HIGH POINT PONY LOCAL RULES

League

1. All coaches and adult volunteers must have an approved background check on file with the league. It is the head coach’s responsibility to ensure coaches and volunteers have their approved background check on file before allowing them to assist with the players. Background checks are good for the year in which approved.
   Valid 01/01/XXXX through 12/31/XXXX in the same year.
2. Catchers must wear proper equipment which includes a mask with approved head gear, throat guard, chest protector, shin guards and an athletic supporter with a protective cup.
3. The Home Team is the official score book, including pitch count.  It is the responsibility of each coach to monitor.
4. The Home Team is responsible for turning off the field lights at the end of the game.
5. The Home Team is responsible for returning the scoreboard controller to the concession stand at the end of the game.
6. High Point Pony reserves the right to review and change these local rules as deemed necessary.

Equipment

1. Bats may not be larger than 2 ⅝” diameter.
2. All 2 ¼” and 2 ⅝” diameter bats must be certified with either the BBCOR or USA Bat licensing stamp on the bat in order to be used for league and tournament play. Penalty is 2 game suspension for player and coach.
3. The following equipment is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO BE USED BY ALL PLAYERS:
   1. Mouth Guards
   2. Athletic Supporters

Pitching

1. There are mandatory days of rest required depending on the number of pitches thrown:
   
   

   Age Range	Daily Max Pitches	Required Rest (Pitches)
   		0 Days	1 Day	2 Days	3 Days	4 Days
   7 – 8	50	1 – 20	21 – 35	36 – 50	N/A	N/A
   9 – 10	75	1 – 20	21 – 35	36 – 50	51 – 65	66+
   11 – 12	85	1 – 20	21 – 35	36 – 50	51 – 65	66+

2. A day of rest is defined as a calendar day in which a player does not pitch at all.
   For example, a 10 year old player that reaches 51 pitches on Monday cannot pitch again until Friday.
3. No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch count.
4. Pitchers reaching their maximum number of pitches in a day while pitching to a batter, may finish pitching to that batter before being removed.

Batting and Participation

1. The entire roster present in the game shall bat in rotation; referred to as a "continuous batting order".
2. There is free substitution of players for defensive play. No player may sit the bench for more than 2 full innings.
3. Any player arriving to the game after the 3rd inning ends will not be able to enter the game. Otherwise, the late arriving player will be the last recorded batter on the lineup and bat in such order.

Base Running

1. Base runners will be allowed to steal bases beginning with the start of the season as per MLB rules with the exception of home plate. 
2. Balks will be called from the beginning of the season.  The pitcher of record will be given 1 warning before a balk is called.
3. Stealing of home plate is not allowed, but you will be able to advance and score on a wild pitch or passed ball.
4. The Mustang division will not play with a dropped 3rd strike rule.  Dropped 3rd strikes will be considered outs.

Playing Games With Less Than 9 Players

1. A game can start with as few as 8 players.
2. The 9th spot in the lineup is an automatic out when that spot in the lineup is reached.
3. Any game beginning with fewer than 8 players will be recorded as a forfeit. The forfeit time is 10 minutes after scheduled start time. If the player arrives within the 10 minute window, the official game time will then start at the point your player arrives.
4. Pool players (players from another team’s roster) are not allowed.

Game Length

1. All games are scheduled to be 6 innings in length, however, no new inning will begin after 90 minutes from the game start time.
2. Games may end after 3 innings if one team is leading by 15 or more runs and the losing team has had 3 at bats or after 4 innings if one team is leading by 10 or more runs and the losing team has had 4 at bats.
3. The umpire maintains official time of the game.  Game time starts with the 1st pitch.
4. The first 3 innings of the game have a 5 run limit per inning per team. Innings 4 and higher will have unlimited scoring.

General

1. Only coaches with a completed volunteer and background check form on file with HP PONY can be on the field. If a noncertified Coach is used, the team’s Manager will be suspended for one game. A 2^nd offense will result in suspension for the remainder of the season.  You may have up to 4 coaches in uniform on Game Day.
2. Any player, coach or fan that is ejected from a game will receive an automatic 1 game suspension.
3. The HOME team will occupy the 3rd base dugout for all games.
4. Teams are not allowed to conduct any batting practice outside of any fenced field. Stretching and other non-throwing activities are allowed. Throwing balls for warmups should be done in areas away from spectators.
5. All players must remain in the dugout area during the game. Only players and certified coaches are permitted in the dugout area and playing field.
6. Players warming up pitchers must wear a facemask.
7. Coaches' buckets must remain on the concrete walkway in front of the dugout and may not be out in the dirt.
8. No food in the dugout; drinks only. PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR TEAM.