2022dad ---- You can not safely assume that at all!! I coach at the HS level in SoCal. The crap we see from players amazes us and I think you would be surprised at the stuff they pull. And let me tell you one more thing... it is getting worse!! The stuff we are getting from "travel ball" and current local Rec leagues scares the $%^& out of us on the staff. We spend many days just shaking our heads. That is no joke.
South_paw - WOW --- And still even more a jerk even though I gave you a clear cut answer to your question from ART 2 and ART 3. Amazing.
Again... You wrote BALK. Or was it the coach who said it that came in and typed that word before you hit the SEND button??? So you neither wrote it nor said it. Do I have that correct now? Damn.. where is that sarcasm font button...
I know you said the coach SAID IT, but why would any HS Baseball coach use the word BALK to refer to your son's wind-up if he was not referring to when runners are on base. If the coach did use the word BALK to refer to a situation in which there are no runners on base then THAT PERSON SHOULD NOT BE COACHING at the HS level, or any level beyond NO LEADING Little League.
Fact breakdown from my newly passed remedial reading class: (I got an A+!)
You wrote:
For his full windup, he is experimenting with a new motion: blah blah blah
Then you wrote in the very same post:
One of his "coaches" - who was more of a basketball player than a baseball player in his day - told him this is a "balk".
So, from simple reading (again thanks for that remedial reading class recommendation) and even more simple logic you can deduce this:
Your son is pitching from a full windup with this new motion while runners are on base.
Why else would a HS Coach do this:
told him this is a "balk"
So, in short, and through my wonderful time in my remedial reading class this morning my question as to why would he be pitching from the wind-up with runners on makes complete sense. That is to anyone that is not made of straw...
From NFHS situations 5 through 7 (which should account for what you son is doing) I will let you make the call:
SITUATION 5: The pitcher places his pivot foot on the pitching plate with the toe of the pivot foot in front of a line through the front edge of the plate and the heel of his pivot foot behind the back edge. His non-pivot foot is in front of the line extending through the front edge of the pitching plate. The pitcher attempted to pick-off the runner at second base. RULING: This is an illegal pitching position. When the pitcher moved in his pick-off attempt, he made an illegal pitch and a balk would be enforced. (6-1-2 Penalty)
SITUATION 6: The pitcher places his entire pivot foot on top of and parallel to the pitching plate. No part of his pivot foot is on or in front of the front edge of the pitching plate. His entire non-pivot foot is in a line with the pivot foot, on top of the pitching plate with no part of the non-pivot on or in front of the line of the front edge of the pitching plate.RULING: While this appears to be an unusual and a non-functional pitching stance, it is a legal wind-up position. (6-1-2)
SITUATION 7: The pitcher places his non-pivot foot on top of the pitching plate at a 45-degree angle with one-third of his pivot foot in front of the front edge of the pitching plate and the heel of his pivot foot behind the back edge of the pitching plate. His non-pivot foot is entirely in front of the front edge of the pitching plate. Without making any other movement, the pitcher places his pivot foot entirely behind the pitching plate. RULING: The pitcher initially assumed an illegal pitching position. Since he made no other movement, he is allowed to step back off of the pitching plate with his pivot foot and correct his illegal position. (6-1-2, 3)
