Clever Trick Play or Sleazy?

[3Bsnag]

That's exactly what we teach our daughters every time we run a yellow light, cut through a parking lot to avoid an intersection, pin our bedskirts to our mattress so it won't slip, help them skim a textbook because we can't find the answers, etc. Those are not the intended ways, but it gets the job done legally.

I am personally not a fan of runners giving catching signals and really find it funny. I can't tell you how many times I've watched a called third strike because the dumb batter was trying to get the signal off of her runner on 2nd.

But if you find a clever way to catch me off guard and it's legal, I just may have to borrow it the next game.

[umpinva]

I've never heard of that one before. Please cite the rule and governing body which states throwing a live ball to an unoccupied base is delay of game. It would be very helpful to have that rule handy during the home plate meeting.

This is not something I would cover during a plate conference.

Rule cites:
NFHS
SECTION 3
ART.2...The catcher shall return the ball directly to the pitcher after each pitch, except after a strikeout or putout made by the catcher, or to play on a baserunner.
PENALTY: (ART.2) The batter is awarded a ball
EXCEPTION: Intentionally violating the rule to walk the batter without pitching shall not result in a ball being awarded the batter.

NSA SECTION 8 The umpire calls a ball:

d: When the catcher fails to return the ball directly to the pitcher as required in Rule 6.

NCAA 10.16 Returning a Pitched Ball to the Pitcher

I don't have my ASA book available right now but I'm sure one of the ASA guru's can give you the ASA rule.