Sunnyvale Cupertino Pony Baseball
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently
Contact us at http://scpony.org or call (408) 985-2925, (408) 489-8923 or (408) 732-7254
1) How is PONY Baseball different from Little League Baseball?
Note that in our 2010 season, Sunnyvale Cupertino Pony Baseball will operate only a Pony Division.
The primary feature that distinguishes PONY Baseball from Little League Baseball is the scaled diamonds. Little League uses two diamond sizes. Up until age 12, players play on a 60-foot diamond, then they jump to 90-foot diamonds. PONY Baseball, on the other hand, scales the size of the diamonds to match the physical capabilities of the players within each division. The base dimensions for PONY Baseball are:
- 50-foot bases for Shetland (5-6 year olds) and Pinto (7-8 year-olds)
- 60-foot bases for Mustang (9-10 year-olds)
- 70-foot bases for Bronco (11-12 year-olds)
- 80-foot bases for Pony (13-14 year-olds)
- 90-foot bases for Colt/Palomino (15-18 year-olds)
These base dimensions are the result of extensive experimentation to determine the size on which players of each age group can properly play the game of baseball. Pitching distance is also scaled to the ability of the player in proportion to the size of the diamond.
The scaled down diamonds allow the players to play baseball the same way as professional baseball players. Home runs become a possibility. Outfielders can play in a position proportionately equal to that played by a major leaguer, and the double play, squeeze play, and various strategy tactics, difficult for adults and nearly impossible for youngsters on a full size diamond, become a probability rather than an impossibility.
2) What are the league geographical boundaries?
League boudaries include the cities of Sunnyvale and Cupertino.
3) How do we register our player for the 2010 season?
Our registration opens Saturday, 5 December, and closes Friday, 8 January. Players must be born between 1 May 1995 and 30 April 1998 to be eligible to play in the Pony Division of Pony Baseball. Registration forms can be downloaded from our website at http://scpony.org. Registration fees are $210. There also is a deposit of $70 for your player’s uniform. This deposit is returned to you with the return of the uniform at the end of the season. In addition to the filled out registration form, which includes a medical release form required by Pony Baseball, you will need to provide us a copy of your player’s birth certificate and two proofs of residence, which must be recent utility bills from different utilities, which we will include in team affidavits.
To turn in your registration, we will have two walk-in registrations:
Saturday, December 12, 1 pm to 2:30 pm at the Raynor PONY field
Tuesday, January 5, 3 pm to 4:30 pm at the Raynor PONY field
4) Our player is trying out for his high school team. If he doesn’t make it on his high school team, can he play PONY baseball?
We will have a supplemental draft for any players that don’t make their high school teams and a supplemental draft for any players that finish their high school baseball season before completion of the PONY regular season and want to keep playing baseball. To be fair to each of our teams, we will add the same number of these players to each team and any player that is not added to a team will be placed on our waiting list. Since a high school player remains eligible for PONY All-Stars as long as he plays in a reduced number of regular season games, you should notify us as soon as your player is available for PONY baseball.
5) Times are tough right now. Can we get a discount on our registration?
A grant of up to $100 for players needing financial assistance is available from the Santa Clara Valley Federation of Umpires. See their website at www.scvfu.com for details.
6) Can girls sign up?
Yes, we encourage development of baseball skills by boys and girls of the required ages.
7) When and what are try-outs?
League players must attend try-outs to be drafted onto a team. Our 2010 try-outs will be on Saturday, 9 January, starting at 10 am and held at the Braly Park field. Try-outs typically last about 2 hours. There will be a make-up try-out session on Monday, 11 January, for any players unable to attend the Saturday session. Try-outs give the managers an opportunity to evaluate each player prior to the player draft where all players are placed on teams.
8) If our player does poorly at try-outs, will he/she be cut?
Since we have a limited number of teams and a limited number of roster spots, following try-outs we will determine the number of teams and the number of players to be drafted on each team. Any players that are not drafted will receive a refund of their registration fee and can either try-out for another local Pony league or be placed on our waiting list. We will notify players of their draft status as soon as possible so they have an opportunity to attend other local Pony league try-outs.
9) When will we find out what team our player will play on?
We plan to complete our player draft on 12 January and complete notification of players by 14 January.
10) What equipment will our player need before the first practice or game?
The league will issue a game jersey, game pants, baseball cap, undershirt and socks to each player for use during league games.
Parents will need to provide a belt, practice pants, practice shirt, male athletic supporter, male cup, metal cleats, suitable glove and Pony baseball bat. Pony-approved baseball bats include metal, wooden, graphite (composition) and ceramic bats which are round and not more than 2 ¾ inches in diameter at the thickest part, nor more than 42 inches in length.
11) When will practices begin?
Depending on weather, practices can begin Saturday, 16 January.
12) How often will our player practice and play games?
Practice schedules will be determined by the league Board of Directors and shall be limited as follows:
Pony--Practice sessions will be limited to three hours maximum per session.
Any combination of games and practices shall be limited to four (4) per week (i.e., 3 games and 1 practice, 2 games and 2 practices, etc.).
Additional Practices Managers may schedule additional practices (i.e., batting cages, position practices, etc.) on a voluntary basis only. Players cannot be disciplined for failing to attend voluntary practice sessions, which exceed the previously identified limits.
13) Where are the practices and games?
Sunnyvale Cupertino PONY Baseball will reserve the Raynor Pony baseball field from the City of Sunnyvale for all of our home games and for practices. Teams can also use the Ortega and Cupertino Middle Pony fields for practice on a first-come, first-served basis.
14) When are the games played?
The regular season will kick-off in late March, with a 22 game schedule. We will interlock with other local leagues similar to last season including Saratoga, LA-MV and Los Gatos. The Pony division has 2 - 3 games per week during the regular season, 1 – 2 weekday games and one Saturday game. Team managers will provide schedules for regular season games before the team’s first game. We’ll follow the regular season with a double-elimination playoff tournament for our league championship in early June. Playoff schedules will be available on our website within 48 hours of our last regular season game. Then we’ll field our selected All-Stars in the local Pony All-Star tournaments starting in mid-June.
15) How much will our player play in games?
Our managers will balance player game time with playing competitive baseball. Our goal is to develop our players’ baseball skills while not being so ultra-competitive that it takes away from the enjoyment of our players playing the great game of baseball. The minimum playing requirement is three (3) innings in the field and one (1) at bat in each regulation 7-inning game. If the playing requirement is not met in a game, that player must start and play the entire next game.
16) Are there time limits on games?
No new inning will begin 2 hours after the planned start time when another game is
scheduled on the field in use. Pony games are 7 innings but a game is official after 5 innings, 4 ½ innings if the home team is leading.
17) Will our player be on All-Stars?
Not all of our players will be on All Star teams. If we have enough players register, we plan to field a 14&13 year-old All-Star team and a 13&12 year-old All-Star team. All-Star players will be selected before the last playoff game and will be announced at our Closing Ceremonies. Note that only players with residence in the cities of Sunnyvale or Cupertino will be eligible for All-Stars.
18) Who do we call if we have a problem that needs to be resolved by the league?
If at any time you have a problem or just want information go to http://scpony.org to check for the information or either use the contact page or email a board member directly. We would like for you to first discuss any concerns with your player’s manager, then with our Player Representative. Please provide us with both a day and evening phone number. In most cases we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
19) Will there be a Snack Shack for family or friends during games?
The Raynor Pony field does not have a snack shack. However, if there is a Sunnyvale Metro game at the same time as our home game, Metro operates a Snack Shack. For away games, some of the leagues we plan to interlock with have snack shacks and some don’t.
20) What is Opening Day?
Our Opening Day will be on the same day as our first regular season game. We’ll introduce our players and coaches then play our first regular season game with two of our teams.
21) What are Closing Ceremonies?
At Closing Ceremonies, on the Saturday following our last league playoff game, we will present awards to our league champions, announce our All-Star teams, vote on the in-coming Board of Directors and celebrate completing a successful season.
22) If our player is unhappy with the team he/she has been placed on, can he/she switch teams?
Only in extreme cases do we allow players to switch teams after the teams have been formed. Such requests must be made in writing to the Player Agent, with the reasons for switching. This must be done before the first regular season game.
All players who are affected will be handled on an individual basis and all requests
will be kept confidential.
23) What happens if our player misses too many practices or games?
A player can be suspended by their manager for an entire game, not only for missing too many practices or games but also if he/she violates, or fails to uphold the policies, principles, rules and regulations of Pony Baseball, Inc. or of the League. He/she can also be fined for causing harm to any League equipment or facility that render it unusable or costs more than $10.00 to repair.
24) If our player decided to quit can I get a refund?
Registration fees are non-refundable after the first regular season game.
25) How many coaches including the manager can a team have?
No more than three during games. During practice, it is up to the team’s manager.
26) Are there any Local Rules that are strictly enforced?
Official baseball rules: All play will be governed by the “Official Baseball Rules—The Sporting News Addition” by Pony Baseball, Inc.’s “Rules and Regulations”. In addition, Sunnyvale Cupertino Pony has league rules available to team managers.
27) Who umpires PONY games?
We plan to use two adult umpires for each home game from the Santa Clara Valley Federation of Umpires. See their website at www.scvfu.com for more information.
28) Do you do background checks on coaches?
Yes, we require information from our coaches and board members and use this information to perform background checks to identify any violence-related, drug-related or sex-related arrest and conviction.