Pony Softball provides 13- and 14-year-old girls a chance to play organized softball before they reach the high school level. Girls in Pony Softball usually have been playing since childhood and have had quite a bit of skill development. The league assures that all players get guaranteed playing time and significant practice time is required of all participants.
Roster Size And Playing Time
Pony Softball is committed to giving all players the opportunity to play. Rosters can contain anywhere from 11 to 15 players, although most teams have no more than 12 players. All players are placed in the batting order and remain there throughout the game. Teams may use 10 fielders during the game. The extra fielder is usually placed in the outfield, but that is up to the coach. The coach can position the extra fielder anywhere in fair territory. The catcher is the only player who may be positioned in foul territory. All players in Pony Softball must get the chance to play at least four inning in the field in every game. Free substitution is allowed. Players can start the game in the field, go to the bench for an inning or more and then go back on to the field without penalty.
Game Play
All games in Pony Softball are scheduled for seven innings. If the home team is leading after the visiting team has batted in the top of the seventh, it does not bat. If the game is tied at the end of seven innings, extra innings are played until a winner is determined. There is no limit in the number of runs that a team may score in an inning or a game. There is no surrender or mercy rule. The game goes on until all seven innings are played. The game can be called as a result of darkness if there are no lights. A game is official after five inning. If multiple games are scheduled for the same field, a two-hour time limit may be imposed.
Pitching
Pitchers must throw from the line in the middle of the pitching circle in order for a pitch to be legal. The height of the pitch may not exceed 12 feet. The strike zone goes from the top of the knee to the back of the shoulders. There are no limitations to the number of pitches that a pitcher may throw in a game or the number of innings that a pitcher may throw in a week.
Field And Ground Rules
In Pony Softball, the pitching line is located 46 from home plate. All pitchers must begin their pitching motion with their feet on the pitching line. All bases are 65 feet apart from each other. If home run fences are in place on the field, they must be at least 180 feet from home plate. If the ball is hit over the fence on a bounce, it is considered a ground-rule double and the batter shall be placed on second base. If the fielder throws the ball out of play, the runner will be entitled to the next base plus one more. That means that if the runner had rounded second base when the ball goes out of play, she will be awarded third and then home. However, if she was standing on second base when it went out of play, she would only get third base.
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