Help with the balk rule?

Question

My son is a pitcher. He is moving up from little league to pony league this season and I would like to give him a good explanation of the balk rule. What does he need to do to avoid the balk call? Any help will be appreciated.

Answer 1

I'll try avoiding a 3 page cut/paste explanation.


>If you start a windup, you must finish it and throw the ball to the catcher.
>If he steps off from the windup set, he has to step off with his "off foot" (right foot for righties and left for lefties).
>If he is left handed throwing to first or right handed throwing to third (from the stretch) the angle of his approach foot must be less than 45 degrees from an imaginary straight line from the rubber to the base.(90 degrees = home plate & 0 degrees =first or third base)
>From the stretch - if his foot crosses the rubber when lifted, he has to throw home.
>From the stretch - he has to come to a complete stop with his glove before throwing.
>From any starting position (stretch or windup) he can't drop the ball.
>From the stretch - he can't "twitch" at all. Once a movement is made, it has to continue into a pitching motion.
>He can't touch his hat while standing on the rubber
>Once your hand is touching the ball inside the glove, you cannot bring your hand off the ball...unless you step off the rubber first.

There may be more, but that is all I can think of right now. Most balks are called from the stretch.

Answer 2

First of all, don't use a term for someone's sexual orientation as an insult. That insults everyone of that sexual orientation. But to your real question: It's among several rules designed to avoid trick plays, like pretending to throw home, but holding the ball and then picking off the runner. Another rule like that is the infield fly rule. It's annoying when a balk happens by accident, but that is rare enough that its effectiveness in keeping deceptive plays out of the game is probably worth it. Otherwise, the running game would be pretty much shut down. The only change I could see making, perhaps, let the umpire make a judgment call as to whether or not the balk was intentional (it virtually never is). If it isn't, any outs that result are returned to their base safely as no play. If it is, they all advance a base. I wouldn't mind experimenting with that in the minor leagues to see how it works.

Answer 3

The balk is a very confusing rule because a balk can be called for many different things. Your son should stick to the basics and he will earn more as he develops. Make sure he always takes his back foot off the rubber first before attempting a pick off. Also, don't drop the ball or do any weird hand motions while on the rubber. Basically, don't do anything that will distract the batter and runners and a balk will be avoided.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Help with the balk rule?
My son is a pitcher. He is moving up from little league to pony league this season and I would like to give him a good explanation of the balk rule. What does he need to do to avoid the balk call? Any help will be appreciated.

Answer 5

you probably need to see a picture, but ill do my best to explain, a lefthanded pitcher can lift up their front foot and step straight towards first or within a 45 degree angle and still throw to first without it being a balk, he can also step off the rubber with his back foot and throw over, now a right handed pitcher can either just spin and throw or can step off with the back foot and throw, (when you spin you have to throw the ball, when you step off with back foot you dont have too). Also, a balk is called if you do not come set or once you come set move unless it is a legal move to home, stepping off rubber, or a pickoff move.

Answer 6

once he is in the stretch and comes set he cant move his shoulders, unless he moves his back foot off the rubber first. This doesnt mean he has to pick it up and step back with it...a simple lift of the heel and quick turn will do....just look at the pros when they do a pick off. Same for pickoffs 2 second. But there is a second pickoff move for 2nd base. He can lift his league like he is coming home and BEFORE HIS FOOT CROSSES OVER THE PLANE OF THE RUBBER he can just turn and pivot on his back foot and throw to second. For pickoffs to third just watch a lefty pick off at first from the pros....(im assuming ur kid is righty). He cant drop the ball once he is set, if he is in the windup with both feet on the rubber....HE MUST STEP OFF WITH HIS OFF FOOT FIRST. Meaning if ur son is a righty normally for pitching he steps w/ his left foot back so if he wants 2 step off the rubber and avoid a balk he needs to step off w/ his RIGHT foot. basically the balk rule is put in there to forbid the pitcher to deceive the runner. Some of the stuff is hard to picture so pay attention to baseball on TV and ask ur sons coach or somebody who can demonstrate these in person for you. I mentioned when ur son is "set". In case u dont know what this means. When ur son is in the stretch he is looking at the catcher to get the signals, and his feet are most likely about 2ft apart with one of them on the rubber. Once he brings his hands together and starts gripping the ball in his glove, and has his feet closer together with his back foot on the rubber he is now "set". Also he must come set and pause for a brief second.

Hope Ive helped. Like I said this is something that is easier to understand by seeing than reading so look for videos online or talk 2 some1 in person.

Good Luck!!

Answer 7

I don't know about balking, but if you need a lesson in cutting and pasting Thomas is the guy to call.

Answer 8

Baulk Baseball

Answer 9

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Answer 10

INFACT IM IN THE SAME SITUATION AS U


A BALK IS WHEN A PITCHER IS WHEN A PITCHER ATTEPTS TO PICK A RUNNER OFF BUT STEPS TOWARD THE PLATE,MAKES A ILLEGAL MOTION, WHEN YOUR SON TRYS TO PICK OFF A BATTER HE MUST NOT STEP TOWARDS THE PLATE WHICK RESULTS IN A BALK