SW PONY League Rules
Rules governing play in Southwest Seattle PONY Baseball games shall be as stated in Official Baseball Rules (OBR), except as amended by PONY Rules issued by PONY Baseball International as they pertain to the respective Divisions (Bronco, Pony, Colt and Palomino) of PONY leagues. Southwest Seattle PONY Baseball has adopted the following amendments as allowed by PONY Rules for League games:
Bull Pens
- In the absence of a fenced-off area to warm up pitchers, each Manager will be responsible for the safety of players and spectators while warming up pitchers preparing to enter the game.
- Any bull pen catcher who is in the knee-down or squat position must wear a catcher’s mask and a groin-cup.
Pitch Counts
- The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position.
- League Age
- 17-18 = 85 pitches per day
- 15-16 = 75 pitches per day
- 13-14 = 65 pitches per day
- 11-12 = 55 pitches per day
- Pitchers league ages 10 through 14 must adhere to the following rest requirements: The times listed below are calculated from game start of game one to start of game two:
- If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, 96 hours of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, 72 hours of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, 48 hours of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, 24 hours of rest must be observed.
- In the event a pitchers' maximum pitch count is reached during an at-bat, the current pitcher may continue pitching to the current batter until said batter is ruled out or becomes a baserunner.
Minimum Playing Requirements
Bronco Only
- Each rostered player present shall participate in a minimum of three consecutive outs and appear in one official at bat per game attended. In the event that injury prevents such participation, all playing requirements will be fulfilled in the next scheduled game of which the player appears. Failure of a manager to adhere to this rule shall result in disciplinary action by the Board of Directors.
Minimum Number of Players
Bronco Only
For regular season games (excluding end-of-season Tournament), each team shall field no less than eight (8) of their registered players without penalty of forfeit.
• If one or more players arrive after the game begins, they shall be placed at the end of the batting order;
• The opposing team may, at their discretion, provide a player to take a defensive position so that all defensive positions are fielded. This player, if provided, should be the last batter put out in the previous inning;
• Registered, eligible players from SWSPB may be used by a team who is not able to field nine (9) players for a game if permission is obtained from that player’s Team Manager;
• Players brought in from other SWSPB teams will not be allowed to pitch.
Extra Hitter (10th Player)
Pony
- Each team will submit to the opposing team their starting line-up of nine players and one Extra Hitter (EH) who will be designated to hit only as a 10th player.
Bronco
- All teams during scheduled league games will submit their starting line-ups and bat the entire roster without the use of the EH.
Pre-game activities
- During League play, the home team will have their choice of dugouts to occupy. Such a determination will be made at the earliest opportunity possible. In the event the home team has not chosen a dugout to occupy 30 minutes before game time, such decision will be deferred to the visiting team.
- Each team will be provided adequate time to warm up both infield and outfield players prior to each game. To maintain an adequate level of safety no team shall be permitted to take live pitching utilizing anything other than plastic (whiffle) type balls. This includes soft baseballs, hardballs or tennis balls.
- 25-15 minutes prior to game time the visiting team will have complete use of the game field for the purposes of game preparation.
- 15-5 minutes prior to game time the home team will have complete use of the game field for the purposes of game preparation.
- 5 minutes prior to the game the umpire will be in charge of all activities leading up to game time.
Game Times
- Start time of games shall be that of the published schedule. Failure to commece the game in a timely fashion shall have no effect on game time limitations.
- No new inning shall be started after two (2) hours of the published start time for games played Monday through Thursday.
- No new inning shall be started after two and one-half (2:30) hours of the published start time for games played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Equipment
- All equipment approved by USA Baseball and/or PONY Baseball International shall be considered legal and approved for play in all Divisions.
- Metal cleats are allowed in all Southwest Seattle PONY Baseball Divisions as provided under Rule 8.D of Official PONY Rules.
Ejection of a player or coach
In the event that a player or coach has been ejected from the game by a qualified umpire during league or tournament play, said participant will be disqualified from participating in the game in which they were ejected, plus one additional game.
Conduct of Play
- "Slide or Avoid" - baserunners are required to slide or avoid fielders attempting to make a play on said baserunners. Failure to slide or avoid: the baserunner is out; if, in the umpire's judgement, the slide (or failure to) was done with malicious intent, the baserunner shall be called out and ejected from the game immediately.
- When equipped and operational, the dugout doors must be kept closed and latched during play.
- No more than three (3) coaches or managers may be on the field or in the dugout during the course of play. Any person actively on the field during the course of a game must be approved by the Board after having filed an On-Field Volunteer Application.
- Congregation by coaches or managers outside the dugout (including down the left or right field lines) will be prohibited during the course of play.
- Coaching players from areas outside of the dugout will be prohibited.
All-Star Manager Selection
No later than April of each year The Board of Directors will solicit and select All-Star Managers for each of level of play. Depending on player participation The Board will select All-Star managers for each league age.
Each manager who wishes to be considered for selection will submit a letter of intent and coaching resume to The Board at a date to be determined. Selection criteria will be determined by The Board and should be based on character and coaching ability.
