Foot Position on Rubber

quote:

Originally posted by JPontiac:
I was told today that the position my foot is in is a balk. I stand on the far edge of the rubber, with about half of my foot off the rubber towards first base. I'll try to illustrate with symbols. The top line is the rubber. The bottom will be my foot position.

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Did whoever told you this also tell you that the tie goes to the runner and that batted balls that bounce off homeplate are automatically foul?


This is nonsense.

I thought that this must be the case since I have been doing this for 6+ years now and have never heard a thing. Thanks.

I had an umpire tell my son (12u club game) that stepping in front on the rubber with his right foot (LHP) in the wind up with his first step was a balk. He then proceeded to call 2 balks in a row. With no runners on, he awarded first base to the first kid and then gave the second kid a ball. The other coach came out and protested, so he gave first base to the other batter as well. I protested the game at that point (and won later).

My son then switched to the stretch and stayed there for about two years. I needed a professional scout to ask him what was 'wrong in your head' to get him to switch back to throwing from the wind up.

Most umpires are great, and we really appreciate the hard work, dedication, lumps and bruises, but some of you guys...

In a game last night, the BU in a varsity game couldn't make two calls because he was 'making sure all the players stayed behind the fence in the dugout, which is a safety issue' He missed a called strike apeal (one thing) and then a play at first (totally another).

When the BU doesn't make a call on a ground ball at first because he 'isn't watching', things tend to get 'disorganized'.

quote:

Originally posted by JPontiac:
I was told today that the position my foot is in is a balk. I stand on the far edge of the rubber, with about half of my foot off the rubber towards first base. I'll try to illustrate with symbols. The top line is the rubber. The bottom will be my foot position.

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--------FOOOT





HOME

From the set position only, the ENTIRE pivot foot is supposed to be on or in front of the rubber, and the penalty (with men on) is indeed a balk. I don't know anyone who goes looking for this though - often there is a crater in front of the rubber, and the pitcher is just looking for some level ground to push off from.

It's another one of those rules that exists only in FED, without any reason for it except to be different.

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:

quote:

Originally posted by JPontiac:
I was told today that the position my foot is in is a balk. I stand on the far edge of the rubber, with about half of my foot off the rubber towards first base. I'll try to illustrate with symbols. The top line is the rubber. The bottom will be my foot position.

|---------|
--------FOOOT





HOME

From the set position only, the ENTIRE pivot foot is supposed to be on or in front of the rubber, and the penalty (with men on) is indeed a balk. I don't know anyone who goes looking for this though - often there is a crater in front of the rubber, and the pitcher is just looking for some level ground to push off from.

It's another one of those rules that exists only in FED, without any reason for it except to be different.

As with other codes, the interpretation for years has been "in front of the rubber" , not directly in front. Meaning, that if one draws a line extending from the front edge of the rubber to the side and the half of the foot that is not directly in front of the rubber is still in front of that line, there is no violation of the rule.

The was included in the NFHS quarterlies.

While I am not the biggest fan of all FED rules, I don't know of many that exist just to be different.

The problem isn't with the "in front vs. directly in front," it's because the rule says the ENTIRE pivot foot must be in contact with or directly in front of the rubber (neither NCAA nor OBR has such restriction).

Is this another one of those instances where a case play or interpretation is directly contrary to the written rule? Another example would be the case play that says a batter is out if he bunts the ball while his knee is touching the plate, even though both feet are entirely within the batter's box.

Thanks Jimmy.