balk
 

Yeah, it seems like depending upon the league or park you go to and whomever you speak to, a balk isn't always a balk. Parks range from USSSA to Cal Ripken (?) rules. Where to what base a kid can make a feint to and not throw or has to throw. Thought I had it down last week and spoke to a guy who said he's been umping for years and it was totally different from some of the stuff I have read here, read even on the MLB 8.05 rule etc.

There are some differences depending on the ruleset however, I would say approximatey 95% to 98% of the rules on balks are the same. (OBR,NCAA,NFHS)

I am not familar with USSSA or Cal Ripken but I cant believe that the rules are that much different.

A big issue is that MLB (and, thus, it's in OBR) has made a fake to third illegal. (FED and NCAA continue to allow the move.)

Some codes that "borrow" OBR have also made this illegal; others continue to allow it.

OBR - Balk?
 

F3 is playing back in his normal position not holding runner on at first. Pitcher executes a jump turn and throws to F3.

Balk in OBR?

Fed?

Generally, yes -- in both codes.

If F3 is "making a play" on the runner (and that's judgment), then it's legal

OBR - Balk?
 

It was all F3 could do to catch the ball (a la Craig Nettles)

Just an unrelated note -- it's always legal to throw to the base, even with no fielder there.

Also, it's legal to step to second or third and throw to a fielder (F4, F5, F6) in position rather than to the base as long as F1 steps to an occupied base or to a base for the purpose of making a play.

Graig. :D

Graig Nettles Great Plays 1978 World Series New York Yankees - YouTube

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If he wasn't a .248 career hitter, he'd be in the HOF. Probably should be anyway.

But if it's illegal to feint to third (e.g., OBR, PONY), then throwing to F5 when he is not in a position to make a play on the runner is a balk, same as F3.

I work no baseball where that stupid rule is in place. Fortunately.

But you're right. If the no fake to third rule is in place, then the pitcher must throw to third with the same conditions as throwing to first. Thanks for catching that.

OBR, its a balk if the feint to 3b is with runner on 1b also. A feint to 3b with no runner on 1b is nothing. This new ruling eliminates the 3rd to 1st move.

Wrong. Any feint to 3rd is a balk.

I stand corrected upon review of the new 2014 rules.

It's not new for this year.

Thanks all! I decided to buy the video. I want to be able to give coaches a clear, concise explanation when they try to challenge calls and not have any doubts of my own because you know that coaches will sense that and just act like Richard Heads.