EVENT DETAILS

PONY Rules

• Divisions are based upon a player’s 2024 PONY League Age (as of April 30, 2023).  Players may play up in age but may not play down.
• Major League Baseball rules will apply with exceptions noted here or in the PONY Rulebook.
• All pitching & scores and results will be posted on usssasocal.com which will link to the national site on usssa.com
• AA divisions will use normal USSSA pitching rules.
• In 7u/8U, a runner may steal a base but may not break contact with base until ball is released from pitchers hand. If a runner leaves early and the ball is not put n play, the runner must return to previous base unless he is thrown out. If runner leaves early a 2nd time, he is out. If a runner leaves early and ball is put in play, the runner is out, (Delayed Dead Ball) Each team will receive one warning per game. ON the second subsequent violation by any player on the same team, the runner will be declared out.
• In 7u/8U, batter is automatically out on dropped 3rd strike and runners may advance at their own risk
• Ages 7U-14UTeams may elect to bat 9 players OR bat their entire roster.  In the 6U, teams will bat their entire roster. Starters may re-enter one time only in their original spot in the batting order. In 6U, all players will bat.  No DHs are allowed.  Teams may start or play with 8 players.  The 9th position will be an out every time up.  Teams batting their entire line up that have an injured player that cannot hit may close up their line up with no penalty.  The player cannot return to the line up that game.  If they are batting their entire line up and a player is ejected, the empty spot is an out each time it comes up.
• All protests will be ruled on immediately and all decisions are final.  To protest a game, the umpire must be informed that the game is being played under protest and a tournament director will make a ruling immediately.  Do not continue the game under any circumstances.  Once the next pitch is thrown, both teams have lost the right to protest. 
• Courtesy runners will be allowed for the pitcher and catcher at any time.  The courtesy runner will be someone not currently in the game or if the team has no substitution, the last out.
• All conversations with an umpire should be conducted after a time out has been called and done so in a calm and professional manner.  Verbal abuse of the umpire will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the game and teams being expelled from the tournament Absolutely no verbal abuse of the youth umpires will be tolerated.
• To intentionally walk a batter, a coach simply needs to inform the umpire and point to first base with no pitches thrown. One offensive time out per inning will be allowed.
• Home team will be determined by coin flip and occupy the 3rd base dugout.  Each team will provide a scorekeeper will all changes going through the home plate umpire.  In playoff rounds, higher seeds will automatically be the home team.
• There are no BBQ’s allowed in Fountain Valley Sports Park.  No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the park.  RV parking is allowed only on the service road by the golf course.  No RV parking will be allowed in the parking lots.  No overnight parking is allowed.  The snack bar is a major fundraiser for Fountain Valley Pony, please support it.  Parking is allowed in marked spaces only.  Some spaces will be reserved for USSSA/FVPB staff.  Parking in these spots or removing the cones marking these spots will result in your car being towed.  With the large number of teams in one location, parking will be an issue. Please carpool whenever possible. 
• Managers do not have to be in uniform for this tournament.  Teams must be nonduplicating numbers.  No uniform protests will be allowed.
• In all star divisions, USA bat rules apply.  IN PONY-14U, BBCor or USA Bats are allowed