SUBURBAN ROBBINS PONY LEAGUE RULES

• 1-Age Requirement(13,14/15) Player's can not turn 14 (13yo.group) and 16 (14/15 group) prior to May 1,2008. Players must play on the 13yo. or 14/15yo.Teams. NOT BOTH.
• 2-Teams shall consist of a maximum of 20 players,14/15's the maximum for 15's is 10. If players do not appear in 50% of the regular season games those players will be INELIGIBLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS.
• 3-Uniforms: All players shall wear FULL uniforms consisting of similar pants,shirts,hats and socks.
• 4-Equipment: Protective headgear while at bat is required.Design of the headgear is such that it covers both ears and fits properly.
• 5-Bat Rule: Bat length to weight ratio- 13's weight-5 or less-barrell size 2 3/4 or less,14/15 weight-3 or less-barrell size 2 5/8 or less.
• 6-Illegal Bat: A-If the illegal bat is identified and is replaced before an at-bat has concluded,there is no penalty. B-If the illegal bat is identified after an at-bat has concluded but before the next pitch or play,The batter that used the illegal bat shall be declared out and all baserunners shall return to the bases they occupied prior to the final pitch.
• 7-Scorebooks: The winning manager is responsible for reporting the final score(tie game-both should report) to (14/15's) lowellpony34@comcast.net (13's) fjmazza@yahoo.com,fjmazza@comcast.net..Failure to report the score shall result in a no-contest(no points) 2 points for a win,1 for a tie. All games shall be 7 innings unless the umpire rules otherwise. Weekday games start at 5:45 and Saturday 10am. unless otherwise noted. .
• 8-Rain Outs: Any game rained out needs to be re-scheduled ASAP (See Below,72hrs.) Each manager must mutually agree to the date and time of the game and the home team manager is responsible for notifing the umpire in chief as to the date,time and location of the game.
• 9-Postponements:*CALL UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF AND THE UMPIRES ASSIGNED*-The descision to postpone the game is made by the home team manager any time before the start of the game,(if game is postponed 1 hour or more prior to the start time of game there are no umpire fees, If postponed anytime less than 1 hour prior to start time,the umpires are paid 1/2 fees) Any games called off because of conflicts with players competing in other leagues/tournaments (or sports) will result in the offending team forfeiting and be responsible for the umpires fees. Each team in the event that the umpires fail to show shall wait for a period of 30 minutes before postponing the games,game must be re-scheduled within 72 hours,played by the end of the season and submitted to the league scorer(lowellpony34@comcast.net) and the umpire-in-chief. Games not played are NO CONTEST.
• 10-Playoffs 2008:reg season games must be completed Sunday Night July 27th...2 days prior to start of playoffs Tuesday,July 29th-- 14/15's top eight teams(point total) three series of best of 3, 13yo's- Each division WINNER(4) and the next 4 overall top point totals,3 series of best of 3. home team in games 1 and 3 will be the higher seed.(any point total ties will be decided by the league directors)
• 11-Umpire fees: THE HOME TEAM SUPPLIES THE UMPIRE'S FEES AND 3 GAME BALLS(And More during the game if the Umpire requests them) PRIOR TO THE START OF THE GAME. Each umpire shall be paid $50 if only 1 umpire shows he is paid 1 1/2 fee($75.)

PLAYING RULES-SPORTING NEWS RULES

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• 1-STARTING PLAYERS may re-enter the game after being substituted for BUT ONLY IN THE SAME SPOT IN THE BATTING ORDER,Substitute players may not re-enter a game. EXCEPTION: If a player is injured and with all substitutes having entered the game,the manager of the team may insert into the line-up a player that normally would be able to re-enter the game.The plate umpire will judge all injuries and will determine if a substitute is necessary.
• 2-EJECTIONS-If a manager is ejected,that team must have a coach to replace him.If not the game is a FORFEIT. If a player is ejected and that team does not have any way to legally re-enter or substitute into that spot in the batting order the game is forfeited. Any subsequent penalties for that player (or coach) shall be decided by the board of directors and umpire-in-chief.
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• 3-EH/EXTRA HITTER- If using an EH,the eh must be in the starting line-up(10 man batting order) EH may enter the game as a position player once,The EH may not enter the game as a pitcher. NOTE: Team A puts the EH into the field and the player leaving the field(NON-PITCHER) becomes the EH for the remainder of the game.THE EH AND THE PLAYER BECOMING THE EH CAN'T PITCH OR HAVE BEEN THE PITCHER.
• 4-PITCHER: In the event the starting pitcher is removed from the game(2nd trip,pinch hit or run for) he may re-enter once at only another position and same spot in the batting order.NOTE: if the starting pitcher is removed from the mound on 1st trip or put in another positon,he may return to pitch once.
• 5-PROTEST: The team protesting the game will notify the plate umpire of the protest. The umpire will notify the umpire-in-chief of the protest within 24 hours. A final determination will be made by the umpire-in-chief.
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• 6-*REGULATION GAME CALLED*: If score is TIED at end of inning,visitors score and home team does not RE-TIE...this is a TIE GAME (1PT.-EACH TEAM)....If home team leads at end of inning,visitors TIE or take LEAD and home team does not TIE or re-take the lead,GAME OVER.SCORE REVERTS TO END OF THE PREVIOUS INNING,HOME TEAM WINS.

FORCE PLAY SLIDE AND COLLISION RULES

• A.-On a FORCE PLAY at any base,including home plate,the runner must slide on the ground and in a direct line between two bases. This is a legal slide even if contact is made with the fielder.
• 1.- On the ground either can be a head first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground.
• 2.- Directly into a base means that the runner's entire body (feet,legs,trunk,and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.
• AR.-A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the individual slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the defensive player.
• B.- Contact is allowed if the runner:
• 1.- Makes a legal slide directly to the base,or
• 2.- Is on the ground at the time of the contact and the fielder moves directly down the line between the two bases to attempt a play. INTERFERENCE shall NOT be called.
• C.- It is an ILLEGAL SLIDE if:
• 1.- The runner slides or runs out of the baseline in direction of the fielder.
• 2.- The runner uses a rolling,cross-body or pop-up slide into a fielder
• AR.- A pop-up slide is a legal slide as long as the runner does not make contact with or alter the play of the fielder.
• 3.- The runner's raised leg is higher than the fielders knee when in a standing position.
• 4.- The runner goes beyond the base and makes contact with or alters the pay of the fielder.
• 5.- The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg,or
• 6.- The slide is flagrant.NOTE: If the runner's slide is flagrat,The Individual shall be ejected from the game.
• D.- If the runner,on a force play,makes an ILLEGAL slide at any base including home plate,interference shall be called.
• PENALTY: With less than two outs,the batter-baserunner,as well as the interfering runner,shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance. With two out,the interfering runner shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
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• COLLISION RULE: When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder who clearly is in possession of the ball,the umpire shall judge:
• 1.- Whether the collision by the runner was avoidable(could the runner have reached the base without colliding)or unavoidable (the runner's path to the plate was blocked)or
• 2.- Whether the runner actually was attempting to reach the base (plate) or attempting to dislodge the ball from the fielder.
• PENALTY: If in the umpire's judgement,the runner a.)could have avoided the collision and reached the base, or b.) was attempting to dislodge the ball,the runner shall be declared out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball shall be declared dead and all other baserunners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.