Local Rules Addendum to Pony Official Rules and Regulations Book Pinto 7 Playing Rules Dana Point Youth Baseball (DPYB) Local Rules Addendum to Pony Official Rules and Regulations Book Play is governed by the latest version of the Official Baseball Rules: The Sporting News Edition, with exceptions to the rules outlined in the Pony Baseball Official Rules and Regulations book. The following rules are Dana Point Youth Baseball Rules and supersede the Pony Baseball Official Rules and the Sporting News Edition of the Regulation Book. DPYB Rules Revised: 1/1/2013 1
1) Goals 2) Administration 3) Equipment in general 4) Sportsmanship 5) Game format and dimensions 6) Batting 7) Defense 8) Base Running 9) Dead Ball 10) Pitching Machine use and care 11) Scorekeeping 12) Player adherence to Team Rules 1. Pinto 7 Goals We strive to provide quality baseball experience in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment. We want our players to have fun and learn to try their best, all while learning good sportsmanship and the baseball basics. 2. Administration a. At games and practices, each manager must have a DPYB Manager s Handbook with a (1) team roster complete with the player s name, jersey number, parents names, home address, home and cell phone numbers, (2) a copy of the DPYB Pinto 7 division rules, (3) signed medical waiver for each player, (4) signed Parent Code of Conduct for each parent/guardian, and (5) signed Managers Code of Conduct for the manager and all assistants. b. Once teams are formed, the Manager must identify all such coaches and assistants to the League Commissioner. All managers, coaches, and assistants must complete a DPYB Background check.. Only managers, coaches and assistants who have completed a DPYB background check are permitted on the field or in the dugout during a practice or game. c. A manager or coach must not leave a practice or game until parents have picked up every player. Keep your DPYB Manager s Handbook with work/home/cell numbers for each parent. d. It is the parent s responsibility to make sure players have access to a restroom before and after all practices and games. If a parent is not present for the event and restroom assistance is required for a player, then a rostered manager/coach and a player buddy must accompany the player to the facility where the manager/coach waits outside while the two players use the facility. e. The Mud Line (949-310-4547) has updated information on filed closures. Do not play or practice on closed fields. 2
f. The manager is responsible for keeping the fields playable and clean. Pick up all trash after each practice and game. Rake the pitcher s mound, home plate area, and bases to fill in any depressions. 3. EQUIPMENT IN GENERAL a. A player s baseball equipment should have parent contact information visible. Missing equipment can be reported to Lost and Found. b. Rubber molded cleats are mandatory. c. Protective cups are required for all male players. d. Managers must use the DPYB provided RIF safety balls at all games and practices. e. All equipment distributed by DPYB is the property of DPYB and must be returned to DPYB at the end of the season. Equipment not returned is the financial responsibility of the manager. 4. SPORTSMANSHIP a. Managers, coaches, and parents must support all players in the League. Nice play! Nice try! and cheering for all participants should be regular occurrences. b. At the conclusion of all games, each team should gather and cheer for the opposing team, then line up and shake hands. c. Attempts to disrupt or distract any player are prohibited. This rule precludes baseball chatter ( hey batter batter ) taunting ( swing! ), and chants/singing songs during play. d. The coaching staff must abide by the Manager s Code of Conduct. Managers are also responsible for making sure their players and fans demonstrate excellent sportsmanship at all times. Anyone violating the Manager s Code of Conduct, the Parents Code of Conduct, or any player who exhibits unsportsmanlike or otherwise inappropriate behavior may be subject to disciplinary action. 5 GAME FORMAT AND DIMENSIONS a. The DPYB Pinto 7 season machine pitch only. There is no coach pitch or kid pitch. b. Distance between bases 50 feet. 3
c. The pitching machine should be set 38 ft. from home plate. Pitching Machine speed shall be set at approximately 40 MPH. d. Game length shall be six (6) innings, but no inning may start after one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes. The game must end after one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes of play. e. For the first five (5) games of the season (or as determined by the Division Commissioner), each team bats six (6) batters per inning regardless of the number of outs. f. For the second part of the season, each half inning will end when the offensive team has batted once through the lineup or the defensive team records three (3) outs (which ever isfirst). g. The base coaches can give signs, but detailed instructions to the batter or runners should be avoided. Keep the game moving as quickly as possible! h. No infield fly rule. No uncaught third strike advancements. i. If a player strikes out or is put out, the player must leave the field and sit down 6. BATTING a. The batting order shall contain the entire roster of players listed in uniform number order. b. The batting order shall rotate based on uniform number for each game. Thus, the player assigned uniform #1 shall bat first in game 1. In game 2, the player assigned uniform #2 bats first and the player assigned uniform #1 bats last. c. Each batter receives a maximum of six (6) pitches. 1) For the first 5 games of the season, the batter is out if the batter fails to put the ball in play within the maximum of six pitches. 2) For the second part of the season, the batter is out if (i) the batter swings and misses three (3) pitches, or (ii) fails to hit foul or fair ball on the sixth pitch and beyond. d. Batters are not permitted to bunt or swing easy at the ball. (Penalty: The batter shall be called back to the plate, the ball is dead and no runners may advance.) 4
e. A batted ball must travel beyond the 10 foot arc centered on home play to be considered a fair ball. If in doubt, it is a foul ball. f. A batted ball that hits the pitching machine, pitching coach, or bucket is a single and a dead ball. The runners may advance one base. g. The first time a batter throws a bat in a reckless manner, the batter receives a warning. The second time a batter throws a bat in a reckless manner, the batter is declared out. h. The team at bat should have base coaches at first and third base, a pitching coach to place balls into the pitching machine, and a batting coach to supervise the dug out, on deck batter, and to retrieve pitches. i. The pitching coach is the umpire. If the Manager of the opposing team disagrees with the application of a Rule, the Manager may call a time out and quietly have a calm short discussion with the pitching coach. There are no protests. j. The batting coach should gather un- hit pitches in a bucket behind home plate and return them to the pitching coach as necessary. The catcher should not throw the ball back to the pitching coach. k. The batter, pitchers, players in the on deck area, and base runners are required to wear PONY approved hard shell batter s helmet l. Base coaches must follow MLB rules: they are not permitted to step in fair territory or physically assist a base runner in any way. m. Players should remain in the dugout until placed on deck. Only the batter and on-deck player should be holding a bat 7. DEFENSE a. A maximum of two (2) defensive coaches are allowed. Defensive coaches should position themselves adjacent to the outfield foul lines, in foul territory, away from the first and third base coaches. b. Catchers must wear full protective gear: protective cup, shin guards, chest protector and an approved helmet equipped with face protector/mask. A catcher must take is defensive position behind the plate. c. Pitchers must wear a PONY approved hard shell helmet. 5
d. Every player should be rotated among all positions, safety permitting. e. One player may not play shortstop, first base or pitcher more than a combined three (3) innings per game. f. Players shall not play more than three (3) innings in the infield (this rule can be adjusted if a team is short players, but no player may play in the infield a fourth time until all players have played infield three (3) times). g. All players must play 1 inning in the infield before the 4rd inning. Players shall not play more than three innings in the outfield in any game. h. Players shall not sit out two (2) consecutive innings and shall not sit out a second inning until all other players have sat out one (1) inning. i. The pitcher shall be positioned to the side and behind the pitching machine, with one or both feet in the pitching circle until the ball is hit. j. A team can play a maximum of (6) infielders. (pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base and short stop). k. A team can play a maximum of four (4) outfielders (left field, left-center field, right-center field and right field). l. Outfielders must remain at least fifteen (15) feet behind the baseline until a ball is put in play. (Penalty: if a violation causes an out, the call is reversed to a safe.) m. Infielders may not occupy a defensive position closer than the pitcher. n. The manager should post defensive assignments in the dugout so your team can quickly transition to defense. 8. BASE RUNNING a. A runner who runs more than five (5) feet out of the base path is out. b. A runner who interferes with a defensive player s attempt to field a batted ball is out. c. If a batted ball hits a runner, the ball is dead and the runner is out. If a thrown ball hits a runner, the ball is still live and playable, and the runner is NOT out. d. Runners are allowed to advance one base on an overthrow following a batted ball. 6
e. Runners are not permitted to lead-off, and shall remain in contact with the base until the ball crosses home plate. The first illegal lead off shall result in a warning to the offensive team, the second illegal lead off by a runner shall result in the runner being called out. f. On a batted ball runners may advance until an infielder has control of the ball between the bases or at a base and holds the ball up. Once the ball becomes dead and in the judgment of the umpire the runner has not gone beyond the halfway point between the bases, the runner must return to the last occupied base. g. No infield fly rule. h. Scoring from third: 1) On a batted ball. 2) Continuation of play on a batted ball. i. There is a must slide rule. A player not sliding at a base in play shall be called out. 9. DEAD BALL a. A batted ball becomes dead when an infielder within the baselines of the infield or at a base and has possession of the ball holds the ball up. If base runners are not halfway to the next base, they must return to their previous base. b. A batted ball that hits the pitching machine, pitching coach, or bucket is a single and a dead ball. The runners may advance one base c. A batted ball that hits a defensive coach, before a defensive player touches it, is a dead ball. The batter is awarded one base, and any runner advances one (1) base. 10. PITCHING MACHINE USE AND CARE a. The home team sets up the pitching machine. The visiting team takes down the pitching machine and places it in the storage shed. b. The pitching coach should use a towel to clean each ball prior to making a pitch with the machine. 7
c. If the pitching machine malfunctions, both managers should immediately notify the Division Commissioner. If the malfunction occurs during a game, immediately remove the machine from the field and use the pitching coach to complete the game. In this event, a batter has a maximum of six (6) pitches from 38 feet to put the ball in play, or the batter is out. Every pitch from the pitching coach, regardless of location, counts as a pitch. d. Immediately discontinue use of the pitching machine if it begins to rain, and, weather permitting, continue the game using coach pitch. e. The home team is responsible for providing game balls. 11. SCOREKEEPING a. No score is kept, both sides win. Managers may elect to keep track of batters, plays, errors, etc, but no runs shall be recorded. 12. PLAYER ADHERENCE TO TEAM RULES a. The League expects players to attend practices and games. b. Parents should notify the Manager in advance if a player cannot attend a practice or game. c. Coaches may establish reasonable team guidelines, and players are expected to comply with these guidelines. Coaches may take reasonable steps to ensure compliance with Team Guidelines. However, if any action will affect a player s playing time, the action must first be approved by the Division Commissioner. ANY QUESTIONS ON RULES AND INTERPRETATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD YOUR DIVISION COMMISSIONER. DPYB pinto7 Commissioner Email Phone number 8