Pony Rules

2007 Rules and Amendments
The Nippersink Pony League will follow IHSA Baseball Rules with the addition of the following amendments:

1. SUBSTITUTION RULE:

a. NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Each team will use a nine (9) player line-up, however they may play with a minimum of eight (8)players. In the event a team plays a game with only eight (8)players, the ninth spot in the line up would be an automatic out.
NEW in 2007 --
a. All American League players may only substitute for another American League team.
b. Any NON-AMERICAN LEAGUE player may substitute for an American League player.


2. PROTEST PROCEDURE:
In the event a Manager wants to protest a game, the following will apply:

a. The Manager must file the protest with the umpire and opposing Manager before the next pitch.
b. A written report of the event must be submitted to the league president within 48 hours. This Report must include the names of both teams, Managers, and the name of the presiding umpire. The officers of the league will meet with both managers either in person or by teleconference to discuss the event.
c. The league will issue a Ruling on the protest, and make a determination of how to settle the protest. ALL LEAGUE DECISIONS ARE FINAL.

3. TEAM ROSTERS:
All teams must supply a list to the league president of all Roster players for 2007 by Thursday April 12th 2007. The maximum players allowed is fifteen (15). All players must be rostered only in this league. High School players must finish the high school season prior to playing in Nippersink. They cannot practice with the Nippersink team until High School B-Ball is final.

Violation of this rule will cause all games played with the offending player to be forfeited by his/her team. Additionally that player will be automatically suspended from the league for the remainder of the season.


4. Player Call Up:
Teams will be permitted to call up players in the event they can not field a nine man team for any game. The player called up must be from a lower level (ie: Bronco). It is recommended "In House" players are used over "Travel" players. If a team calls up a player, it is the responsibility of the manager to make arrangements with their respective coordinator. The player called up is prohibited from pitching, and can not start before a roster player. If a roster player shows up prior to the game, the Bronco player cannot play the field but can bat (cont order). The mgr should clearly review these rules with the parents PRIOR to the season and set the expectations on the front end.


5. TIME LIMIT:
All Nippersink regular season games will be played within a two hour time limit. No new inning may be started after the two hour mark. In the event of a tie game, one additional inning will be allowed after the two hour mark. The only exception to play more than one extra inning is in the event the game is still under the two hour time limit. In this case extra innings will be allowed up to the two hour mark.

6. FIELDS & SLIDING RULES:
a. Nippersink Baseball Association games are played on (80) foot base length, and (54) foot pitchers mound.
b. High School sliding rules apply: In the event of a play at the base you are moving to it is the responsibility of both players to avoid contact.
c. Fake tags are prohibited in Nippersink. This is poor sportsmanship and will not be tolerated.

d. RULE: If a player is deemed to have "intent to injure" whether it be while on defense, base running, pitching, or any other situation,the umpire determines if the player is to be ejected from the game and that there was intent to injure.
PENALTY: Ejection from that game, plus an automatic one game suspension from the league to be enforced at the teams next game.

Prevention of this is the responsibility of Managers and will be enforced by the umpires. All umpire decisions in this matter are final. Safety of our players is our # 1 concern so we will not review the judgment of any umpire when it comes to the safety of the players.

7. BAT SIZE:
Nippersink Requires ( +/- 3 ) for all bats. This also must be followed by players that are brought up from Bronco Leagues.

7A. Showing Bunt and "slap" swinging, or swinging away after showing bunt, is illegal. Batter should be called out by the umpire. This should be reviewed prior to the game with each new umpire.

8. SHOES:
No player will be permitted to step onto a Nippersink Pony League Field wearing metal spikes. METAL SPIKES ARE BANNED AT ALL NIPPERSINK EVENTS! In the event a player is found wearing metal spikes by either a player, Manager, or Umpire the player will be immediately ejected from the game. Should the same player commit the same offense one more than one occasion the league may impose a suspension of the player of up to three games.

9. PITCHING RULES:
a. A pitcher may pitch (7) innings maximum in a regular season game, and no more than (14) innings in a week. In the event of a make-up game (2) additional innings will be allowed.
b. If a player pitches more than (4) innings in one day a rest period of (40) hours must be enforced before that pitcher can pitch again. If involved in two games in one day, the player must follow the (7) inning rule with any combination being used.
c. One (1) pitched ball constitutes an inning pitched. Once a pitcher is removed from pitching he/she can not return to pitch in that game.
d. Any pitcher that hits (3) batters in one inning or (4) in a game must be removed.
e. Sunday at 5:00 AM is the beginning of the week.
f. All-Star games do not count as innings pitched for the week.
g. Mgrs should use "Good" judgement and keep the pitchers at 85 pitches or less per game.

10. Playing Time Rules:
a. All teams will use a continuous batting order.
b. All players must play a minimum 2 innings in the field.
c. "NEW" in 2006, FREE SUBSTITUTION RULE
d. Mgrs should use good ethical judgement and play all players within the first 4 innings of the game so all players see action, in case the 10 run slaughter rule eliminates the field play of a player.

11.UMPIRE NO SHOW - In the event of a NO SHOW by any Fox Valley Blues Umpire, the game will be re-scheduled as soon as possible, and the home team must notify the league of the NO SHOW.
It is still the home teams/organization responsibility to reschedule with Fox Valley Blues for the umpire for the make up date.
Because scheduled games are difficult to make up, it is ok to use subst umpires if they are available, AND both teams agree o this prior to the game. They should be paid accordingly also by the home team.

12. MISSED GAMES, GAME CHANGES, OR MAKE-UP's - ALL missed games must be reported to the Webmaster within 48 hrs by the home team. The home team will then have 5 days to re-schedule the missed game. The home team must notify FVB, League Officers, and the opposing team, via e-mail, phone, or fax, and file confirmation and approval of request. If the home team is having a difficult time reaching or re-scheduling with the opposing team, the League officers and community director must be contacted for assistance. All game changes must be done between both team mgrs within the league approved dates. Changes must be reported within 48 hrs (as above) and scheduled within 5 days.

13. Rain, Lightning, or Darkness - Games called because of weather or darkness will be considered complete after 5 complete innings or 4.5 with the home team winning. If the game is called prior to 5 complete innings, the both teams should write down the time started and stopped, verify their scorebooks agree exactly, have FVB sign their book, and re-schedule the balance in time or innings (which ever comes first). This must also be reported under the 48 hr rule. Then, please follow rule #12 above to complete the remainder of the game. As responsible mgrs, we expect all mgrs to clealy communicate their viewpoints of any game, that appears to be headinging into any of the situations above "prior" to making conflicting decisions after the fact.

13A. It is the resposibility of the Home team mgr to be "in-tune" with their local weather on game day. in the event of questionable weather, the mgr should contact the opposing mgr (phone then e-mail) and communicate his/her intentions for that day. Updates throughout the day should also be communicated if changes occur.

13B. Because rainout games are difficult to determine, decisions should be made within a reasonable time frame, allowing the oposing team enough time to travel AND communicate to all opposing players the intention of the game. This process should also be well communicated to the parents PRIOR to the season starting, so they know what to expect. Mgrs should also understand that every intention should be made to play the game unless safety of the players is at risk, or the home team does not have authority to use the field under adverse weather conditions. This process could also mean if rain arrives inside of the "90 minute required rainout call-in time", they will be charged an umpire fee.

14. COMPLETED GAME RESULTS - Game results must be e-mailed, phoned, or faxed within 48 hrs to the webmaster. Information provided must include score, innings pitched by all pitchers, jersey numbers of all pitchers. The 2007 Mgr/Coach contact list has all the updated information. Phone - 815 675-2620 E-Mail gop1nra@aol.com

15. 10 Run slaughter rule will be enforced. A team winning by 10 or more runs after 5 innings of play will be determined the winner. If the home team is winning by this margin the game will end after 4.5 innings.

The Nippersink Rules are put in place with the intent of giving all mgrs guidelines or instructions to clearly follow while playing the game of baseball in this league or at this level of play. It is continually preached and understood by all the mgrs and the league, that we are only here to provide the players a great learning life experience, with positive lasting memories of teamwork, sportsmanship, and respect. Winning should NEVER come at the cost of jeopardizing any of the areas above.

The integrity of these rules is the responsibility of all Managers, and umpires. Any team found in violation of this rules by the league will be penalized accordingly by the league which could include suspension, forfeit, dismissal or all.