The balk rule is one of the most misinterpreted rules in baseball, especially at the younger levels of baseball. A balk is an illegal act performed by the pitcher and all base runners advance one base as a result. The rule is complicated and somewhat subjective in nature.
In this article, we will explain the different types of balks, as there are a few different ways to balk, the results of a balk, and how to avoid balking as a pitcher. Pitchers at all levels need to be aware of this rule as it is detrimental to your team.
The other main factor for this call is if the pitcher is right handed or left handed. The rule is slightly different because of this, but also more confusing as well. We will also discuss stealing bases and how the balk comes into play with this as well.
What is a Balk in Baseball
A balk is an illegal act by the pitcher of the team on defense. A balk is an illegal throw to a base or deceiving the batter in some way. There are a lot of different rules when dealing with the balk rule, and steps to avoid it as well.
All base runners advance one base, so a balk is only truly active when there are runners on base. This is one of the most difficult concepts to coach, if you are coaching youth baseball, and kids are just learning how to pitch correctly and effectively.
Why is a Balk a Rule in Baseball?
The balk rule is in place so that pitchers can not deceive baserunners. Baserunners will lead off in baseball and there has to be some consistency with how the pitcher delivers a pitch or throws over to a base.
If the balk rule was not incorporated in baseball, baserunners would be at a huge disadvantage. The guidelines are intact in order to make it fair for the baserunners, but also keep pitchers at a consistent pace.
Without a balk rule, pitchers would have advantages that would not allow runners to steal bases or even take good lead offs. This would definitely change the game quite a bit, and therefore, balks are necessary to keep pitchers in check.
What are the Different Ways to Balk?
Pitcher Interrupts His Motion
Once the pitcher comes set, his next movement must be either towards the plate or towards a base. If the pitcher does start a delivery to the plate, he must deliver the pitch, whithout an interruption.
Fails to Come to a Complete Stop During the Set Position
The pitcher must come to a complete stop before making a movement to the plate. There must be about a one second pause before the pitcher delivers to the plate. Both hands must be together and there must be an obvious pause.
This is a difficult step to coach youth baseball players. One tip for this technique is to get into a habit of teaching kids to take a deep breath before delivery. This helps develop a routine to actually pause before delivery.
Coaches make the mistake of saying to a kid, “make sure you pause.” This actually is not coaching at all. As a coach, give the player something to use as a technique, something that is consistent, and then can become a habit and repeatable.
Hands are Above the Chin at the Set Position
When the pitcher comes set prior to his delivery to the plate, his hands must be set below his chin. If the hands are not together or not below that chin on the set, this is considered a balk.
This is another balk rule that is difficult to teach young baseball players. Once again, it is important as a coach to provide something for them to think about as they are coming set. If this habit is not broken early, it becomes somewhat of an issue moving forward.
Pivot Foot is Not in Contact with the Rubber
This rule is fairly easy to comprehend; the pivot foot must be in contact with the rubber upon delivery to the plate. This is one of the easiest balk rules to coach young baseball players about since the rule is very easy to understand.
The result of this balk infraction is the same as the others, each base runner will advance one base.
Pitcher Comes Set, But Turns His Shoulder Towards First Base
Once the pitcher is in the set position, his shoulders need to remain still. If the pitcher turns his front shoulder to look towards first base, this is considered a balk. Once the pitcher is in the set position, he must stay still and either deliver to the plate or make a move to a base.
This may be the most difficult part of pitching for young baseball players. They will want to look over to first base in order to see the base runner leading off. Coach the young players to check the runner prior to coming to the set position, and then use their peripheral to see his lead.
This technique is difficult for young players and should be practiced very often.
Fakes a Throw to First Base
Pitchers can not fake a throw to first base. If the pitcher turns and fakes a throw, a balk is called. The only way that a pitcher can do this is if deliberately steps back off the rubber and turns to first base. If the pitcher just simply turns to first base, then he must throw the ball over to the base.
In the MLB, a pitcher can not fake a throw to third base. At the high school level, a pitcher may fake towards second base and third base only, never to first base. This is actually a good technique to coach younger players to do to keep runners close. Sometimes, just stepping off the rubber is efficient to keep base runners close to the base, avoiding huge leads.
Here is a good video talking about how the feet work with the rubber and throwing over to first base:
Pitchers Turns and Fakes to an Unoccupied Base
Very similar to faking to first base, but if a pitcher fakes to a base where there is not a base runner, this is considered a balk. Typically this is just a mistake that a young pitcher may make, one of the more uncommon forms of a balk.
Pitcher Steps to Deliver a Pitch and Does Not
This happens at times for pitchers. The pitcher comes to the set position, and begins a delivery to the plate, but does not throw the pitch. Typically this happens to younger pitchers because they get distracted possibly by someone stealing, and they see it out of the corner of their eye.
This also happens at the lower levels because of fans yelling. Sometimes, I have seen parents or fans that yell as a runner is stealing. The pitcher has already begun his delivery to the plate, then loses focus because he hears the person yelling.
It is important to coach your young players that no matter what, once he decides to deliver the pitch to the plate, to always continue the delivery. It may be helpful to practice these distractions, and teach your pitchers to focus at all times. Once he begins his delivery, that should be his focus no matter what.
Pitcher Drops the Ball While on the Rubber
Once the pitcher makes contact with the rubber, he must hang on to the ball throughout the process. If the pitcher drops the ball for some reason, this is considered a balk.
This is seen at the youth levels more than at the older levels of baseball. Some younger pitchers as they come to set position, may bump their gloves and drop the ball. I have also seen this for pitchers that are trying to adjust their throwing hand to maybe throw a curveball or something off speed, and they end dropping the ball as they are fidgeting with it.
The coaching point here is to have your pitcher hold the ball in the toughest hand placement that he throws. For example, if your pitcher throws a curve, have him hold the ball in a curve ball position before he comes set. It is much easier to adjust to a standard fastball position with his hands than it is the other way around.
Pitcher Brings his Hands to His Face While on the Rubber
Some pitchers tend to lick their hands or blow on their hands as they are getting ready. This is a balk. Some umpires, if it is cold out, may make an exception to this rule, but usually it is discussed in the pre-game meeting with the coaches and umpires.
Once the pitcher is on the mound, it is important for the pitcher not to take his hands to his mouth or face. The rule is the same as the other balk rules as every base runner is awarded one base.
Here is a good video explaining some of the balks that we have discussed above:
Related Questions
What if the Pitcher is a Lefty?
Pitchers from the left side have a different set of rules to abide by. Once the picture comes set, if he is a left-handed pitcher, he is facing first base, which makes things quite a bit different than a typical right-handed pitcher.
As a left-handed pitcher, he would come sit with both hands below the chin, as normal, but then his right foot as it is lifted off the ground must either be in the direction of first base or he must deliver to the plate.
When a left-hander box, it is typically because the right foot crosses over the left foot, which is the pivot foot, and then proceeds to throw towards first base. This is illegal because the picture must deliver a pitch once the right foot crosses over the left leg.
As a base runner, it is much more difficult to steal second base off of a left-handed pitcher, then it is off of a right handed pitcher. For many players, it is difficult to read when the picture is delivering to the plate versus throwing towards first base, which makes stealing very difficult. Don’t leave you for many players, it is difficult to read when the picture is delivering to the plate versus throwing towards first base, which makes stealing very difficult.
How Can I Coach Young Pitchers Who are Just Starting Out?
The key to coaching young players how to pitch is to break down the steps. Make sure that each step is practiced in sequential order, but that they understand the rules to follow, in order to avoid a balk.
There are a lot of steps and rules to follow, and I would recommend not actually going over all of the balk rules, it will just complicate things even more for your players. Teach them the proper ways of pitching, but don’t discuss too much of the rule, since these are mostly negatives.
Do the Professionals Sometimes Balk?
In 1988, Dave Stewart balked 16 times in a season, which is the season total record. There aren’t that many balks that occur in major league baseball. At the younger levels, pitchers balk much more, as they are still developing their skills and knowledge of the game.
Here are some of the worst balks in Major League Baseball:
Final Thoughts
The balk rule is one of the most complicated rules in all of sports, mostly because of the many ways to balk. It truly is a detrimental mistake to a team, especially when there are base runners on third base. That runner always scores on a balk, therefore giving the opposing team an easy run.
At younger ages, this rule is sometimes overlooked by umpires and it is a good idea to discuss this with the umpires at the managers meeting prior to starting the game. This is a rule that I truly believe younger players learn as they go, and sometimes by making the mistake.
The rule is one that allows for runners to get a consistent idea about a pitcher, and allows them a chance to steal bases. It is important to coach each step of the pitching mechanics along the way as your young players develop into pitchers.
