WEST COVINA YOUTH PONY BASEBALL

GROUND RULES

Rev. 12/09 AC

ORDER OF RULES: WCYPB Ground Rules and League By-Laws, PONY Baseball Rules and
Regulations, Official Rules of Major League Baseball

MUST SLIDE RULE: When a fielder is making a play at any base, the runner must slide or
attempt to avoid contact with the fielder. A fielder is considered to be making a play when he has
the ball in his possession. PENALTY: Runner is declared out and may also be ejected depending
on the severity of the contact. Umpires judgment.

1. Managers and Coaches must stay in the dugout area. The dugout area will consist of the
area five (5) feet in front of the dugout, running the entire length of the dugout. Only the
Managers and 2 coaches will be allowed on the field at any one time.

2. The gate to the dugout must be closed during play.

3. Game Time:

Mustang: No new inning after 2 hours.

For League Playoffs only: 6 innings. No time limit, unless stopped because of
darkness by the UMPIRE. Game to be continued at the point of suspension the
following day with line up and positions remaining the same. If game is stopped
because of rain, as soon as fields become playable, game will be continued at point
of suspension with line up and positions remaining the same. Pitching log is still in
effect. You do not get pitching innings back, due to game stoppage.

Bronco/Pony: No new inning after 2 hours and 15 minutes.

For League Playoffs only: 7 innings. No time limit, unless stopped because of
darkness by the UMPIRE. Game to be continued at the point of suspension the
game will continue from that point the following day with line up and positions
remaining the same. If game is stopped because of rain, as soon as fields become
playable, game will be continued at point of suspension with line up and positions
remaining the same. Pitching log is still in effect. You do not get pitching innings
back, due to game stoppage

4. If a game is called for any reason, it shall be a complete game if four innings (five in Bronco
and Pony) have been completed, or if the home team has scored more runs in three (four in
Bronco and Pony) innings or three (four in Bronco and Pony) and a fraction innings, than
the visiting team has scored in four (five in Bronco and Pone) completed innings.

5. If a game is called for any reason before it is a complete game, or when the score is tied, it
shall be considered a suspended game and shall be resumed from the point of curtailment
at the time scheduled by league officials.

1
6. All teams will bat the line-up. All players will play 3 innings in each 6 or 7 inning game.
Three innings are defined as 9 defensive outs. All substitutes must play in every game and
play every other inning.

7. Subs will be placed at the bottom of the line up. Late arrivals ("subs") must enter the game
by the 4th inning (Mustang) or 5th inning (Bronco/Pony). Free substitution.

8. The official score book will be the authority on innings played and the innings pitched. It is
the responsibility of the manager to be sure all substitutes are in the official scorebook.
Each manager is responsible for signing the scorebook after the game.

9. The Player Agent must be notified of all benchings prior to the start of the game. Managers
may bench a player for disciplinary action only once. The manager must review any
disciplinary problems with the Board of Directors before he can bench that player again. No
player may be benched during playoffs.

10. To prevent a forfeit a minimum of 9 players must be on the field within 15 minutes of the
scheduled starting time. To accomplish this, a maximum of 2 players may be added from
other teams from within the division. These additional players must bat in the last position
in the line up and must play in the outfield. If a member of the team shows up later, the
substitute will be removed from the game IMMEDIATELY. He must bat in the highest
available batting spot used by the substitute. No substitutes may be used more than
once. No substitutes may be used during the playoffs.

11. Pitchers may not be used in more than:

Mustang: 6 innings in a week, maximum of 3 innings in one day

Bronco: 7 innings in a week, maximum of 4 innings in one day
Pony: 10 innings in a week, maximum of 7 innings in one day

12. Once a pitcher has thrown any part of the fifth inning in Pony, the fourth inning in Bronco or
the third inning in Mustang in a day, a 40 hour rest period will be required before he may
pitch again. A week begins at 12:01 am Monday to midnight of the following Sunday.

13. In the Mustang Division only: On a straight steal from home the batter must not take a full
swing at the ball. If the batter does take a full swing, both the batter and the runner are out.

14. In the Mustang Division only: a warning to a pitcher must be given before a balk is called
by the umpire. (For the first half of the season only.)

15. In the Mustang Division only: Metal cleats are NOT permitted.

16. In the Mustang Division only: If a team is leading an opponent by at least 10 runs after
four or more complete innings have been played or after four and one half innings if the
home team shall have a 10 run lead at the end of its fourth inning, or before the completion
of its fifth inning, the game shall be terminated and the team in the lead shall be declared
the winner.

17. In the Bronco Division only: If a team is leading an opponent by at least 10 runs after five
or more complete innings have been played or after four and one half innings if the home
team shall have a 10 run lead at the end of its fourth inning, or before the completion of its

2
 fifth inning, the game shall be terminated and the team in the lead shall be declared the
winner.

18. The League Champion will be decided by a tournament at the end of the regular season.
All teams will participate in this tournament. Positions will be decided by the order of finish
at the end of regular season. The selection of the tournament team managers will be in
order of the finish in the league championship tournament. No manager or coach can turn
their team over to another person.

19. Managers and Coaches will not be permitted to manage or coach multiple All Star teams.
*They can only appear on only (1) one post season tournament affidavit. (*Rev. 9/25/03)

20. Any Manager or Coach, ejected from a game will automatically be suspended from their
next game. Managers and Coaches that have been suspended will not be allowed around
the playing field from 1 hour before scheduled game time until the end of the game and will
not be permitted any closer to the field than the center field fence. Failure to comply with
this rule will result in additional disciplinary action by the Board of Directors. Any manager
or coach removed from the game by the umpire or causing a forfeit will automatically be
assigned a Snack Bar shift that must be completed prior to coaching their next game. The
Board of Directors will review all ejection’s and suspensions as outlined in the West Covina
Youth Pony Baseball Code of Conduct.

21. Any player ejected from a game will be removed from that game and will also be
suspended from their next scheduled game, and are confined to the dugout.

22. Team Responsibilities: The HOME TEAM will be responsible for dragging, watering (if
needed), setting up 2 trash cans, chalking the field and setting up the bases prior to the
start of the game. The HOME TEAM will also provide the official score keeper for the game.
The VISITING TEAM will be responsible for dragging and watering down the field, putting
away the bases into the storage shed after the game. The VISITING TEAM will be
responsible for operating the score board. BOTH TEAMS are responsible for cleaning up
all the trash in the dug out area and in the spectator stands. Each team is responsible for
emptying the trash cans into the main dumpsite after their game. Failure to clean up
properly may result in a one game suspension for the managers involved.

23. Any player or coach who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from
participating further in the game until appropriate treatment has been administered. If
medical treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual would
not have to leave the game. The length of time that is considered reasonable is left to the
umpire’s judgment. If there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform, it must be
changed before that individual may participate.

24. The returning manager will have the first option to take the same team the following year. If
the manager declines, then the “Coach’s Option” will have second option to fill the role as
returning manager. If the Coach’s Option also declines, no further priority will be given and
the team will be declared equally open for consideration to anyone requesting that team.
All team managers are subject to Board approval annually.