PINTO 1 Division - RPYB 2017 Local Ground Rules
(All official Pony rules apply in addition to these ground rules)
Focus: Developing young players and teaching them the complete game of baseball
HOME Team will use 3rd BASE DUGOUT and VISITOR will use 1st BASE DUGOUT
Food/Drinks:
Only water and sports drinks are allowed in the dugout. No food (including sunflower seeds)
or drink is allowed on the field. No food (except sunflower seeds) is allowed in the dugout.
Sunflower seed shells must be discarded / dispensed in a cup and placed in the trash.
Sportsmanship:
All managers, coaches and parents, are responsible for ensuring good sportsmanship at all
times on and off the field during all practices and games.
Code of Conduct:
All managers, coaches, and parents are required to follow the Rocklin Pony Baseball “Code of
Conduct” at all times on and off the field during all practices and games.
Safety/Medical:
Player medical release forms must be present at all games and practices or player may not be
allowed to participate.
Scorekeeping:
In the PINTO 1 division, NO OFFICIAL SCOREBOOK IS KEPT. Home team will provide a
scorekeeper for the sole purpose of keeping track of the number of outs for the maximum
runs per inning rule, and for keeping track of batting order.
Uniform:
All players must wear their team jersey & hat, with their jersey tucked in. Pitchers are NOT
ALLOWED to wear white long-sleeve undershirts. Plastic or molded cleats are recommended.
Metal cleats are not allowed. All male players must wear a cup. No jewelry may be worn at
any time on the fields (practices or games) with the exception of medical I.D. bracelets.
Catchers Gear:
All catchers must wear the appropriate catchers gear - helmet with throat guard, chest
protector, shin guards, & cup protection). No Exceptions.
Dugout:
All offensive players – with the exception of the batter, on-deck batter and any base runners
– must remain fully inside the dugout, and remain in the dugout during play. The leadoff
batter in each ½ inning is the only player allowed on the field until play begins, and MUST
REMAIN IN THE ON-DECK CIRCLE while the pitcher is warming up, and may not approach the
batter’s box until the umpire calls for the batter. Only the manager and two (2) adult coaches
who have current and accepted coaching applications are allowed in the dugout during a
game (manager, first and third base coaches).
Field Prep:
HOME TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING THE FIELD (BEFORE GAME): Prepare field for
games, including water (if needed), drag, rake, chalk batter’s box and foul lines, and install
bases.
AWAY/VISITING TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR POST-GAME CLEANUP: Removing and storing
bases, drag, rake and repair batting area, bases, and pitcher’s mound.
Additional Field Prep directions can be found in the documents section of our website.
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January 6, 2017
PINTO 1 Division - RPYB 2017 Local Ground Rules (cont’d)
Playing Time:
Pitching, Balls
and Bases:
All players present and on the lineup must play a minimum of one (1) inning in the infield in
the first four (4) innings. No player may sit out two (2) innings before all other players have
been out one (1) inning. No player can play more than two (2) consecutive innings at the
same position. Teams may play with four (4) outfielders, LF, LC, RC, RF. All outfielders must
be on the grass and may not encroach into the infield to be an extra infielder.
1) During coach pitch, coaches must be in contact with the rubber and the player in the
Pitching position must have one (1) foot in contact with the mound. Batter will have
three (3) swings and the 3rd swing is treated as if there are two (2) strikes.
2) Mar 5th – Mar 12th: One (1) inning of Player pitch followed by Coach pitch.
3) Mar 13th – Apr 16th: Two (2) innings of Player pitch followed by Coach pitch.
4) After Apr 16th: Three (3) innings of Player pitch followed by Coach pitch.
5) Pitcher must be removed from game if they hit three (3) batters in one game.
6) If a batter walks during Player pitch, the coach will then finish off the strike count.
7) Hardballs will be used all season.
8) Bases will be set at sixty (60) feet for the entire season.
9) For Player pitch, players may pitch a maximum of one (1) inning per game through
April 16th and then maximum allowed per player will apply. Coaches are encouraged
to allow players to pitch only one (1) inning per game to develop more pitchers.
10) MAXIMUM PITCHING INNINGS ALLOWED PER PLAYER: Two (2) innings/game, two
(2) innings/week.
11) TOC – games will be full player pitch, no coach pitch. Four (4) balls will result in a
walk, HBP will be awarded 1st base. MAX PITCHING INNINGS ALLOWED PER PLAYER
IN TOC: Two (2) innings/game, four (4) innings/week,
Batting:
Batters must wear a helmet any time they are on the field. Only the batter and the on deck
batter may swing a bat – NO EXCEPTIONS. If the batter is “Hit by Pitch” in Player pitch, the
Batter may take 1st base or hit off Coach pitch with a new count (TOC – HBP gets 1st base).
NO TEE BALL, COACH PITCH, or SOFTBALL bats are allowed for play.
Batting Order:
Every team must bat their complete lineup. All players in the lineup will be batted in order.
Late players may be added to the end of the lineup. PINTO 1 Managers are encouraged to
allow all players the opportunity to bat in all positions in the batting order (1st-12th).
Overthrows
Runners may not advance on overthrows.
Sliding:
There is no sliding at first base, sliding will only be permitted at 2nd, 3rd and home plate.
Headfirst sliding should be strongly discouraged by coaching staff.
Base Running:
Runners are not allowed to lead off or steal in the PINTO 1 division. Runners may advance to
the next base on a batted ball ONLY if they have rounded the previous base before the ball
has left the outfielder’s hand.
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January 6, 2017
PINTO 1 Division - RPYB 2017 Local Ground Rules (cont’d)
Innings/Game:
Each of the first five (5) innings will last three (3) outs or five (5) runs, whichever comes first.
The 6th inning will last three (3) outs or ten (10) runs, whichever comes first. All PINTO 1
games will last six (6) innings or 1½ hour time limit. No new inning may begin after 1 hour 15
minutes, drop dead is 1 ½ hours. At the discretion of BOTH managers, the ten-run “mercy”
rule can be implemented after the 5th inning.
Cleanup:
The managers, coaches and parents FOR BOTH TEAMS are responsible for helping clean out
their respective dugouts and bleacher areas AFTER EACH GAME.
Last Game Cleanup:
The managers, coaches and parents FOR BOTH TEAMS of the final game of the day are
responsible for helping put away the bases and all equipment (i.e. rakes, chalker, drag, etc.)
and for helping clean out their respective dugouts and bleacher areas.
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January 6, 2017