Okay, so today I decided to tackle something that’s been bugging me in my kid’s little league games: the balk rule. It’s confusing, even for adults, so imagine trying to explain it to a bunch of 8-year-olds! I figured, I gotta get this straight myself before I can even attempt to help them understand.
Getting Started
First, I dug out the official Little League rulebook. You know, the one that usually sits in the bottom of the equipment bag, covered in dirt and forgotten? Yeah, that one. I flipped through it, trying to find the section on balks. It wasn’t exactly a thrilling read, lots of legal-sounding language.
Finding Clarification
Then, I hit up the internet, I watch some videos of major league balks, trying to see the rule in action. Seeing it happen, with the announcers explaining why it was a balk, helped a bit. I also found some Little League-specific explanations, which were a little more simplified.
Combine them, the rulebook with videos. I also find a website, it has videos with specific explanations.
Practice Makes Perfect
Next, I decided to get practical. I grabbed my son and we went out to the backyard. I had him stand on a makeshift pitcher’s mound (a slightly elevated patch of grass) and I acted as the batter/baserunner.
- I showed him the basic pitching motion, step by step.
- Then, I demonstrated some common balk moves – things like faking a throw to first base without actually releasing the ball, or stopping his pitching motion mid-way.
- We practiced this a bunch of times, with me calling out “Balk!” whenever he did something illegal. It was kind of fun, actually.
The Result
I’m not gonna lie, it’s still a bit fuzzy. But I definitely feel more confident in my understanding of the balk rule now. I can at least point out the obvious ones during a game, and hopefully, help my kid and his teammates avoid making those mistakes. It’s a work in progress, but hey, that’s Little League, right?
