NFHS balk: "places his feet on or astride the pitcher’s plate" confusion

[Tog Gee]

6-2-5   It is also a balk if a runner or runners are on base and the pitcher, (1) while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate, makes any movement naturally associated with his pitch, (2) or he places his feet on or astride the pitcher’s plate, (3) or positions himself within approximately five feet of the pitcher’s plate without having the ball.

I have added the numbers above in parenthesis to ease discussion

(1) is clear to me. (3) is clear to me.

Do both (2) also apply to a pitcher who does NOT have the ball? I have always read only (3) as without the ball because it would trump (2) anyway.

 

If (2) is with the ball...

Astride is clear to me.

But as far as "on the plate"...

I understand that for the set position, "he shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher's plate and with his pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate" (can the pivot foot be on the plate?)

If "places his feet on or astride the pitcher’s plate" is a balk with the ball, what about the windup? Set position with pivot foot on the plate?

 

 

Tom

[Jimurray]

1 hour ago, Toggy said:

6-2-5   It is also a balk if a runner or runners are on base and the pitcher, (1) while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate, makes any movement naturally associated with his pitch, (2) or he places his feet on or astride the pitcher’s plate, (3) or positions himself within approximately five feet of the pitcher’s plate without having the ball.

I have added the numbers above in parenthesis to ease discussion

(1) is clear to me. (3) is clear to me.

Do both (2) also apply to a pitcher who does NOT have the ball? I have always read only (3) as without the ball because it would trump (2) anyway.

 

If (2) is with the ball...

Astride is clear to me.

But as far as "on the plate"...

I understand that for the set position, "he shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher's plate and with his pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate" (can the pivot foot be on the plate?)

If "places his feet on or astride the pitcher’s plate" is a balk with the ball, what about the windup? Set position with pivot foot on the plate?

 

 

Tom

It would make more sense if you/FED remove the comma before your (3). 2 and 3 are only penalized if a hidden ball trick is being attempted. 2 is kind of redundant.

[LC Ump]

Agree that the comma creates confusion.

OBR has clearer language. Rule 6.02 (a)9: "The pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher's plate or while off the plate, he feints a pitch."

And the NCAA rule makes it a balk if the pitcher is merely off the dirt circle but begins a lot like OBR. Rule 9-3-f: "While not in possession of the ball, the pitcher..."

[BigBlue4u]

3 hours ago, Jimurray said:

I

4 hours ago, Toggy said:

understand that for the set position, "he shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher's plate and with his pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate" (can the pivot foot be on the plate?)

Toggy,

If you are referring to high school rules, the placement of the non-pivot foot in a set position is of no consequence.  Under the 2023 rule, the pitcher, while in a set position, may place his non-pivot foot anywhere he desires. And, yes, the pivot foot can be on the plate, but it is unlikely since the pitcher will have nothing to push against as he makes his delivery.