Frequently Asked Questions
-----General Questions-----
What levels of play are provided in Rowland Pony?
We offer:
Foal (3-4 years old)
Shetland (5-6 years old)
Pinto (7-8 years old)
Mustang (9-10 years old)
Bronco (11-12 years old)
Pony (13-14 years old)
Do players need experience?
No! All players are welcome to join.
Are there any volunteer opportunities?
We have a ton of volunteer opportunities at Rowland Pony; whether it be Board members, managers, coaches, field duty, snack bar, team moms, score keepers, or umpires we are always on the lookout for great new volunteers to add to our team. Please Check the Volunteer tab. If you or your family would love to volunteer, we would love to hear from you! Please email us at [email protected] for information on current volunteer opportunities.
What do I do if I want to be manager or coach? What if I've never managed or coached before?
Complete baseball knowledge is not required to help coach Rowland Pony; we will provide you with resources such as clinics, rule books, and website links to help make you a great coach. Send us a email for more information. [email protected]
What equipment / apparel does the league provide?
A jersey and hat will be provided by the league. Each team will have a set of catchers gear that the players can use. (Managers will be given all of the equipment they will need for the season)
What equipment will my player need?
Players will need baseball socks, baseball pants, a baseball belt, and an undershirt (The colors will depend on what team drafts them, the coach will then let you know what color will be needed for the season. Gear wise, players will need a glove, bat, cleats, and a batting helmet. Boy’s must have a Sports cup
How do I get notified of league information?
Our website, Facebook and Instagram will be updated constantly, so that is always a great start for finding information. You can email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments you might have. Please make sure to add the league email/phone number to your contacts, as we might send updates via those methods.
How do I sponsor a team?
Ask your team parent or send us an email/text for sponsorship information.
-----Registration-----
Why does registration occur so far in advance?
Planning, scheduling, preparing takes time and effort to ensure each and every player has the best opportunity for a successful season of Rowland Pony. It is critical to get as many registrations and signups done as early as possible to facilitate placement on teams, ensuring proper number of fields are ready for play, acquiring managers and coaches for each team, ordering of uniforms and hats, and providing a game schedule for the season. Without knowing how many players there will be, much of what you see above would not be possible. Registering your player early will also save you money!
Can I play with specific friends or for a specific manager/coach?
We will do our best to accommodate the requests, though nothing can be guaranteed. No requests can be made for the older divisions, as the teams are determined via a draft. Sibling requests can also be made; though we try to accommodate these requests to make things convenient, due to varying age/skill levels and the use of a draft to create teams, there is no guarantee the request will be accommodated.
I have two or more kids - can they play on the same team?
We make all reasonable efforts to ensure siblings are kept on the same team. This sometimes can't be done due to varying ages or skill differences in the players.
How much does it cost to register?
See online registrations for prices on our upcoming seasons.
What do I need to do before registering my player?
Before registering your player check your child's age and verify that you live in or send your child to a school within our boundaries.
What if I missed the registration dates? Can my child still play?
Yes; however without a tryout they will not be eligible for the major division. Teams will be drafted in mid-January, so the player agent will work with you to best assign a team if registering after draft day.
-----Team Formation-----
What are tryouts? Does my child need to try out?
Tryouts give managers an opportunity to evaluate and assess each player's skill level; this helps evenly distribute the talents pool and helps make sure we place our players in the correct division of play. Tryouts will test the basic hitting/fielding/throwing/running abilities of each player. All players will need to attend a minimum of at least 1 tryout.
My child has never played before. What level should he/she be placed?
First we take age into consideration; each age is eligible for one or two certain divisions. Which division they are placed in of the two will depend on where our managers think the player will be most comfortable and have the best experience.
What is a draft and how does it work?
The draft is where the managers of the competitive divisions pick their teams for the season. They make their player selections based off of their tryout notes and past seasons watching the players in the league. The draft is done to help maintain an even playing field among the various teams.
When will I know what team my child will be on?
Once the draft is completed (A week or two after tryouts), managers will contact their players to begin practices.
What is the manager selection process?
Managerial candidates are presented by president of the league, and then approved and appointed to teams by the board of directors.
-----Practices and Games-----
When do practices and games begin?
Practices can begin once the drafts are over, likely by the beginning of February; games will begin on Opening Day. Please check back on our website for Opening Day information.
How many times/week are games & practices?
For most divisions there will be about 3 team meetings per week (Example: 2 practices with 1 game, or 1 practice and 2 games). This can be increased in our older divisions, particularly during tournament time at the end of the season. It all depends on the Manager/Coach.
What equipment does my child need to play?
A baseball glove (Normal fielding glove, not catcher's mitt or first baseman's glove) is needed. A jock strap is required for boys for safety reasons. Though part of the uniform is provided by the league, pants/socks/undershirts/cleats/belt/Helmet will need to be purchased prior to a player's first game. If purchasing a bat, make sure it is Rowland Pony approved .Baseball equipment can be found at Big 5 Sporting Goods, Sports Authority, Sport Chalet, Play it Again Sports, other sporting goods stores, or online retailers.
What is interleague play?
Interleague play is where teams in our league play against other local Rowland Ponys. This helps us create diversity in competition, so we don't face the same few teams over and over.
Who keeps score of the games?
The home team needs to supply a scorekeeper. It is recommended that each team has at least 2 scorekeepers (Preferably 3) in case one of them can't make it to the game and so the same person is not always stuck doing it.
When does the baseball season end?
The regular season ends mid-late May.
Who umpires the games?
Umpires are the only people in our league that get paid. We hire an outside service to umpire our games (All have passed background checks).