GAME PLAY RULES FOR MUSTANG DIVISION 9 & 10 Year Old

Article I: Game Preliminaries

1.      The HOME team shall occupy the third base dugout and the VISITING team shall occupy the first base dugout. On the game schedules the VISITING team is always listed first.

2.      Both Managers and Coaches are required to be at the field one (1) hour prior to game time to prepare the field (see Section I, Article II, Number 5). If a Manager/Coach does not arrive early enough to prepare the field, they shall forfeit their portion of infield practice. Failure to have field ready fifteen minutes (15) prior to game time shall result in no infield practice. Game time is Game Time.

3.      The HOME team can take infield practice for the fifteen (15) minutes immediately proceeding the scheduled start time of the game. The VISITING team can take infield practice for the fifteen (15) minute period immediately preceding the HOME team.

4.      Line-up Cards: Each Manager must prepare a Line-up card showing all rostered Players, first and last names, uniform numbers, and their offensive and defensive positions, substitution status and whether they are able to play or not. If a Player is absent or injured it must be noted on the Line-up card and said Player shall be ineligible for game play, unless the official scorekeeper and opposing manager are otherwise notified before the first pitch of the second inning.

5.      All Managers must notify the opposing manager and the official scorekeeper of all defensive substitutions and pitching changes. Failure to do so could result in your legal changes not being correctly recorded, thus causing grounds of a potential forfeiture for the illegal substitutions.

6.      If there is no Official Scorekeeper present at the start of the game, the HOME team will keep Official score for the game.

7.      Umpires: ARCADIA PONY will provide Umpires for all games. In the event that an Umpire does not show up to your game, you may proceed to play the game if both Managers agree to a substitute Official. Both Managers must agree before the game can begin. Once the game has begun with the accepted substitute Official, it must continue to complete game length. No Manager may change his mind after the game has begun.

8.      Game Balls: Each game the Umpire will receive two (2) new balls and one (1) used game ball from the Snack Bar. At the conclusion of the game the Umpire shall return two (2) balls to the Snack Bar and give the HOME team the one remaining ball to keep.

Article II: Length of Games

1.      Regulation length for Mustang will be six (6) innings with no new inning starting after two (2) hours, unless tied or complete game length per Pony Baseball, Inc. rules has not been reached.

2.      All Mustang games will be six (6 innings), however the Complete Game Length is as follows:

a.       Complete Game Length: four (4) innings OR three and one half (3 ½) innings if the home team is ahead

b.      No game shall be left in a tie. Tied games shall be played one (1) inning at a time until a winner is determined regardless of time played or innings completed.

c.       If a game is called for any reason before it is a complete game, it shall be considered a suspended game and shall be resumed from the point of curtailment at the time scheduled by the Division Commissioner.

d.      10-Run Rule (Mercy Rule): If a team is leading an opponent by at least 10 runs at Complete Game Length, or at the completion of any inning thereafter, the game shall be called and the team in the lead shall be declared the winner. (If the Visiting Team is the opponent with the 10 run lead, the Home Team will be allowed to complete the inning.)

Article III: Minimum Play Rule

The Minimum Play Rule is one of the most important rules, if not the most important rule, in ARCADIA PONY.

The Rule guarantees equal playing time to all Players and it was established to ensure Managers adhere to ARCADIA PONY’s goal of a positive and instructive environment for all participants. Failure to meet the minimum play rule shall result in forfeiture of the game and possible sanctions against the offending Manager.

1.      Minimum Play Rule: All Players shall play in a minimum number of defensive innings and have a minimum number of at bats during a game. This ensures all Players have an equal opportunity to play.

a.       Failure to meet the Minimum Play Rule shall result in forfeiture of the game.

b.      Minimum Play Rule will not be in effect if the game is called at the Complete Game Length.

2.      Mustang’s Minimum Play Guidelines: The minimum play for each Player must complete two

(2)    consecutive innings of defensive play and one (1) offensive at bat. If at the end of the second consecutive inning of play the Player has not had a time at bat, the Player shall remain in the lineup until at least one turn at bat has been completed. The defensive substitutions must be made by both the home and visiting teams before the first pitch of the third inning.

a.       All team Players must be listed on the Line-up Card to the Official Scorekeeper and the opposing Manager. If they are absent or injured, it shall be so noted on the Line-up Card and shall not be eligible for play.

b.      If a Player arrives after the start of the game, but before the first pitch of the second inning, he/she may be added to the bottom of the Official Line-up Card only.

c.       If a Player does not start one game, he must be in the starting line-up in the next scheduled game.

Article IV: Mustang Division Game Rules

1.      Only the 9 starting Players bat. Substitutes shall be duly noted on the Official Lineup Card.

a.       Substitute Players bat when replacing a starting Player.

b.      A starting Player may re-enter the game only once, to his original place in the batting order, after being replaced.

c.       Once removed a substitute may not re-enter the game, unless an injury occurs to a starting Player.

d.      Courtesy Runner may be substituted for a catcher and must be last recorded out.

2.      Each team must field a minimum of nine (9) Players or forfeit the game. If a Team cannot field nine Players and a forfeit is inevitable a Player from the Pinto Division may be brought up for that game to avoid a forfeit. A Player can only be brought up if nine players are not available at the start of the game. All of the following eight conditions must apply:

a.       The Player must be a legal/eligible Player in our League.

b.      The Player must be a senior age Player in his/her Division.

c.       The Player can only play an outfield position.

d.      The Player cannot miss a game in his/her Division to play up.

e.       Only two players can be brought up per game.

f.       Permission from the Player’s parents or legal guardians shall be in writing on a Arcadia Pony Baseball form.

g.       The form shall be filled out completely and accurately with an original signature before the start of the game. (Photocopies of the signature are not acceptable)

h.      The form must be submitted to the Official Scorekeeper along with the line-up card.

3.      6-runs per inning: Each team is allowed to score a maximum of six (6) runs per their half inning. The sixth (6th) inning shall be open, meaning there is no run limit in only the sixth inning. The 10 run Mercy Rule shall apply.

a.       Continuous Play Rule: On an out-of-the-park homerun all runs will count toward the score, even if this exceeds the 6 run maximum rule in innings 1-5. This does not apply inside-the- park homeruns.

i.      On an inside-the-park homerun play will continue until all runners either reach the base safe or are put out. But only 6 runs can be applied to the ½ inning in innings 1-5.

4.      Base Stealing of any base is allowed.

5.      Leadoffs are allowed on any base.

6.      Bunting is allowed.

7.      The Infield Fly Rule is in effect.

8.      No Swinging Squeeze. The Batter and the Third Base Runner shall both be declared out and the ball is dead. No other runners shall be allowed to advance on the play. To prevent this from happening, teach your Players a “take sign.”

9.      Sliding: Sliding head first should be discouraged. Teach your Players to slide feet first.

10.  Dropped third strike will be in effect.

11.  Players must use bats that are certified under the USA Bat standard. If an uncertified bat is found to be in use before a pitch is thrown the bat must immediately be removed from the field of play. If a pitch has been thrown to a batter using an uncertified bat, batter shall be recorded out and all baserunners are reset to their previous positions (if ball was hit into play). Equipment challenge will only apply to current inning of play.

Article V: Pitching Rules (Mustang Division)

1. Pitchers shall not pitch more than what is suggested by USA Baseball Pitch Smart Guidelines for the 10U age bracket. Number of pitches and days of rest based on calendar day (not hours). See table below.

3.      Dropped third strike will be in effect. If on the third strike the catcher drops the ball and/or does not catch the ball cleanly, the ball will be live and the catcher must tag the runner or throw the runner out at first for the out to be recorded.

4.      Balks. Balks will not be called during the first half of the season. Balks will be called during the second half of the season. A balk will be called when, in the Umpire’s judgment, the pitcher intends to deceive the baserunner. No warning will be issued during the second half of the season.

5.      A pitcher who is removed from the mound cannot be brought back in to pitch in a subsequent inning in the same game.

6.      Pitch Count Violations Consequences:

a.       1st Offense - Warning - Manager (or acting manager) will be provided with a

warning. Pitcher will not be able to pitch the remainder of the game, but can still play in any other position (in any game a ARCADIA PONY team is involved).

b.      2nd Offense - Manager will be removed/ejected from that immediate game and will be suspended from the next game. Pitcher shall be removed from the mound and can still play in the game, but cannot pitch in the next eligible game (taking into account mandatory rest time).

c.       3rd Offense – Penalties

i.      Removal of manager from team for remainder of season and/or;

ii.      Forfeits eligibility to be All-Star Manager (for both Mid & Post Seasons) and/or;

iii.      Possibility of No Longer Coaching in ARCADIA PONY.

d.      Commissioner to track offenses and individuals involved. 7. Scorekeepers are not responsible for notifying managers of pitch count.