All Coaches must remain in the dugout when on defense. Coaches will no longer be allowed to sit on buckets, kneel or stand outside of the dugout while their team is on defense.

EXCEPTION: Shetland (tball) will be allowed two (2) coaches positioned in the outfield while on defense until April 19th (mid season).

SHETLAND (6U) SOFTBALL RULES

1. Pitching distance is 40 feet. Bases shall be set at 55 feet. Except for the pitcher and

catcher, no player can be closer than 45 feet from home plate when the ball is hit.

2. An arc shall be drawn from foul line to foul line 10 feet beyond the back tip of home

plate. A batted ball must be in contact with or beyond this arc to be considered a fair

ball.

3. Batters shall hit from a tee located tip to tip behind home plate.

4. Bats marked T-Ball or softball bats are legal.

5. The batter may not swing until the pitcher makes a pitching motion from the pitching

rubber.

6. Contact, even partial, must be made with the ball to be a legal hit. Any foul ball, missed ball or hitting the tee alone is a strike. There can be an unlimited amount of foul balls after two strikes until the ball is legally hit or there is a strikeout from missing the ball or hitting the tee alone.

7. Batters are not allowed to bunt the ball.

8. Catcher’s equipment (mask, throat protector, chest guard and shin guards) shall be used by any player in the catcher position.

9. Base runners are not allowed to steal. Runners may not leave a base until the ball is hit. If a runner is not in contact with a base when the ball is hit, the runner is out and the

ball is in play.

10. When the ball is in the possession of an infielder in the dirt infield area, time shall be

called and the play is over.

11. No inning shall start more than one hour after the home team takes the field and the

first batter takes a swing. 1 hour time limit.

12. All offensive players must wear batting helmets with protective facemask/guard.

13. The official softball shall be the eleven-inch safety ball.

14. 6 run limit per half inning.

PINTO (8U) SOFTBALL RULES

1. One hour time limit, six innings, if a team will be ahead by nine at the end of four

innings or by five runs at the end of five innings, whichever occurs first will be the game.

2. Six runs per half inning per game.

3. The batter is allowed four pitches. Umpires will call swinging strikes only and three will be an out. The fourth pitch unless hit fair or foul will be an out.

4. The pitching distance is 40 ft. If the coach pitcher is hit with a batted ball, no pitch will

be called. A pitched ball is dead when it hits the ground. Batter cannot hit a ball that

first touches the ground.

5. Bases should be at a distance of 55 ft.

6. No defensive player except for the pitcher who must be parallel to and 3 feet from

either side of the pitching rubber and the catcher who must be within the confines of

the catcher’s box can be closer than 45 feet from home plate. When in the umpire’s

judgment these are not is effect prior to the pitch, no pitch will be called. There should

be lines at first and third base but if not then it will be the umpire’s judgment.

7. HELMETS. All offensive players must wear batting helmets with double ear flaps, and

protective facemask/guard.

8. The official softball shall be the eleven-inch optic yellow ball with a maximum ball

compression of 375 lbs. and a maximum COR of .47 as approved by PONY. Both leather and

synthetic covered softballs bearing the emblem of PONY Girls Softball are

manufactured to specification by several companies and are the softballs recommended

for league play and required in tournament play.

9. All other current PONY Girls Softball Rules are in effect.

MUSTANG (10U) SOFTBALL RULES

1. One hour, 15 minute time limit or six innings will be considered a complete game. No new

Inning shall start after 1 ½ hours. An inning started before time expires shall be finished, unless

The home team is leading after the visitors bat. If a team is leading its opponent by at least 12

runs after three innings, or 10 runs after four innings, or 8 runs after five or more equal innings

have been played or after four and one half innings.

2. The pitching distance is 35 ft. PONY strongly encourages pitchers to wear face protection.

3. Bases will be at a distance of 60 ft.

4. HELMETS. All offensive players must wear batting helmets with double ear flaps and protective facemask/guard.

6. No metal cleats will be allowed

7. The official softball shall be the eleven-inch optic yellow ball as approved by PONY. Both leather and synthetic covered softballs bearing the emblem of PONY Girls Softball are manufactured to specification by several companies and are the softballs recommended for league play and required in tournament play.

8. The uncaught (dropped) third strike rule does apply. This occurs when the catcher fails to catch the third strike before the ball touches the ground when there are less than two outs and first base is unoccupied or anytime there are two outs. The ball is in play and the batter becomes a batter-base runner with liability to be put out. This is called the dropped third strike rule.

9. Head first sliding into home plate is prohibited. The runner will be called out

10. Suicide squeeze plays are prohibited: If a runner from third is attempting to steal home during a pitch without a pause or break and the batter swings, the runner shall be called out and the Team Manager ejected. A safety squeeze or delayed steal is a legal play where the runner bunts or takes.

11. Slash bunts prohibited - For safety reasons, slash bunts are prohibited. A slash bunt is when the batter shows a bunt then pulls back and swings away or slaps at the ball. Penalty – Batter is

called out and no runners may advance.

12. 6 run limit per half inning

BRONCO (12U) SOFTBALL RULES

1. One hour, 15 minute time limit or six innings will be considered a complete game. No new

inning shall start after 1 ½ hours. An inning started before time expires shall be finished, unless

the home team is leading after the visitors bat. If a team is leading its opponent by at least 12

runs after three innings, or 10 runs after four innings, or 8 runs after five or more equal innings

have been played or after four and one half innings.

2. The pitching distance is 40 ft. PONY strongly encourages pitchers to wear face protection.

3. Bases will be at a distance of 60 ft.

4. HELMETS. All offensive players must wear batting helmets with double earflaps and protective facemask/guard.

5. No metal cleats will be allowed.

6. The official softball shall be the twelve-inch optic yellow ball as approved by PONY. Both leather and synthetic covered softballs bearing the emblem of PONY Girls Softball are manufactured to specification by several companies and are the softballs recommended for league play and required in tournament play.

7. The uncaught (dropped) third strike rule does apply. This occurs when the catcher fails to catch the third strike before the ball touches the ground when there are less than two outs and first base is unoccupied or anytime there are two outs. The ball is in play and the batter becomes a batter-baserunner with liability to be put out. This is called the dropped third strike rule.

8. Head first sliding into home plate is prohibited. The runner will be called out

9. Suicide squeeze plays are prohibited: If a runner from third is attempting to steal home during a pitch without a pause or break and the batter swings, the runner shall be called out and the Team Manager ejected. A safety squeeze or delayed steal is a legal play where the runner bunts or takes.

10. Slash bunts prohibited - For safety reasons, slash bunts are prohibited. A slash bunt is when the batter shows a bunt then pulls back and swings away or slaps at the ball. Penalty – Batter is

called out and no runners may advance.

PONY (14U) SOFTBALL RULES

1. One hour, 15 minute time limit or six innings will be considered a complete game. No new

inning shall start after 1 ½ hours. An inning started before time expires shall be finished, unless

the home team is leading after the visitors bat. If a team is leading its opponent by at least 12

runs after three innings, or 10 runs after four innings, or 8 runs after five or more equal innings

have been played or after four and one half innings.

2. The pitching distance is 43 ft. PONY strongly encourages pitchers to wear face protection.

3. Bases will be at a distance of 60 ft.

4. HELMETS. All offensive players must wear batting helmets with double earflaps and protective facemask/guard.

5. No metal cleats will be allowed.

6. The official softball shall be the twelve-inch optic yellow ball as approved by PONY. Both leather and synthetic covered softballs bearing the emblem of PONY Girls Softball are manufactured to specification by several companies and are the softballs recommended for league play and required in tournament play.

7. The uncaught (dropped) third strike rule does apply. This occurs when the catcher fails to catch the third strike before the ball touches the ground when there are less than two outs and first base is unoccupied or anytime there are two outs. The ball is in play and the batter becomes a batter-baserunner with liability to be put out. This is called the dropped third strike rule.

8. Head first sliding into home plate is prohibited. The runner will be called out

9. Suicide squeeze plays are prohibited: If a runner from third is attempting to steal home during a pitch without a pause or break and the batter swings, the runner shall be called out and the Team Manager ejected. A safety squeeze or delayed steal is a legal play where the runner bunts or takes.

10. Slash bunts prohibited - For safety reasons, slash bunts are prohibited. A slash bunt is when the batter shows a bunt then pulls back and swings away or slaps at the ball. Penalty – Batter is

called out and no runners may advance.

1. Entire roster of players present for a game shall bat in rotation.

2. WRANGLERS – All kids will be on field beginning of games. A normal infield and rest will be spread out in the outfield.

3. SHETLAND – 10 players will be used defensively, four outfielders.

4. SHETLAND – The batter will not be allowed to adjust the tee or take practice swings after pitching motion. Penalty – Strike.

5. SHETLAND – Batter shall be called out after failing to hit the ball on three swings. Batter is not out on a foul of foul tip unless it is the third swing.

6. SHETLAND – Cathcer will stand away until batter swings.

7. SHETLAND – No Steals. Penalty – If runner is off base and ball is hit, the runner is out. If ball is not hit, runner returns to base.

8. SHETLAND – When ball is in possession of an infielder, in the umpire’s judgement all play on the runner or runners has ceased; the umpire shall call “TIME”.

9. SHETLAND – Game length is 1 hour. 3 outs or 5 runs per inning.

1. Entire roster of players shall bat in rotation.

2. 10 players will be used defensively, four outfielders.

3. Batters are not permitted to bunt or soft swing. Penalty is strike and ball is dead.

4. Each batter will get 5 (FIVE) pitches with unlimited foul tips on the 5th pitch. All foul balls will be called strikes; however, a batter is out on 3 strikes ONLY if the 3rd strike is a swinging miss. 

5. No stealing. Runner shall remain in contact with the base until the ball is hit or crosses home plate. Penalty – ball hit – runner will be out. Ball not hit – runner returns to base.

6. No infield fly rule.

7. When the ball is in the possession of an infielder and in the umpire's judgement all play on the runner and runners has ceased, the umpire shall call “Time”.

8. If a batted ball hits a coach pitcher, the ball is dead. Runners do not advance.

9. Game length is 1 hour and 15 minutes. 3 outs or 5 runs per inning.

1. Entire roster will bat and only report pitching changes to scorekeeper. All other players will be free substitutions.

2. Runner’s may lead off and steal bases as in official baseball rules

3. Batter must keep 1 foot in the batter’s box at all times.

4. Pitchers shall not pitch in more than 3 innings on same calendar day.

5. Pitchers shall not be allowed to pitch in more than 8 innings per calendar week. Calendar week is from 12:01 am Monday to 12 midnight Sunday.

6. Pitchers shall have at least 40 hours rest after pitching 3 or more innings on the same calendar day. 40 hours is as of scheduled game start time or actual if different by more than 15 minutes.

7. 1 pitch constitutes and inning.

8. Game length is 1 hour and 30 minutes or 6 innings. 3 outs or 5 runs per inning.

1. Entire roster will bat and only report pitching changes to scorekeeper. All other players will be free substitutions.

2. Runner’s may lead off and steal bases as in official baseball rules

3. Batter must keep 1 foot in the batter’s box at all times.

4. Pitchers shall not pitch in more than 7 innings on same calendar day.

5. Pitchers shall not be allowed to pitch in more than 10 innings per calendar week. Calendar week is from 12:01 am Monday to 12 midnight Sunday.

6. Pitchers shall have at least 40 hours rest after pitching 4 or more innings on the same calendar day. 40 hours is as of scheduled game start time or actual if different by more than 15 minutes.

7. 1 pitch constitutes and inning.

8. Game length is 1 hour and 30 minutes or 7 innings. 3 outs or 8 runs per inning.

1. Will bat 9 batters or roster. If batting 9, all subs must be reported with minimum play of 2 innings and 1 at bat. If batting roster, free substitutions and must only report pitching changes.

2. Will play Pony rules.

3. Pitchers shall not pitch in more than 7 innings on same calendar day.

4. Pitchers shall not be allowed to pitch in more than 10 innings per calendar week. Calendar week is from 12:01 am Monday to 12 midnight Sunday.

5. Pitchers shall have at least 40 hours rest after pitching 4 or more innings on the same calendar day. 40 hours is as of scheduled game start time or actual if different by more than 15 minutes.

6. 1 pitch constitutes and inning.

7. Game length is 1 hour and 45 minutes or 7 innings. No run limit per inning.