SADDLE RIVER VALLEY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, ALLENDALE, SADDLE RIVER, HO-HO-KUS, WALDWICK
FINAL 2010
APPENDIX V
PONY LEAGUE
NOTE: Except as specifically amended in the Local Rules and Interpretations or in this Appendix, the Pony League (7th and 8th grades) will be governed by the 2010 National Federation of State High School Associations Baseball Rules Book.
AMENDMENTS (listed alphabetically):
BATS –
· The maximum barrel diameter is 2 5/8 inches. The maximum length/weight differential will be MINUS 5.
· Aluminum bats with 2 1/4 inch diameters are permitted without any limitation on length/width differential.
· Wood bats of any dimension are permitted.
BATTER’S BOX – A strike will NOT be automatically charged to batters that leave the batter’s box in violation of Rule 7-3-1 (page 46). However, an umpire has the discretion to call a strike if in his judgment the batter is unnecessarily delaying a game.
DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENTS – Unless accomplished as part of a pitching change, defensive positions are NOT to be changed in the middle of an inning.
FIELD DIMENSIONS – listed below are the proper field dimensions in feet. In all cases, the distances are measured from the rear point of home plate (closest to the catcher). The distances for first and third base are measured from home plate to the rear of each base (closest to the outfield). The distance to second base is measured from home plate to the center of the base. The pitching distance is measured from home plate to the front edge of the pitching rubber.
Pitching Rubber 1st & 3rd 2nd base
60 ft. 6 in. 90 127 ft. 3 in.
PITCHING –
1. Maximum innings – the following restrictions are intended to protect pitchers’ arms. Pitchers will be subject to DAILY and WEEKLY limits on the number of innings pitched “IN ALL LEAGUES” IN WHICH THEY PARTICIPATE (Pony, travel, club, school leagues, etc.). Players, parents, and coaches are required to communicate accurate information regarding innings pitched to their coaches. Any violation of this rule CAUSED BY PITCHING IN A LEAGUE GAME will result in the player being prohibited from pitching in two consecutive League games involving his team. Any violation of this rule during the playoffs will result in forfeiture.
i) Weekly maximum – For the purposes of this rule, the week begins on Sunday morning and ends on Saturday night. Pitching innings accumulated in a contest declared “no game” WILL count toward a pitcher’s weekly maximum.
a) Regular season – Ten (10) League innings; twelve (12) innings in ALL LEAGUES
b) Playoffs – If three (3) or more League playoff games are played in one week the limit is twelve (12) innings in ALL LEAGUES. Otherwise, the regular season limit is in effect.
Note: The rules pertaining to the weekly maximum will remain in effect as the season transitions from the end of the regular season to the beginning of the playoffs.
ii) Daily maximum – Five (5) League innings; Six (6) innings for ALL LEAGUES. Players may pitch in a maximum of two games in one day subject to these daily limits. Such games may include a doubleheader in League play, or a League game and either a school game or a travel/club team game played on the same day.
iii) Pitching on Consecutive Days – A Player is NOT permitted to pitch on three (3) consecutive days under any circumstances. Players are permitted to pitch on consecutive days, PROVIDED:
a) The pitcher is eligible to pitch, and;
b) The total innings pitched IN ALL LEAGUES on consecutive days may not exceed six (6) innings in total and not more than three (3) innings on a single day. For example, a player may not pitch four (4) innings on one day and two (2) innings the next day, or vice versa, and may not pitch five (5) innings on one day and one (1) inning the next day, or vice versa.
2. Days of Rest – [Note: the end of one week and the beginning of another has no effect on the Days of Rest requirements. For example, if a player pitches on Saturday and again on Sunday, he is ineligible to pitch until Wednesday (at the earliest, depending upon the number of innings pitched on each day) despite the fact that Sunday was the first day of a new week.]
A player who has pitched will be required to take days of rest as follows:
i) One (1) full calendar day of rest (Monday, Wednesday) will be required if the player has pitched four (4) innings in a League game or four (4) innings in a single game played IN ALL LEAGUES.
ii) Two (2) full calendar days of rest will be required if:
a) The player has pitched any number of innings on consecutive days IN ALL LEAGUES (Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday).
b) The player has pitched a total of four (4) or less innings in more than one game on a single day in League games or IN ALL LEAGUES (Saturday, Saturday, Tuesday).
iii) Three (3) full calendar days of rest (Monday, Friday) will be required if the player has pitched five (5) innings or more innings in a single day IN ALL LEAGUES.
Note: A player who pitches in a non-League game on a day of rest will NOT be permitted to count that day towards his required days of rest. Example: A player pitches 5 innings in a League game on Thursday and is therefore ineligible to pitch in a League game until Monday. If the player pitches in a non-League game on Sunday, he will not be able to count Sunday as a day of rest. His ineligibility to pitch in a League game will extend until at least Tuesday.
PLAYER PARTICIPATION – Every player MUST sit out one (1) inning before any player sits out a second inning, unless the coach is disciplining the latter player. HOWEVER, due to the eligibility of pitchers to pitch five (5) consecutive innings, if a player sits out a second inning before an active STARTING pitcher has sat out at least one inning there is no violation of this rule. However, in the case where any player would be required to sit out more than one (1) inning before a pitcher has sat out one (1) inning the following rules will apply:
1. Once a STARTING pitcher is relieved he must immediately satisfy the “sit out” rule. If he is relieved with less than two (2) outs, sitting the remainder of the inning will satisfy the requirement. If there are two (2) outs when relieved, the pitcher must sit out the next full inning.
2. If a working RELIEF pitcher does not sit out one inning before he starts to pitch, and all of his teammates sit out at least one inning before he stops pitching, the RELIEF pitcher must sit out immediately after he stops pitching. If he stops pitching with less than two (2) outs, sitting the remainder of the inning will satisfy the requirement. If there are two (2) outs when relieved, the pitcher must sit out the next full inning.
3. However, if a working RELIEF pitcher does not sit out one inning before he starts to pitch, and any of his teammates has sat out, or would be required to sit out, a second inning prior to end of the seventh inning of a game, the RELIEF pitcher must sit out the seventh inning of such game. However, if the game is shortened by darkness or inclement weather, the fact that a RELIEF pitcher has not sat out a required inning shall not be deemed a violation of this rule.
Example 1: Player A enters as a RELIEF pitcher in the 3rd inning after playing in the field in innings 1 and 2. While Player A is pitching, all of his teammates are required to sit out at least one inning. If Player A is relieved before the end of the sixth inning, he MUST sit out immediately.
Example 2: Player A enters as a RELIEF pitcher in the 3rd inning after playing in the field in innings 1 & 2. Another player on Player A’s team has sat out more than 1 inning or will sit our more than 1 inning if Player A continues to pitch. If the game reaches the 7th inning, Player A MUST sit out the 7th inning in order to avoid a violation of this rule.
Example 3: Player A enters as a RELIEF pitcher in the 2nd inning after playing in the field in inning 1. Another player on Player A’s team sits out a second inning while Player A is pitching. The game is stopped after 6 innings due to darkness and Player A did not sit out his required innings. This is NOT a violation of this rule because the Player would have had the opportunity to sit out the 7th inning if the game had been completed.
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