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 responsible for turning off the field lights at the end of the game.
4. The Home Team is responsible for returning the scoreboard controller to the concession stand at the end of the game.
5. 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 5/8” Diameter
2. All 2 ¼” and 2 ⅝” diameter bats must be certified with the USABat licensing stamp on the bat in order to be used for league and tournament play.
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
   11 – 12	85	1 – 20	21 – 35	36 – 50	51 – 65	66+
   13 – 14	95	1 – 20	21 – 35	36 – 50	51 – 65	66+
   15 – 16	95	1 – 30	31 – 45	46 – 60	61 – 75	76+

2. A day of rest is defined as a calendar day in which a player does not pitch at all.
   For example, a 14 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. All players must participate in a minimum of 50% of defensive field time. If the game ends in an odd numbered inning, the 50% minimum requirement is based on the last even numbered inning played.
   
   

   # of Game Innings Played	Minimum Innings/Player
   4 or 5	2
   6 or 7	3

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.
4. A Courtesy Runner will be allowed for the catcher of record and the pitcher of record regardless of the number of outs in the current inning. The assigned Courtesy Runner will be the offensive player who made the last out unless said player is the catcher or pitcher of record. The offensive team’s coach can decide not to use a Courtesy Runner, but it may lower the number of warm-up pitches allowed by the plate umpire.

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 rosters) are not allowed.

Game Length

1. All games are scheduled to be 7 innings in length, however, no new inning will begin after 2 hours of play.  If 2 games are played on the same week night, no new inning will begin after 1 hour 45 minutes of play.
2. Games may end after 4 innings if one team has a lead of at least 15 runs and the losing team has had 4 at bats or if one team has a lead of at least 10 runs after 5 innings and the losing team has had 5 at bats.
3. The umpire maintains official time of the game.

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.
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. Coach’s 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.