Click Here to Download the 2010 Baseball Rules Quick Reference.
2010 OBSA Pony Baseball Rule Variants
Oswegoland Pony Baseball adheres to the PONY Baseball Rules and Regulations with these exceptions and additions. This document is organized according to the sections in the 2010 PONY BASEBALL Rules and Regulations, or rulebook. Where appropriate, the alphabetical list IDs from the PONY rulebook are also used. Where rules apply only to specific divisions, Pinto for example, that is stated at the beginning of the rule.
New rules show the year [2004] in which they are written or modified. Deleted rules show up as strikethrough and will remain for only one year.
Section 1 - The League
· The League's Board of Directors, by a majority vote, can provide a two-tier fee structure, one for early and late registration, and will determine the date upon which all registrations will be closed, as well as the maximum player limit allowed in each division. All registration is closed by April 1. [2006]
· Full refunds will only be made prior to April 1st. No refunds will be made after the player's team has played 1/3 or more of its scheduled regular season games. In case of an injury 50% of the registration fee will be refunded if the player's team has not completed at least 1/3 of it's scheduled regular season games. The player's physician in a written statement must validate the injury. Family discounts will be given to those families with more than one child in the program. The League Board of Directors will determine the discount.
Section 2 - Insurance
· Oswegoland PONY Baseball has no variants to this section.
Section 3 - Teams
A. Team rosters in the Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, and Pony divisions must have a minimum of 11 players and a maximum of 13 players.
Section 4 - Legal Players
A. The age determination date in the PONY rulebook will be enforced for the in-house program. The only exceptions are in the Mustang-10 where Oswegoland PONY Baseball allows nine year old siblings to play on the same team as their 10 year old sibling, and secondly, 14 year olds may play on the 15-16 year old traveling team if there is a shortage of 15-16 year old players, following the league rule that this player may not pitch. [2006]
Note that a player of the younger age in a division may try out and if selected by the coaches, play on the traveling team for the older age within a division. If that player does not make the older age team, then the coaches of the younger age team are not required to select that player. For example, an 11-year-old may try out for the 12-year-old traveling team. If that player is not selected for the 12 year old team, the coaches of the 11 year old team have the option to select that player or not. NOTE: The age determination date for travel teams will use April 30th of that season for a player's youngest age group he or she can play for. [2006]
Section 5 - Boundaries
· Oswegoland PONY Baseball boundaries are exactly the same as those of School District 308 and the Oswegoland Park District [2008]. Anyone who resides within these boundaries at the time of registration is eligible to participate in the league [2008]. Any exceptions must be reviewed and approved by the League's Executive Board.
Section 6 - Selection of Players
A. All boys and girls from 7-14 who register on or before sign up dates are guaranteed a spot on an in-house team.
A. PINTO DIVISION. Team Selection:
Players are randomly assigned onto teams after any players related to coaches or sponsors are appropriately placed. [2003]
A. Mustang, Bronco, & Pony divisions. Draft Procedures:
a. For the purposes of the draft, there is only one official manager and one official coach. After the draft is complete, additional coaches may be recruited.
b. Protected players: Children of the one official manager and the one official coach.
c. The Order of draft will be determined by a lottery with the order of draft reversed in each age group.
d. The younger age group is drafted first.
e. Teams with protected players will reconcile draft picks for the protected players as follows.
1. 1 protected player: This player will be designated as the first round pick in the protected player's age group.
2. 2 protected players (same age): These players will be designated as the team's 1st and 3rd round pick in the protected players' age group.
3. 2 protected players (different age): One of the two protected players will be designated as the 1st round pick and the other protected player will be designated as a 3rd round pick. Which protected player is to be designated as the 1st round pick will be at the discretion of the team manager.
4. 3 or more protected players (same age): The players will be designated as the team's consecutive odd number draft picks in the protected players' age group draft, beginning with the 1st round draft pick and continuing with consecutive odd number draft picks (e.g., 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc). If all protected players cannot be designated as odd number draft picks, then consecutive even number draft picks, beginning with the team's 2nd round draft pick in the protected players' age group draft, will be used.
5. 3 or more protected players (not all in the same age group): If a team has three or more protected players, but not all in the same age group, then multiple protected players in the same age group will be designated as the team's consecutive odd number draft picks in the players' age group draft, beginning with the 1st round draft pick and continuing with consecutive odd number draft picks until all protected players in the same age group are designated. If a team has only one protected player in the other age group, that protected player will be designated as the team's 3rd round pick in that protected player's age group draft. If, however, the team has multiple protected players in both age groups, then the multiple protected players in both age groups will be designated as the team's consecutive odd number draft picks in their respective age group draft beginning with the 1st round pick and continuing with consecutive odd number draft picks. Note: In any age group where all protected players in the age group cannot be designated as consecutive odd number draft picks, then the remaining protected players in the affected age group will be designated by consecutive even number draft picks, beginning with the team's 2nd round draft pick in the affected protected player's age group draft.
- Brothers playing in the same division must be drafted onto the same team. Brothers in the same age group will be consecutive picks, including a 9-year old brother in the Mustang-10 division. [2006] If brothers are in different age groups, the second brother drafted must be drafted in the same round as the first brother was drafted. For example, if a 13-yr-old is drafted in the 5th round, his 14-yr-old brother must be drafted in the 5th round of the 14-yr-old draft.
- After all players who attended the evaluations are drafted, all "no shows" will be randomly appointed to a team by a blind draw while still following the current draft order. The team with the next sequential selection in that age group will begin the process. The random drawing will be completed by the PONY board member(s) assigned to supervise that draft. [2004]
- Once drafted onto a team, a player may not be traded or otherwise switched to another team without approval of the league Board of Directors.
Mustang, Bronco, & Pony divisions will select in-house while only BRONCO & PONY divisions will select PONY National Tournament All-star teams. [2006] Please reference the All-star selection guidelines document for team selection, coach selection, and game formats. [2004]
· TRAVELING TEAMS. [2003] [2005]
a. Traveling team rosters are finalized at least 1 week prior to in-house evaluations so that any players who are not selected can attend in-house evaluations.
b. Traveling team coaches host try-outs in the fall season prior to the next year's season with at least 2 sessions where individual players demonstrate their skills during drills. To be selected, a player must attend at least 1 of the try-out sessions.
c. Players attending the traveling team try-outs must be notified of their status, whether or not they made the team, no later than one week following the last try-out session. The sooner the better.
· PINTO DIVISION. There are no All-Star games or tournaments in the Pinto division.
Section 7 - Playing Fields
· Oswegoland PONY Baseball has no variants to this section.
Section 8 - Equipment
A. PINTO DIVISION. The ball is a safety or reduced injury type of ball.
D. PINTO, MUSTANG-9, MUSTANG-10 & BRONCO DIVISIONS No metal cleats allowed. [2006]
H. All uniforms worn in any game including pants, jerseys, and hats must be supplied or distributed by the board or their delegates. Each game a team plays with improper equipment is a forfeit. A single player with lost or damaged equipment does not require a forfeit. [2003]
Section 9 - Playing Rules
D. PINTO & MUSTANG DIVISIONS. 10 players can be used in the field. The 10th player must be used as a 4th outfielder. [2003]
D. PINTO DIVISION. A player may not remain on the bench more than 1 defensive half inning at a time. No player may play the same defensive position more than 2 innings during any one game. Penalty for violation is forfeiture of the game by the offending team. [2009]
F. PINTO DIVISION. During games, umpires will call balls and strikes as pitched by players. Three strikes is an out. Four balls is a walk and the batter shall advance to first base. [2007]
F. PINTO DIVISION. If a batted ball strikes the designated adult pitcher, the ball is dead. The pitch shall not count, and no runners may advance.
G. PINTO DIVISION. The catchers' position must always be filled.
G. PINTO & MUSTANG DIVISIONS. The batter may not take 1st base on a dropped 3rd strike.
I. PINTO & MUSTANG DIVISIONS. No "Infield Fly Rule" will be called. [2004]
J. All players must play at least 3 innings in the field. The coach has the authority to decrease the player's playing time if he or she feels that it is warranted. The coach must contact league officials prior to limiting a player's time to inform them of the situation. [2003] (2009)
J. No player will play the same fielding position more than two innings (except pitcher and catcher). All players must play an infield position for two innings minimum and during the regular season, players must play in the infield during the first three innings of the game. All players not in the field must go into the field the next inning and cannot sit out two innings in a row. Players cannot sit out of a fielding position a second time until all the players have sat out once. All players will rotate games as starters. [2009]
K. All divisions utilize a continuous batting order, where all players present are placed in the batting order and bat in turn regardless of their status as a defensive player.
K. Players arriving late are placed at the end of the batting order and bat when that turn arrives.
L. For a player who becomes ill, is injured, is ejected, or who voluntarily removes himself/herself from the game, the batting spot of the player so removed will be passed over and will not be recorded as an out. [2003]
M. PINTO DIVISION. A live ball situation for a ball hit to the outfield shall be declared "dead" and all play shall cease when the ball is returned to the possession of any defensive player who is within the imaginary diamond as constituted by the baselines. When this occurs, the umpire shall declare that the play is "dead", and all offensive base runners shall be instructed to return to the last base that each successfully occupied before play was declared "dead" unless the base is occupied. Until these conditions have been met, the ball remains "live" and in play. The judgment of the umpire as it regards "the last base successfully occupied" is final, and is not subject to appeal. [2004]
N. MUSTANG - 9 DIVISION. Oswegoland PONY Baseball uses Option 3 from the PONY rulebook with these additions:
a. Stealing only 2nd base and 3rd base is allowed. Runners are not allowed to steal home.
b. A runner may advance to 2nd base or 3rd base on a wild pitch, passed ball, or wild pick-off attempt. Runners cannot advance to home base on any of the above situations.
c. A runner may only steal one base during the same live ball situation, or after a pitched ball crosses home plate.
EXAMPLE 1: Player "A", the runner on 2nd base, attempts to steal 3rd base. The catcher's throw to 3rd base goes into left field. Player "A" must remain on 3rd base.
EXAMPLE 2: Player "A", the runner on 1st base, attempts to steal 2nd base. The catcher's throw to 2nd base goes into the outfield. Player "A" must remain on 2nd base. [2005]
NOTE: This rule deals only with attempted steals. It does not pertain to runners advancing after a batted ball or being awarded bases during a live or dead ball.
N. MUSTANG - 10 DIVISION. Runners may steal bases, but shall not leave the base they are occupying at the time of the pitch until the pitched ball is released from the pitcher's hand. Stealing only 2nd and 3rd base is allowed. Runners are not allowed to steal home or advance home on a wild pitch, passed ball, or wild pick off attempt. [2006]
N. MUSTANG-10 DIVISION. Oswegoland PONY Baseball uses the following base running rules for Mustang-10:
a. Stealing only 2nd and 3rd base is allowed. Runners are not allowed to steal home.
b. A runner may also advance to 2nd base or 3rd base on a wild pitch, passed ball, or wild pick off attempt. Runners CANNOT advance to home base on any of the above situations. A runner can advance home only by a batted ball or being forced in from a walk or hit batter.
c. The runner may leave the base after the pitched ball leaves the pitcher's hand. A runner is not restricted to a one base steal, unless the next base is home base.
d. If a pitcher is on the pitchers plate (rubber), all base runners must be in contact with their occupied base until the pitch leaves the pitchers hand.
EXAMPLE 1: Player "A", the runner on 2nd base, attempts to steal 3rd base. The catcher's throw to 3rd base goes into left field. Player "A" must remain on 3rd base.
EXAMPLE 2: Player "A", the runner on 1st base, attempts to steal 2nd base. The catcher's throw to 2nd base goes into the outfield. Player "A" can attempt to advance to 3rd base. [2006]
O. BRONCO & PONY DIVISIONS. Runners may lead-off and steal bases, as in Official Baseball Rules. [2004]
N. BRONCO DIVISION. Umpires will monitor balks during games through May 31st and only issue warnings with the idea of teaching the rule. Balks will be enforced during games starting June 1st with each pitcher receiving one warning before enforcement of the rule. [2004]
N. MUSTANG - 9 & MUSTANG - 10 DIVISIONS. The first time per team a base runner leaves early, the team is given a warning and it is a dead ball, the pitch does not count, and all base runners must return to their bases. After a team has received ONE WARNING for leaving early, all subsequent team members that leave early will be called out.
§ Umpires, upon noticing any runner not touching a base while running shall call the runner out automatically without the need of an appeal by the defensive team. Tag-up violations will be treated in the same manner.
§ PINTO [2006], MUSTANG - 9 & MUSTANG - 10 DIVISIONS. The strike zone is from the chin to the bottom of the knees.
· BRONCO & PONY DIVISIONS. The strike zone is from the armpit to the top of the knee.
§ Courtesy runners for pitchers and catchers may be used at any time and are highly recommended to help speed up play. Courtesy runners must be the last recorded out. Pitchers and catchers are defined as those players fielding that position in the next half inning. [2003] [2004]
§ All divisions shall enforce the "Avoid Contact Rule." This rule states, "any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to avoid contact with a fielder who is in the act of fielding the ball at a base." If a fielder at a base is about to receive a thrown ball, and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so that he or she must occupy his position to receive the ball, he or she may be considered to be "in the act of fielding the ball.
§ The Colt division teams are governed by the League Board of Directors but adhere to all of the rules of the league in which they play.
§ Traveling Teams shall abide by the rules of the Oswegoland PONY League Baseball or by the rules governing the league in which they play.
Section 10, PITCHING RULES
B. BRONCO & PONY DIVISIONS: At least one pitcher from the younger age group (i.e. 11 years
old in Bronco and 13 years old in Pony) must record a minimum of three outs during the FIRST
FOUR INNINGS in [2009] the course of regulation play (i.e. the first 7 innings of play). Teams may
utilize more than one pitcher from the younger age group for the purpose of complying with this
rule, and the outs recorded by the younger age group pitcher(s) need not be consecutive. [2006]
1. For the Bronco division, a team will be considered to have complied with the rule if a pitcher(s) from the younger age group pitches the entire inning in which the maximum allowable runs are scored by the opposing team before three outs have been recorded in the half inning. [2006]
2. A team will not be held in violation of this rule if an "Official" game is called because of darkness or weather before seven innings have been completed and the younger age group pitcher(s) has not yet fulfilled their minimum pitching requirements. [2006]
3. If a game is suspended before it becomes "Official", and a team has not yet fulfilled the younger age group pitcher(s) requirements, the team will be required to comply with the rule when the game is resumed.
VIOLATION OF THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN A FORFEITURE OF THE GAME BY THE OFFENDING TEAM.
•C. MUSTANG division. Does not utilize any of these options.
•D. PINTO DIVISION. This option will be used beginning June 1st. [2006]
1. Pitchers will be limited to one inning per game.
2. Players will pitch all innings.
3. Walks will not be issued. When ball four is thrown by the pitcher, a designated coach from the batter's team will throw 3 additional pitches to that batter. If the third strike is fouled then the batter receives one more pitch. If the batter has failed to hit a fair ball after the allotted pitches, the player is then called out.[2009].
•E. BRONCO DIVISION pitchers shall not pitch in more than 4 innings on the same calendar day. The other pitching restrictions of innings per week, 40-hour rest, and innings calculations are enforced as stated in the PONY rulebook. [2005]
E through K. MUSTANG & PONY divisions including the traveling teams enforce the PONY rulebook pitching restrictions as stated: innings per day, innings per week, 40-hour rest, and innings calculations. [2002]
L. No pitcher may reenter game in the pitcher position at any time during that game. [2004]
Section 11 - Length of Games
•B. PINTO DIVISION. If a regulation game ends in a tie, one extra inning will be played. After one extra inning has been played, the game will end in a tie if one team has not taken the lead.
•B. PINTO DIVISION. No new inning shall begin more than two hours after the starting time of the game. The actual, rather than the scheduled starting time shall be used as the beginning point to determine when the two-hour limit has been reached.
•B. PINTO DIVISION The home team will always bat in the last inning regardless of the score.
B. MUSTANG, BRONCO, AND PONY DIVISIONS. On days where there is multiple games scheduled, no new inning shall begin more than two hours after the starting time of the game. The actual, rather than the scheduled starting time shall be used as the beginning point to determine when the two-hour limit has been reached. The time limit rule does not apply to the last scheduled game played on that field or on days when there is only one game scheduled on that field. [2005]
B. MUSTANG DIVISION. No new inning may begin after 10:00pm local time. Note, all other divisions revert to the PONY rulebook for latest time to begin a new inning. [2005]
PINTO DIVISION. There is a maximum of 5 runs per half inning including the last inning. [2006]
•C. MUSTANG DIVISION. There is a maximum of 7 runs per half inning except the last inning.
•C. BRONCO DIVISION. There is a maximum of 10 runs per half inning except the last inning.
F. Players that were not in the line-up of the suspended game are eligible to play in the resumed game and must be added to the bottom of the batting order. [2002]
•G. PINTO & MUSTANG DIVISIONS. There is no slaughter rule.
•G. BRONCO DIVISION. After 5 complete innings, a 15-run slaughter rule will be enforced. The 15-run slaughter rule will be enforced upon condition that the team that is 15 or more runs ahead has fulfilled the "Younger Pitcher Rule".
•G. PONY DIVISION. After 5 complete innings, a 10-run slaughter rule will be enforced. The 10-run slaughter rule will be enforced upon condition that the team that is 10 or more runs ahead has fulfilled the "Younger Pitcher Rule".
Section 12 - Schedule
A. As regards to cancellation of a game due to inclement weather, the following procedure shall exist:
· Coaches and/or League Commissioners will determine the play-ability of all fields. [2006] If they rule a field un-playable, the game is postponed and will be rescheduled by the Age Group Coordinator.
· If the field has not been deemed un-playable by the Coaches and/or League Commissioners, but inclement weather has occurred or appears imminent and the game has not yet started, the coaches shall agree on the appropriate action. [2006] If the coaches cannot agree, the home plate umpire shall make the final decision regarding play-ability.
· Once the game has begun, the home plate umpire shall make the final decision regarding play-ability.
•A. Rescheduled games must be treated the same as games on the original schedule and forfeits apply. Rainouts shall be made up on the next open date. The only exception to this is if the Division Coordinator determines scheduling on the next open date will result in a forfeit situation. [2003]
Section 13 - Umpires
•· The home plate umpire will stand behind the catcher at all levels.
Section 14 - Scorekeepers
•A. The "Home" Team will keep the official scorebook.
B. Pitching statistics (names of pitchers and innings pitched) must be kept by both teams. The opposing manager or coach must approve each game's pitching statistics with his or hers initials. [2004]
•· Prior to the start of the game, the manager of each team shall give to the opposing manager a line-up card that lists the complete batting order, which includes the name, number, and playing position of each starting player.
•· Scorebooks and pitching statistics must be made available for review by any coach or board member upon request. [2002] [2004]
Section 15 - Sponsors
•· Oswegoland PONY Baseball has no variants to this section.
Section 16 - Managers and Coaches
•A. Each manager may submit to the board for approval, up to two emergency alternate coaches. If an emergency alternate coach is not submitted to and approved by the board prior to the start of the regular season, the team will forfeit any game (regular or suspended) when neither member of the coaching team can be present.
•C. PINTO DIVISION. A maximum of two defensive coaches shall be allowed on the playing field, behind the outfielders for purpose of instructing defensive players.
•D. PINTO DIVISION. Additional time-outs are allowed as needed.
•E. PINTO DIVISION. Additional time-outs are allowed as needed.
•E. The use of tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs in any form, by players or adult leaders in the dugout, on the benches, or on the playing field shall not be permitted. This is repeated here from the PONY rulebook for emphasis.
•· Coaches interested in coaching or managing one of the Tournament / All-star teams need to submit their interest in writing along with a brief resume of their qualifications to the Board President. Coaching selections will be made by the League Board of Directors.
•· The League's Executive Board approves all managers and coaches.
•· At least one official coach must be present for the duration of every game. If a coaching team knows neither can be present for a game, a league approved alternate must be used.
Section 17 - League Decisions Committee
•B. All protests will be heard by an Executive Board committee. The committee shall exist within the provisions set forth in the Protests section of the PONY rulebook.
Section 18 - Penalties
•C. A team failing to field at least eight uniformed players within 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time of the game (regular or suspended) shall forfeit the game.
Section 19 - Protests
•· Oswegoland PONY Baseball has no variants to this section.
Section 20 - General Conduct
•· Oswegoland PONY Baseball fully supports the policies of the Oswegoland Park District and School District #308 as they pertain to the use of alcohol and drugs on district properties.
•· The following situations result in immediate ejection and potential suspensions: [2003]
1. The use of obscene and/or foul language or gestures by players, coaches, and fans.
2. Fighting, whether on the field of play or in the stands.
3. The deliberate throwing of helmets, bats, or other equipment by players, coaches, or fans.
No warnings need be given for these violations. The League's Executive Board will handle further disciplinary action. Minimum penalties are as follows:
a. Player- A Player is ejected from the remainder of the game in which the violation occurred. The player is confined to the bench for the remainder of the game. The umpire may dismiss the player from the field if necessary.
For 1 or 2, the player must also serve a one game suspension and is not be eligible to play in the next scheduled game. Suspensions must be served in uniform on the bench or the suspension will carry over to the next game.
b. Coach - A Coach is ejected for the remainder of the game in which the violation occurred and must serve a one game suspension for the next scheduled game. The coach must leave the field of play and otherwise not be in attendance. The coach may appeal his or her ejection to the League's Board of Directors. The appeal must be made within 24 hours of the ejection.
c. Fan - A fan must leave the field of play and otherwise not be in attendance.
For 1 & 2, the fan must also serve a one game suspension and not be in attendance.
•· Umpire Action -- Within 48 hours of any ejection, the home plate umpire must forward to the League's Board of Directors a written report detailing the offenses and all the facts leading up to and following ejection(s).
•· It is the obligation of the manager and coaches for each team to address any unacceptable behavior, as described above, by parents or other fans sitting at the field. This is necessary because it is often an unfair expectation of the umpires because of their age. [2004]
Tournament Rules & Regulations
· This section does not pertain to Oswegoland PONY Baseball tournaments. Only teams in the PONY National Tournament at the end of the season abide by these rules. [2002]
