Pony Rule

[moe]

What does this pony rule mean to you?

F. SHETLAND, PINTO, MUSTANG, BRONCO, PONY and COLT players of proper age
whose residence, as determined by the residence of their parents or legal guardians,
is within the approved organization league boundaries shall be considered "legal"
players for organization league and tournament competition

 

[fastpitch]

i'm not familiar with Pony specifically, but reading that means if the player lives in league boundaries, they are legal players.

 

[moe]

We are having a problem with a hand picker and playing players across league boundaries to make a hand selected rec team...pretty much pissing me off...lol

 

[MT 73]

We are having a problem with a hand picker and playing players across league boundaries to make a hand selected rec team...pretty much pissing me off...lol

Tell me about it--I coached a CYO team for years and there were always some coaches who were trying to cherry pick a dominant team.
One even tried to recruit my daughter.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

Are you asking for a baseball or softball team?

F. SHETLAND, PINTO, MUSTANG, BRONCO, PONY and COLT players of proper age
whose residence, as determined by the residence of their parents or legal guardians,
is within the approved organization league boundaries shall be considered "legal"
players for organization league and tournament competition

That rule is from the baseball rule book and the softball rules are surprisingly different.

League Reg 3 - Legal Players doesn't mention residency.

League Reg 4 - Boundaries indicates they are optional.
Section 1 Use of league boundaries for a Zone is at the Zone Director’s discretion. League
boundaries if used shall be determined by the league officers.

Playing Rule 1 - Definitions
Sec. 34 ILLEGAL PLAYER. An illegal player is one who is not legally a member of the
league/team because the player does not meet the requirements as to age and/or
residence.

 

[moe]

THanks SoCal_dad. I couldnt find a softball copy, I wouldnt have thought that the front matter would be different. I guess because in some areas its too hard to field a team.

 

[Umpire]

LEAGUE REGULATION 4 – BOUNDARIES

Section 1 Use of league boundaries for a Zone is at the Zone Director’s discretion. League

boundaries if used shall be determined by the league officers.

Section 2 A map clearly indicating the current boundaries of the league shall be sent to the

Zone Director and shall be replaced upon request.

a. Unless specifically stated otherwise the center of the street shall be

b. Maps must indicate specific boundaries such as streets, railroad tracks,

considered the actual dividing line when streets are used as boundaries.

rivers, or school districts, postal zones, municipal limits or similarly specified

areas.

(1) A definition of boundaries such as “five mile radius” is not acceptable.

Section 3 The Zone Director, based upon the recommendations of the Field Directors

concerned, reserves the right to adjust boundaries in the event of overlapping of

territorial requests or because of inequitable conditions.

Section 4 Though boundaries are not specifically restricted by population or area, both will

be considered when boundaries are approved.

Section 5 Boundaries for Shetland, Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, Pony, Colt, Palomino and

Thorobred leagues sponsored by the same group need not be identical, nor need

they coincide with those of baseball leagues affiliated with PONY Baseball.

 

[Umpire]

It simply means that just because one boundary or exception is applied for one age group or for baseball, that boundary need not dictate what must be used in softball or another age group.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

THanks SoCal_dad. I couldnt find a softball copy, I wouldnt have thought that the front matter would be different. I guess because in some areas its too hard to field a team.

You're welcome. The PONY rulebooks are available for free from their website. Here's the link to the softball rulebook - http://link.pony.org/girls_softball_rulebook

 

[Cowdogz]

What does this pony rule mean to you?

F. SHETLAND, PINTO, MUSTANG, BRONCO, PONY and COLT players of proper age
whose residence, as determined by the residence of their parents or legal guardians,
is within the approved organization league boundaries shall be considered "legal"
players for organization league and tournament competition

It means you play in the league where your parents or legal guardians live; you're not allowed to claim that you live with a grandparent, or friend, or other relative, in order to play in a different league.

DS's HS football team has been really bad. A kid who would have been a senior this year now claims to be living with a family in the next town over, though his parents still live in our town. Guess which team won the States?