Generally, shouldn't it not be considered a balk when not making any large movements?

Once you come set about all you can do is turn your head and turn the ball in your glove. What are you doing that is getting balked?
In HS there are many things you can do before you set but once you stop it is no different than any other code.

One of the mistakes we make in discussing umpiring is to use the term "generally"....

There is little use of the term "generally" when it comes to umpires as there are so many levels of umpires. Trying to make a blanket statement about how much movement you can get away with wouldnt be worth much since the next umpire you run into may not allow what I might....

In the 2 umpire system, both umpires are checking a number of items on each pitch....the movement you got away with last inning might have been when the umpire glances at the runner and missed it.......yet when you try it an inning later, he sees it and balks you......

Now with that being said...Since this is a HS site, I will speak from a HS perspective. At this level you (the pitcher and your coach) are expected to understand what the Balk rule is and why its called. The higher you go in baseball the less you can get away with. A PONY league pitcher might get away with movement that will get you balked in HS and a HS pitcher might get away with movement that would be balked in college and so on up the ladder to the pros...

I would hesitate to instruct you in how much movement is worth attempting. A good varsity runner is concentrating on your every move to get his jump.....so even small movements to decieve him after coming set can get the balk call.....

Like MST, I would also like to know if you have a move or situation that was balked so that we can discuss that particular instance.....

Hope this helps.....best of luck...

piaa_ump

I agree completely.
You have said this on various occassions, the skill level of the ump will determine what is called a balk. If an ump can't explain it, then he will not call it.

When my son was pitching in high school he had a way to slightly moving his heel. The only time it was called a balk in 4 years is when the base ump was also a college ump.

They both laughed about it after it was called.