This happened in my brother's Ponies game tonight but I'm just wondering how it would be handled in either sport, I'm sure its a fairly universal rule.

R1 on 1B substitute reports to umpire, umpire leaves backstop area to report substitue to home book. pitcher was on rubber as batter had stepped into box but then stepped off forward toward the plate because he saw the umpire was not in position. 1B coach said thats a balk and told his runner to go to 2B. umpire didn't see it, plus he was inexperienced the way it was. (it was his first game behind plate, a friend of mine) just wondering...if the umpire is not in position is it possible to have a balk/illegal pitch? wouldn't it be considered no pitch if anything at all?

if question, i can try and explain it more...

Speaking PONY, ASA and Fed, there is an implied time out when the umpire is not behind the plate, taking care of business. If the umpire didn't call it an IP (softball) it is definitely a IP. Same thing in baseball, I would assume. My son hasn't played in6 years, but if the ump didn't call it, it just isn't so. The coach can call it a balk all he wants, he doesn't have a leg to stand on. If he insists on being argumentative, he won't have a field to stand on either. No one calls a balk or IP except the blue.

It would be just like a girl on 3rd stealing home while the PU is cleaning off the plate. Even if he/she didn't call time, it is understood that time was called.

So....what happened, did the umpire/s leave the runner at second base?

From the way this situation was described, time out was in effect. No balk, runner returns to first base.

Before putting the ball back in play, I would have a lil' chat with the 1B coach about how I don't coach his players and he will NOT make anymore judgment calls regarding plays on the field.

Michael

I don't know about implied timeout --- but if the umpire didn't see the balk, it's not a balk. If he didn't call a balk, it's not a balk. And coach would get a VERY strongly worded warning for sending the runner to 2nd... that's MY job, if it's warranted, not his.