Official PONY League Baseball Rules in Effect and Are to Be Strictly Followed

Spring2015DSYSA Baseball Rules

Official PONY League Baseball Rules in effect and are to be strictly followed.

The only exception to these are time limits, runs and tiebreaker’

No rules may be changed except by a vote of the Board of Directors.

Any proposal for rule changes should be made in writing to the Board.

All Star play will strictly follow official PONY League Rules. The exceptions below shall be null and void. ***There is no all star play in the Fall season***

All Leagues except Wee ball must keep the official scorebook during the spring season. The Home team is responsible for this. Fall Seasons will not keep a score book nor will standing be maintained.

Both coaches need to email in the game score as well as innings pitched by each pitcher during the Spring season.

Teams will not be penalized for fielding less than 10 players (6U) or 9 players (8U,10U,12U,14U). This is because we stretch our team’s rosters to provide every player more playing time. This rule is for regular season games only.

Field Set Up / Clean Up:

Both teams are equally responsible for

setting up the field, which includes dragging and watering the infield (if needed), painting lines and installing bases.
Be sure to keep the dirt off of the grass and water before lines are painted.
You are responsible for cleaning out your dugout after the game and policing the Home bleachers for litter and left behind items.
Keeping the “official scorebook”.
HOME TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE SCOREBOOK IS FILLED OUT PROERLY AND SIGNED BY BOTH HEAD COACHES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE END OF THE GAME. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC LOSS FOR THE HOME TEAM. HOME TEAM COACH WILL IMMEDIATELY EMAIL THEIR LEAGUE COMMISSIONER THE SCORE OF EACH TEAM OF THE GAME JUST COMPLETED.

If there is no scheduled game following your game, visiting team is responsible for, watering and dragging the infield, cleaning out your respective dugout, locking up field equipment and turning off the lights and policing the Visitors Bleachers for litter and left behind items.
If there is a game immediately following yours, you are responsible for assisting the following games in setting up the field for that scheduled game. (Please be responsible for cleaning your dugout and bleacher area whether you have a game immediately following or not).

***ALL DISPUTES, COMPLAINTS, QUESTIONS SHOULD FIRST GO THROUGH YOUR RESPECTIVE LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS*** If there is no league commissioner assigned then go through the Baseball Commissioner.

All Divisions

Zero Tolerance Policies

Any player, manager, coach or fan ejected from a game must leave the facility immediately and will serve a minimum 1 additional game suspension.
During the suspension the ejected person may not be at the ballpark.
Managers or coaches ejected from a game will be subject to a minimum mandatory one game suspension and will appear before an appointed board committee.
Additional discipline may be imposed as determined at the discretion of the League President, Player Agent, and one other Board Member appointed to the committee by the League President.
Managers, Coaches, parents or spectators exhibiting behavior or conduct not in conformity with the rules and philosophy of DSYSA Baseball and Softball may be subject to ejection from a game(s), or the field, or from the complex, before, during or after a game by the umpire, League President, or Player Agent.

Any changes in the game schedule due to rain will be addressed via the league website. The team managers will be notified of make-up game times.

Only the board or a board member may cancel a game. Coaches do not have the authority to cancel or reschedule their own games.

Team Roster Rules
Aplayer is only allowed to be on one team roster within the same age division at a time. Any player, or parent, wishing to be dropped by a team during a season, must get the consent from the DSYSA Baseball board.

Game Rules

Age Group / Bases / Pitching / Max Innings/time / Max Runs / Inning
6U / 50 ft. / 38 ft. / 6 or 1hr / 5
8U / 50ft. / 38 ft. / 6 or 1hr / 5
10U / 60 ft. / 44 ft. / 6 or 1hr 15min / 5
12U / 70 ft. / 48 ft. / 7or 1hr 30min / 5
14U / 80 ft. / 54 ft. / 7or 1hr 30min / No Limit

Full Catchers gear must be worn in all age divisions. Athletic supporters and Cups are required for all males playing catcher in all age divisions.
It is the obligation of the runner to slide in attempt to avoid contact. If contact is made, an umpire’s judgment will determine if the runner is safe or out.The Runner must make every effort to avoid contact with a defensive player.
Any intentional contact will result in ejection from the game.
Head first slides are not allowed, players may dive back to the bag head first to avoid a pick off attempt.
The home team is responsible for providing the “official scorekeeper”. The Official Scorebook shall be signed by both coaches at the end of the game and turned into the concession stand for record keeping (applies to Spring Seasons only.
Line-ups must be provided to the scorekeeper at the pre-game meeting. All line-up changes must be reported to the scorekeeper. (6U and above)
All tiegames will count as half games in the regular season ( ½ win, ½ loss)
Regular season games can end in a tie, tournament games will use the California tie-breaker policy may be initiated if a Championship game is tied after regulation inning have been completed.
The California tie-breaker: when a team goes on offense, the last batter from the previous inning starts the new inningon 2nd base andtwo outs.
Coaches will not be allowed to interfere with the play ex. – no deflecting the ball to a player, no touching the base runners.

Protests

All protests will be resolved immediately. A DSYSA board membershall be called to the field and a decision will be made immediately. There are no post game protests allowed.

Uniforms

All jerseys must have numbers.
No number shall be a duplicate on the same team.
Managers and/or coaches are NOT required to wear uniforms.
Necklaces such as the titanium baseball necklaces are allowed to be worn during play

All other jewelry is prohibited.

Age Cut Off

Spring Season Age Cut-off’s: Determine your age as of April 30 of the current calendar year.
Fall Season Age Cut-off’s: Determineyour age as of April 30 of the next calendar year.
A copy of each player’s official birth certificate can be requested at any time during the season by any board member.
Any Child elected to an All Star team must provide a valid birth certificate and must have played in at least half the games during the regular season. Proof must be documented in the official league score book.
There will be no exceptions to the age requirements. No player at any time is allowed to play down in the age division.

Bat Rules:

2 ¾” diameter bats are strictly prohibited in all divisions
Material of Bat is NOT a factor at any level of play.
Any 2 ¼” barrel non-wood bat that is marked with “1.15 BPF” and stamped

“Approved for play in PONY Baseball” can be used at any level of play.

There is no drop limit requirement.

Any 2 5/8” barrel non-wood bat (that is not a -3) can be used at any level of play.

There is no drop limit requirement

If a player wants to use a -3 non-wood bat, it MUST be BBCOR approved.
"Tee Ball" stamped bats are only allowed in Tee Ball (6U and 4U) and cannot be used in any other divisions.
"Coach Pitch" stamped bats are strictly prohibited at all levels of play in DSYSA.

10U, 12U, 14U - Kid Pitch Specific Rules

All rules will be in accordance with the 2014 Edition of PONY Playing Rules other than as noted below.

Game lengths are 1hr 15mins or 6 innings for 10U, 1hr 30mins or 7 innings for 12U, 1hr 30mins or 7 innings for 14U. If the inning limit is reached before the allowed time expires, the game is over.

No New innings are to begin after this time.

The home plate umpire shall keep official time.

All official start times shall be the scheduled time, regardless of delays, unless approved by the League President, Vice President or Player Agent (or when applicable, the “Board Member on Duty”).

Managers and coaches shall remain in the dugout at all times except where permitted as an offensive base coach.

Only the Manager shall be permitted to address the umpire.

Managers are responsible for the behavior of their team’s parents. Parents not in compliance with our zero tolerance policy may be ejected from the facility along with the manager.

The manager must request time out, which then must be granted by the umpire.

Discussion shall be restricted to protests, rule interpretation, or permission (a player or coach) to leave the field.

A defensive team will consist of nine (9) players in the field.

oTeams will be allowed to start a game with 8 players and will NOT be penalized an out every time the 9th player in the batting order comes to the plate.

oTeams that start with 9 players but have an injury will not be penalized at the plate for the injured players at bat and can finish the game with 8 players.

Base runners can lead-off in all age divisions.

Teams must bat their entire line-up.

Metal spikes are only allowed in 14U division.
Intentional Walks - Teams can walk a player intentionally, but 4 pitches must be thrown
Teams are not permitted to surrender during the course of a game. All games must be played to the completion rules.

Mercy Run Rule

10 runs after 4 innings

Substitutions

When batting the entire lineup (as we do) the above substitution rules do not apply. Coaches may substitute freely.
A pitcher, once removed from the mound, may not return to the pitcher’s position during the game.

8U - Coach Pitch Specific Rules

All rules will be in accordance with the 2014 Edition of PONY League Playing Rules other than as noted below.

Game lengths are 1hr or 6 innings. If the inning limit is reached before the allowed time expires, the game is over.

No New innings are to begin after this time.

The Umpire shall keep official time.

All official start times shall be the scheduled time, regardless of delays, unless approved by the League President, Vice President or Player Agent (or when applicable, the “Board Member on Duty”).

The coach pitcher is to do all he can to get out of the way of a batted ball and not interfere with a players ability to field the ball.

The batter runner will be called out if interference is called by the umpire.

Exception – Coaches are expected to do all they can to protect the Player Pitcher (ex. Knock down line drives). In this case the ball will be ruled a dead ball and the pitch repeated.

With the exception of the Pitcher and Catcher, no player is allowed within 45 feet of home plate until the ball is hit.

Teams will be allowed to start and play and bat 8 players without penalty. Coach’s discretion as to which of the 9 positions he will not have a defensive player at.

Free defensive substitutions, the batting order stays the same

No bunting

Team must bat entire lineup.

6U – T-Ball Specific Rules

All rules will be in accordance with the 2014 Edition of PONY League Playing Rules other than as noted below.

Game lengths are 1hr.

No New innings are to begin after this time.

The home team’s head coach shall keep official time. All official start times shall be the scheduled time, regardless of delays, unless approved by the League President, Vice President or Player Agent (or when applicable, the “Board Member on Duty”).

Three defensive coaches are allowed on the field. One of these coaches must be on the pitcher’s mound.

The coaches are to do all they can to get out of the way of a batted ball and not interfere with a players ability to field the ball. The batter runner will be called out if interference is called by the umpire (tournament only – no umpires present during regular season).

Exception – Coaches are expected to do all they can to protect the Players (ex. Knock down line drives). In this case the ball will be ruled a dead ball and the turn at bat repeated.

Three offensive coaches are allowed on the field. Two base coaches (1st and 3rd) and the coach at the tee.

Regulation leather covered baseballs will be used.

Batter must have both feet in the batter’s box

Coaches will not be allowed to interfere with the play ex. – no deflecting the ball to a player, no touching the base runners.

Ten players must play in the field. Four of them must be designated outfielders. The four outfields cannot assume an infield position and must remain 15ft behind the bases until the ball is put into play.

With the exception of the Pitcher and Catcher, no player is allowed within 45 feet of home plate until the ball is hit.

Teams will be allowed to start, play and bat 9 players without penalty

Free defensive substitutions, the batting order stays the same

Umpire will call time when defense has control of all runners or defensive player holds ball up in air on the infield dirt. The play is “live” as long as the defensive player is attempting to make a play. Runners may continue to advance in this situation.

Once time is called play is dead.

Runner may attempt to take only one base on an overthrown ball. If defense attempts to throw the runner out when taking the “one base”, and another overthrow is made, runner may take another base.

Team must bat entire lineup.

Revised April6th, 2015