at my game yesterday i was called for a balk and i want to know if what i did was really a balk. there were runners at first and second (im right handed). instead of going from the stretch, i stepped on the mound like i was going from the windup. i steped back with my right foot, off of the rubber. then i put my left foot right right in frot of the rubber. the runner on third took off, which is what i wanted to do, and i threw over and wouldve gotten him out but the balk was called. help me out here.

if you raised your hands like you were winding up, that is a balk, since you had disengaged, it does not matter if you step in front of the plate

Austin,

There just isnt enough info in your post to give you a definitive answer. Balks are called based on the judgment of the umpire who called it.

I will disagree with johntaine's comments. Just because you disengage you can not do anything you want......lets look at it...In reading your post it sounds as if you stepped off the rubber correctly and repostioned your feet. That in itself is not a balk.

However, what you do with your hands, feet and your intent can lead to a balk call....

NFHS Rule 7-1 article 5

It is also a balk if a runner or runners are on base and the pitcher, while he is not touching the pitchers plate, makes any movement naturally associated with his pitch.....

the rub here is "any movement"........if the umpire who called the balk felt you were trying to simulate making a pitch off the rubber to decieve the runner then a balk can be called......

Did he tell you or your coach why he called the balk?.....

There are 30 balks that can be called and are usually called at varying amounts at each level....meaning what you can get away with at PONY league will get you balked in HS, but what you get away with in HS, can get you balked in college..... different levels of play, differing levels of umpire experience.....

I did a PONY league game last week as a training game for a new umpire....if I had called every balk the 14 year old pitcher did, we would still be out there.......but not one of those infractions would be let go at the NCAA level....

hope this helps.

piaa,
after I typed the post, I realized that this is mostly judgement and my statement was very general.

Austin,
A key thing that I was trying to point out was wrong, if you disengage the rubber, and then step forward then throw, an umpire could judge, again this is a lot of judgement, that you have made a motion to the plate like you were pitching...

To all,

A key to this all...only call the obvious balks. If you're the only one that knows its a balk, keep it that way, you'll stay out of trouble.

quote:

A key to this all...only call the obvious balks. If you're the only one that knows its a balk, keep it that way, you'll stay out of trouble.

or with a knowledgable coach you will get crucifed....balks and calling balks are an important part of any real umpires training.

Calling a valid balk is required as an umpire...looking for small technical violations leans towards being OOO.

when I was trained many years ago, my training umpire told me to:

Call 100% of all balks everyone sees......

Call 50% of the balks only a baseball person would see....(coaches, players etc...)

call none of the balks only you see.......

Of the 30 balk offenses.......usually only 5-6 are ever called in a sub varsity games.

quote:

the rub here is "any movement"........if the umpire who called the balk felt you were trying to simulate making a pitch off the rubber to decieve the runner then a balk can be called......

I'll add, that even if your still on the rubber, and "begin any motion to pitch" then step off, you'll get nailed there too.

F1 brings hands together and starts an upward swing of the hands as he rocks back onto the pivot foot behind the mound, better look like a step off and not a motion to pitch, followed by step off.

if one reads rule6-2or6-3,stepping off of the pitching plate is not complete until the pivot foot is clearly placed on the ground behind the pitching plate.the pitcher does not have the legal right to do any of the other things mentioned(like feint a throw etc) until this is done. therefor, a balk call could be expected if the hands are moved in any way shape or form before that pivot foot in placed on the ground behind the rubber.