AGE/GRADE GUIDELINES FALL 2010
AGE AND GRADE GUIDELINES

Age Guidelines:
Pony: Players of league age 14 And Under, born on or between May 1, 1997 and April 30, 1999.
The following two situations regarding age and grade requirements will also be implemented in addition to the above guideline.
1.A league age 12 year old player who is enrolled to be in the 7th grade may petition to enter the 13 pony division. However, this player will not eligible for Pony State, regional, or National tournaments. (No 6th grade 12 year old players).
2.No league age 15 year old players allowed in Pony League regardless of grade level.

Boundary/School Guidelines:
PLAYER EXCLUSIVITY GUIDELINES
1.Player exclusivity rule will be in effect March 1 – June 30th. The player must play exclusively with his designated Pony team.
2.The only exception to this rule is a player may participate with his Middle School baseball team, during the school season.
3.THERE WILL BE NO PLAYER PARTICIPATION WITH A HIGH SCHOOL OR LITTLE LEAGUE PROGRAM prior to the June 30th date listed above.
4.Exclusivity means that the player may not play in any other league program or additional “tournament team” during the time periods listed above.
5.Any player willfully breaking this rule of exclusivity will not receive a warning but will be immediately barred from the league permanently. If an incident involves a 13 year-old, he may additionally be barred from playing in the 14 year-old league the following year.

PLAYER EJECTION POLICY
1st Ejection- Player sits out the next scheduled game in full uniform in the dugout with his team.
2nd Ejection- Player sits out the next 2 scheduled games in full uniform in the dugout with his teammates.
3rd Ejection- Player is indefinitely suspended for the remainder of league play.

GAME RULES
1.National Federation High School Rules apply.
2.High School speedup rules apply.
3.Must give umpires 1 new ball and 1 used “game” ball prior to start of game.
4.Both teams are responsible for their “half” of the field regardless of who’s up to bat. Homerun balls are the offensive team.
5.Pitching Rules: As per Pony rule book, 2007, page 20. (7 inning per game, 10 innings per week & 4 innings, 40 hour rest rule).
6.Players leaving dugout, during live play, for the field of play, must have a helmet on.
7.Bullpen catchers must wear FULL GEAR at all times. Parents or coaches who catch must wear a mask.
8.All coaches must wear shorts, shirts, hats, and jackets which are emblematic and consistent with his/her player colors and/or uniforms.
9.All coaches must wear athletic or coaching shoes which are CLOSE TOED.
10.All players must be uniform in appearance with like colored pants, identical uniform tops (except for different numbers), and identical hats that match the overall uniform set.
11.No abusive cheers or ragging from the dugout by players or coaches.

LENGTH OF GAME
Two hour time limit. No new inning starts after the two hour time limit. All innings will be completed. There are no drop dead time limits, or “last hitter” calls. The game is played out.
There is a 10 run rule after 5 or 41/2 innings.

LINE-UPS
Either 10 hitters with an EH or NFHS Baseball rules with 9 hitters are allowable. Each coach must declare which line-up he is using prior to the start of the game and follow those rules the entire game. National Pony rules will be used for all post season tournaments.
Re-entry is allowed for both formats.
Courtesy runners for pitcher and catchers.

INSURANCE
SABA/Pony Baseball currently provide liability and medical coverage for our League Officials, Managers, Coaches and Players.
Regarding injuries: Please contact Jason Hisey as soon as possible to report your accident. We will provide the necessary forms for you to fill out as quickly as possible.

PRACTICE FIELDS
Each team manager must notify Jason Hisey as to which facility they are planning to use for practice. Please do not practice on any school, city, county or state facility without prior approval.

Roster Policy 2010
1.Once rosters are submitted by the HEAD COACH, registration information is submitted by the team, players, and parents, and the team, coaches, and players have been approved by the SABA, that roster will be considered LOCKED.
2.Once a roster is considered LOCKED those players registered for that team may only play for that team in any SABA league.
3.If a player wishes to transfer teams he (and his parents) must complete the Contact Team to Team Transfer (CTTT) paperwork. In summary, in order for the transfer to take place the head coach from the team the player is wishing to leave, the head coach for the team he wishes to transfer to, and the SABA league commissioner, must agree to the transfer by completing the CTTT paperwork and signing the final TEAM to TEAM transfer form.
4.If the CTTT paperwork is not completed, and the Team to Team transfer is not authorized, the player will either play for his original team for the immediate season, or sit out ONE FULL SEASON (either Fall or Spring).
5.After a player has sat one full season he is eligible to play for any team in the SABA Pony League.
6.A team roster will continue to remain LOCKED only if they are in good standing with the SABA. A team can fall out of good standing with SABA for the following reasons:
a.They forfeit ANY game.
b.They miss ANY financial deadline or obligation.
c.The HEAD COACH resigns
d.In the opinion of SABA commissioner and board; the players, coaches or fans of a team act in a way that is embarrassing and compromises the integrity of the league.
7.At the time that a SABA roster becomes UNLOCKED all players on that team are considered FREE AGENTS, and can speak with any coach, team, player, parent, or representative from another team. And can transfer to another team, in the NEXT SEASON (no transfers within seasons), without filling out CTTT paperwork, or getting SABA authorization.
8.All Pony 13 year old teams must have at least nine (9) 7th graders on the roster at the time of competition. If a team does not have nine (9) 7th graders they must play in the 14 year old division.
9.If a team does not fulfill its commitment for post season play, beyond the Tucson Pony Tournament (State, Regional and National competition), the team roster will be UNLOCKED, and all players on that team will be considered FREE AGENTS.
10.All Rosters will have at least 12 players, and no more than 15.
11.The birthday cut-off date for age limits is May 1st. All 13 and 14 year old teams competing in Pony state, regional and national competition must fall within the 13 year old age limit, or 14 year old age limit, as defined by the May 1st birthday.
12.Players must be enrolled in a Middle School, or Elementary School in either Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Graham, Greenlee, or Cochise county in the State of Arizona.
13.All Rosters will have ONE point of contact for a team. This point of contact will have a valid address where mail can be delivered, TWO valid phone numbers (one has to be a cell), ONE fax number, and ONE valid email address. If any of the contact numbers or addresses changes the point of contact has 72 hours to notify SABA League Commissioner, via email, of the new addresses or phone numbers. Ninety percent of all communication will be done via email so the point of contact must check the email account regularly.
14.All teams must submit a fully completely electronic roster, along with the hard copy submitted at walk-up registration. If SABA does not receive an electronic roster on or before the final registration deadline, the team will be considered NOT IN GOOD STANDING, and the roster will be considered UNLOCKED until the registration is complete. The same is true for all deposits and final payments.