District 9 Little League

Washington District 9
Little League Umpire
Information & Resources

 Little League



 

Balks on the big diamond: A guide for umpires

 

Balks and illegal pitches are covered in Rule 8.05, which contains thirteen sections (sections "a" through "m"). All of the sections of 8.05 are enforced in Little League Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior/Big League baseball (that is, on the "big diamond").

However, only a selected number of these rules, those which are "illegal pitches," are enforced in Little League Majors and Minors ("small diamond").

The sections below provide the text of Rule 8.05(a-m). Clicking on the Explanation & Commentary buttons will open a reading pane. The reading pane contains content drawn from the Western Region Umpire Instruction Manual ("RIM"), commentary from the Little League publication entitled The Right Call, and from Washington District 9 umpire consultants.

Rule 8.05

        Note:   If you are using Internet Explorer, you may receive this message: "Internet Explorer restricted this webpage from running scripts or ActiveX controls." If so, click on the button "Allow Blocked Content" in order to use the commentary buttons below.

An illegal pitch (a balk in Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior/Big League baseball when a runner or runners are on base) is when:

 

  (a) The pitcher, while touching the plate, makes any motion naturally associated with the pitch and fails to make such delivery;

 

  (b) The pitcher, while touching the plate, feints a throw to first base and fails to complete the throw;

 

  (c) The pitcher, while touching the plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base;

 

  (d) The pitcher, while touching the plate, throws, or feints a throw, to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play;

 

  (e) The pitcher makes an "quick pitch"; umpires will judge a quick pitch as one delivered before the batter is reasonably set in the batter's box.
NOTE: A quick pitch is an illegal pitch. With runners on base penalty is a balk; with no runners on base, it is a ball. (See exceptions in "Penalty".)

 

  (f) The pitcher delivers the ball to the batter while not facing the batter;

 

  (g) The pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with the pitch while not touching the pitcher's plate;

 

  (h) The pitcher unnecessarily delays the game;

 

  (i) The pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher's plate or while off the plate feints a pitch;

 

  (j) The pitcher, while touching the plate, accidentally or intentionally drops the ball;

 

  (k) The pitcher, while giving an intentional base on balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the catcher's box.

PENALTY: The pitch shall be called a ball. If a play follows the illegal pitch the manager of the offense may advise the plate umpire of a decision to decline the illegal pitch penalty and accept the play. Such election shall be made immediately at the end of the play. However, if the batter hits the ball and reaches first base safely, and if all base-runners advance at least one base on the action resulting from the batted ball, the play proceeds without reference to the illegal pitch. NOTE: A batter hit by pitch shall be awarded first base without reference to the illegal pitch.

 

  (l) The pitcher, after coming to a legal position, removes one hand from the ball other than in an actual pitch, or in throwing to a base;

 

  (m) The pitcher delivers the pitch from the set position without coming to a stop.


NOTE:  If the pitcher makes an illegal pitch with the bases unoccupied, it shall be called an illegal pitch. Little League (Majors) and Minor League -In the situations noted above (excluding [l] and [m]), if the pitcher makes an illegal pitch, it shall be called an illegal pitch whether or not runner(s) is/are on base. There is no balk in Majors and Minors.

PENALTY FOR AN ILLEGAL PITCH: The pitch shall be called a ball. If a play follows the illegal pitch the manager of the offense may advise the plate umpire of a decision to decline the illegal pitch penalty and accept the play. Such election shall be made immediately at the end of the play. However, if the batter hits the ball and r eaches first base safely, and if all base runners advance at least one base on the action resulting from the batted ball, the play proceeds without reference to the illegal pitch.
NOTE: A batter hit by a pitch shall be awarded first base without reference to the illegal pitch.

PENALTY FOR A BALK: The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk. When a balk is called and the pitch is delivered it will be considered neither a ball nor strike unless the pitch is ball four (4) awarding the batter first base and forcing all runners on base to advance.

NOTE: Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner. If there is doubt in the umpire's mind, the "intent" of the pitcher should govern. However, certain specifics should be borne in mind:

  1. Straddling the pitcher's plate without the ball is to be interpreted as intent to deceive and ruled a balk.
  2. With a runner on first base, and the runner attempting to steal second, the pitcher may make a complete turn, without hesitating toward first, and throw to second. This is not to be interpreted as throwing to an unoccupied base.

APPROVED RULING 1: If the pitcher violates (a) through (m) in this rule and throws wild to a base, the runner or runners may advance at their own risk (delayed dead ball).

APPROVED RULING 2: A runner who misses the first base to which that runner is advancing and who is called out on appeal shall be considered as having advanced one base for the purpose of this rule.

        Note:   On any play on which a balk occurs, if action advances the batter-runner to first base and also advances all runners at least one base, the balk is nullified. Also note that if the pitch is delivered, it counts against pitch count, even if the balk is nullified.

 

The "catcher's balk"

In addition to the thirteen sections of Rule 8.05, umpires should also be mindful of the related issue of the "catcher's balk":

Rule 4.03(a). If a catcher leaves the batter’s box before the pitcher delivers the pitch (as when giving an intentional walk), the pitcher shall be charged with a balk (with runners on base), or with no runners on, an illegal pitch (ball to the batter).

Rule 7.07. If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or the bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk (“catcher’s balk”), the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference (“catcher’s interference”) and the ball is dead.






D9 Umpire Home Page

D9 Umpire Staff & UICs

Umpire Resources Library

Training Files

Rules Resources

Sites of Interest

Good Reading

Equipment

Umpire Photo Albums

Umpire Training Schedule


Return to the District 9 Site