MUSTANG 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:
Home team will provide a scorekeeper, and use the official book in the MUSTANG division.
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. Catchers may not use a fielding
glove while playing the position of catcher.
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 (first and third base coaches, and a manager).
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.
Playing Time:
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.
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March 12, 2017
MUSTANG Division - RPYB 2017 Local Ground Rules (cont’d)
Guest Players:
If a MUSTANG team does not have 9 players for a game, they may bring in guest player(s)
ONLY from the PINTO 2 division. If the regular player(s) shows up after the game has started,
the guest player(s) will be removed from the game.
Pitching:
MAXIMUM PITCHING INNNINGS ALLOWED PER PLAYER – three (3) innings per game, three
(3) innings per day, six (6) innings per week. An inning will count as an “inning pitched” if
player pitches even one (1) pitch in an inning. If a player pitches even one (1) pitch in their
third inning of pitching, they must rest forty (40) hours before being eligible to pitch again.
Coaches are always encouraged to develop as many pitchers as possible and to give as many
players as possible the opportunity to pitch.
Catching:
In order to protect players’ arms, combination pitching/catching inning limits are now in
place in the MUSTANG division. Players may not exceed a combined total of four (4) innings
playing pitcher and catcher per game.
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.
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.
Sliding:
There is no sliding at first base, sliding will only be permitted at 2nd, 3rd and home plate. All
players must attempt to slide when necessary. Headfirst sliding should be strongly
discouraged by coaching staff.
Base Running:
Leading off and stealing are permitted in the MUSTANG division for 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases.
Stealing home is not permitted unless a wild pitch or passed ball has occurred. The dropped
third strike rule will be phased in as the season progresses. At the beginning of the season,
there will be no dropped third strike rule in effect. If a batter “strikes out”, they will be out
regardless of whether the catcher catches the ball or not. Base runners already on base
during a dropped third strike situation will be permitted to advance at their own risk just like
a normal passed ball or wild pitch. After May 1st, the dropped third strike rule will be
implemented and regular dropped third strike rules will apply.
Innings/Game:
Each of the first four (4) innings will last three (3) outs or five (5) runs, whichever comes first.
The 5th inning will last three (3) outs or ten (10) runs, whichever comes first. The 6th inning
will last three (3) outs with no limit on runs. All MUSTANG games will be scheduled for six (6)
innings. No new inning may begin after 1 hour and 50 minutes. The ten-run “mercy” rule will
begin in the middle of 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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March 12, 2017