What age is my child eligible to play in the Miteball division?
You child is eligible to play Miteball if he/she is 3 or 4 and does not turn 5 before April 30, 2012. Our age chart can be found here.
How many games will there be each week?
There is one game on Saturdays.
Where are the games played?
Harvard Park
What times are the games at?
They are usually scheduled to start between 8:00 the earliest and noon the latest.
How many practices will they have each week?
Miteball guidelines allow for 1 optional practice each week during the season.
When & where are the practices?
This will vary by team and coach.
Can my child be on a team that only practices on a particular day of the week?
No. It would be nearly impossible fulfill this type of request.
Can my child play with a specific coach or friend?
You can make a request for a specific coach and/or friends in the comment section on the
registration form. We make very effort to accommodate these requests.
What age is my child eligible to play in the T-ball division?
Your child is eligible for T-Ball if he 5 years old and does not turn 6 before April, 30, 2012. Our age chart can be found here.
Can my child play with a specific coach or friend?
You can make a request for a specific coach and/or friends in the comment section on the
registration form. We make very effort to accommodate these requests, keeping in mind the
balance of all teams.
Can my child play up from T-Ball to Shetland; he is a really good baseball player?
It is generally our policy to require players to play within the division that their age mandates. We do this to keep the teams balanced based on age, maturity, ability and safety of our players. We can look at requests on a case by case basis. A request to play up MUST be made in writing to the VP of the division. In addition, the player MUST attend evaluations to be considered for Shetland.
Will there be any coach pitch opportunities in T-Ball?
Coach Pitch is allowed in the last 2 innings of a game.
Can I pick the “team name” my child will play for?
No, team names are selected by coach seniority.
How many practices and games are there in a season?
The first part of the season there are 2 practices a week and 1 game on Saturdays. After April 1st
we drop to 1 practice a week with 1 mid week game and 1 Saturday game.
Is there All Stars for T-Ball?
Yes, All Stars for T-Ball is for fun. We offer one game in our Memorial Day Tournament. All
players receive a participation medal. Coaches nominate players based on skill.
How is T-Ball different from Mite-Ball?
The most noticeable difference is no parents on the field. Coaches are limited to a 1st base, 3rd
base and Home base coach. We also play 3 outs or 5 runs which ever comes first. More rules can
be found on our website under the T-Ball tab.
Can my child be placed on a team that practices on specific days of the week?
Unfortunately no, practice times/days are determined by the coaches and their availability.
Generally, coaches will ask parents what days/times work best for them. They will make every
attempt to accommodate everyone’s time/day needs.
Who will be my child’s coach?
Coaches are parents who volunteer to coach a team for the season. It is usually a parent of a
player on the team. Coaches are trained and screened by Irvine PONY. Players are placed on
teams made by the commissioner of the division. Commissioners consider requests, schools
attended and home locations when placing teams. Team are not finalized until the beginning of
February.
What age is my child eligible to play in the Shetland division?
Your child is eligible for Shetland if he is 6 years of age and does not turn 7 before April 30, 2012. Our age chart can be found here.
Can my child play with a specific coach or friend?
The teams are coach drafted. Buddy requests can be noted on the registration form under the comments section and will be seen by coaches at the draft. Buddy requests do NOT guarantee player placement.
Can my child play up from T-Ball to Shetland; he is a really good baseball player?
It is generally our policy to require players to play within the division that their age mandates. We do this to keep the teams balanced based on age, maturity, ability and safety of our players. We can look at requests on a case by case basis. A request to play up MUST be made in writing to the VP of the division. In addition, the player MUST attend evaluations to be considered for Shetland.
Can I pick the “team name” my child will play for?
No, team names are assigned to each team.
How many practices and games are there in a season?
The first part of the season there are 2 practices a week and 1 game on Saturdays. In April of each Spring season,
we drop to 1 practice a week with 1 mid-week game and 1 Saturday game.
Is there All Stars for Shetland?
Yes, there is sanctioned All Star play for the Shetland division. Shetland All-Stars are selected via a tryout process.
How is Shetland different from T-Ball?
Primarily, Shetland differs from T-Ball in that pitches are delivered by a manual pitching machine and no hitting off the tee is allowed. Other differences
include unlimited base running, scorekeeping, win/ loss records, playoffs, etc… More rule information and differences can be found on our web site.
Can my child be placed on a team that practices on specific days of the week?
Unfortunately no, practice times/days are determined by the coaches and their availability. Generally, coaches will ask parents what days/times work best for them. They will make every
attempt to accommodate everyone’s time/day needs.
What does ‘unlimited base running’ mean?
Unlimited base running allows the runners following a batted ball to circle the bases until time is called by the umpire.
Who will be my child’s coach?
Coaches are parents who volunteer to coach a team for the season. It is usually a parent of a player on the team. Coaches are trained and screened by Irvine PONY. Players are drafted to team during a “coach draft”. Team are not finalized until the beginning of February.
What age is my child eligible to play in the Pinto Machine Pitch of Kid Pitch division?
Your child is eligible for Machine Pitch or Pinto Kid Pitch if he is 7 or 8 years of age and does not turn 9
before April 30,
2012.
What is the difference between Machine Pitch and Pinto Kid Pitch?
Machine Pitch - Players continue to learn and refine the basic fundamentals of baseball while
developing a broader knowledge of the game. Batters hit off a pitching machine to ensure an easy to
hit ball each at bat. Teams practice and play 2-3 times per week. Games are 6 innings long.
Kid Pitch - Kid Pitch for more experienced players who are ready to learn to pitch and to hit pitched
balls. All 7 year olds wishing to play Kid Pitch must elect to try out for PKP. Tryouts for PKP are
mandatory for all 8 year olds.
Does my child need to attend a tryout?
Yes, all Pinto level players must tryout. Tryouts are critical in allowing coaches the opportunity to
evaluate the skill level of players and assisting in a balanced draft. Even if your child is a 7 year-old
and will elect to play Machine Pitch only, they must attend the tryout. You must contact the division
VP if your child cannot make the tryout or make-up tryout.
Can my child play with a specific coach or friend?
All teams are formed by a draft.
How many practices and games are there in a season?
The first part of the season there are 2 practices a week and 1 game on Saturdays. After April 1st
we drop to 1 practice a week with 1 mid week game and 1 Saturday game.
Can my child be placed on a team that practices on specific days of the week?
Unfortunately no, practice times/days are determined by the coaches and their availability.
Generally, coaches will ask parents what days/times work best for them. They will make every
attempt to accommodate everyone’s time/day needs.
Is there All Stars for Machine Pitch and Pinto Kid Pitch?
For Machine Pitch one or more Memorial Day Tournament teams are formed. For PKP, one or more All
Star teams are formed.
Does my child have to tryout?
Yes, tryouts are required for all players age 9 and 10 (for the 2012 spring season: born 5/1/01 or later, and 4/30/03 or earlier) who register to play in Mustang.
When are tryouts?
Tryout schedules and locations are held in early January (usually the 2nd Saturday in January). Tryout times are posted on the Irvine Pony website.
What happens at tryouts?
The kids are grouped (15 players per group) by their assigned time. Together they go through a series of stations for evaluation in batting, fielding and throwing. Players may use their own bat. Evaluation of the players is by experienced coaches selected by the VP and Irvine Pony board members. The results of tryouts are released only to coaches drafting teams and to Irvine Pony staff.
Should my child practice/prepare for tryouts?
Though not necessary, it is suggested. The League typically offers free clinics in January to help brush up
on skills in preparation for the season.
How are teams formed?
After tryouts, player rankings are compiled from input provide by experienced coaches and league officials, and used to assist coaches and the division VP in creating balanced and competitive teams through a player draft. Teams are chosen in National (NL) and American (AL) divisions based on player ability and experience. Each team is allowed up to three "protected" players (the
children of the coaches and players who have played with that coach in the previous spring season) who are automatically placed on that team. (Note that, in addition to the NL and AL divisions, there will be a Select division, which is generally reserved for travel teams. Please see travel/club FAQ’s linked on the website.)
How many kids are on a team?
Generally, there are 11-12 players on NL teams and 12-13 players on AL teams.
Can my child request a friend to play on the same team?
The teams are assembled using the draft process to ensure balanced teams. There is no way to
guarantee a request for a friend to play on the same team.
Do siblings play on the same team?
Yes, siblings in the same division can play on the same team if the parents request it. Occasionally
parents will request that siblings be placed on different teams, and those requests are also
honored.
When will I be notified which team my child is on?
The division draft occurs in early February. Coaches then contact their players after the draft and
provide team details such as the roster and practice schedule. The League recommends that
the coaches hold a parents' meeting before or after the first team practice in order to introduce
themselves and ask for assistance during the season.
When does the season start?
The division draft is in early February. After the draft, the coaches begin practices – typically twice
per week until the season begins. Opening Day for the first game is the first weekend in March. The regular season and playoffs are expected to end before Memorial Day.
Where, when and how often are practices held?
Practices maybe held at Harvard Park, Brywood, Alton Park, and/or Heritage Park. Coaches usually schedule two
practices a week pre-season and one per week during regular season. Coaches pick their practice
days and times from the available slots (which are limited by field availability).
Where, when and how often are games played?
Games are almost always played at Harvard Park. Each team plays once on Saturdays and once in midweek. Saturday games are normally scheduled throughout the day. Midweek games are from 5:00pm-7:30pm.
How many games are scheduled?
Typically there are 14-16 games, depending on the number of teams.
How long are games?
Games are 6 innings or maximum time of 2 hours 15 minutes.
What is the minimum playing time for each player?
In NL and AL, every player is in the line-up and bats. In addition, no player may sit out twice on defense until every player has sat out once, and every player has to play in the infield within the first 4 innings. The Select division will have separate playing time rules that are more consistent with customary travel baseball rules.
What equipment is required to play?
The minimum baseball equipment required is a baseball glove. You can expect to pay $30-40 for a
relatively good quality beginner glove made of leather (not plastic). Gloves are available from major
sporting shop retailers. Please ask for assistance in getting the correct size if this is the first time a
glove is being purchased. A protective cup is required for all male players. Players are also required to wear
baseball/soccer cleats with rubber. Metal cleats are not permitted. Many players also purchase their own bats.
Are there post-season All Star opportunities?
Yes, at least one all-star team in each age group will represent the league in post-season play.
How are All Stars selected?
This process is detailed in our Admin Plan which can be downloaded from our website http://irvinepony.com/documents/IrvinePONYAdminPlan_003.doc
I'm interested in coaching, what should I do?
Please complete a manager application and submit to the division VP. The manager application
can be found on our website at http://irvinepony.com/documents/IrvinePONYManagerApplication.pdf. When completing registration, please check the “Head Coach” or “Assistant Coach” box in the volunteer section. The division VP will choose among the available candidates or applicants to select managers for the season. After
the draft process, the head coaches will normally recruit parents who have volunteered to be an “Assistant
Coach” and other parents of their players as additional assistants. If you would like more information or have questions, please contact the division VP.
What opportunities are there for parents to assist the coaches during the season?
Each team will need a team parent(s) to organize a snack schedule, distribute picture-day
materials and organize the end-of-year party. If you are interested in this position then please
select “Team Mom” from the available volunteer opportunities. The head coach usually asks for additional assistant coaches to help with practices and games, and for help in field preparation. There are opportunities for all Irvine Pony families to get involved and your support is very appreciated.
How is Pony different from Little League?
PONY plays a more complete form of baseball at an earlier age. Players with the ability to pitch
can do so from age 7. Leading off, stealing, holding runners, dropped third strike etc. are played
as early as 9 years old.
I have heard about the American and National league divisions within some age groups.
Can you explain that?
Starting at the age of 7 years old we create divisions based on ability. In the 7-8 year old Pinto
division we break these into Machine and Kid Pitch where the top players play a more complete
form of baseball and new players are allowed to develop skills in a more controlled machine pitch
division. Starting at age 9 we create an advanced National League division and an American
League division.
How are the teams formed?
At the beginning of each season evaluations are held in each of the age group and a rating is
created for each player. The rating is formed from not only the short try-out, but past ability history
or other information deemed necessary to assess a player’s ability. Once these ratings are done, a
draft is held with a league official and the managers that have been selected by the division VP.
Once the national league teams have been formed a draft is then held for the American League
using the same guidelines and the ratings for the remaining players.
What is a “frozen” player and how does that work?
Managers that are returning from the last spring season may “freeze” up to three players from the
team they managed last spring. Those players are still rated and fall in the drafts rounds they
would have been in based on the rating. If a manager doesn’t return, but his assistant coach does,
that coach may also freeze players from that team.
How are head coaches selected?
The division VP is charged with selecting the managers based on the Irvine Pony Admin Plan
http://irvinepony.com/documents/IrvinePONYAdminPlan_004.doc. Past performance, coaches
evaluations and service to PONY are the most important tools used in this process. We want to
create an environment of good fun baseball for the families in our program and we select adults we
think can deliver this. Just because a parent was a good player doesn’t make them a good
ambassador for our program. This process begins generally three months before each season.
Go to the website for the manager application and forward it to the proper league official
How are post season All-Star teams formed?
Information on this process can be found in our admin plan. Our goal is to reward the committed
top players an opportunity to compete against other All-Star teams from around the area through
the summer. Just being a top player is not enough to be selected to a team. The financial and
time commitment must be understood and the fact the adult’s behavior during the season may
affect a player’s selection. http://irvinepony.com/documents/IrvinePONYAdminPlan_004.doc
What if I don't have the right gear?
email Wally Wong the equipment manager at wallyball@earthlink.net
What if I lose my gear?
The league may charge you a replacement fee or it will be deducted from your deposit check.
How much is the charge for gear replacement?
The day you receive your gear, you will also receive a cost of replacement schedule.
What if I don't have a deposit check?
You will not be issued any gear.
Do I have to return the bucket and the used and unused baseballs?
Yes
How much is the deposit check?
$200.00 and written out to Irvine Pony
Will my child’s name be in the local newspaper?
Absolutely! Each Coach and/or Team Mom will provide details of games and can submit
articles to the Publicity Chair.Jeannine will edit the articles and send them directly to the
Irvine World News. The Irvine World News disburses its weekly papers on Tuesday’s,
Thursday’s and Saturday’s. They are delighted to announce children’s names, accomplishments and wins.
Can my team submit an article regarding a great win we had?
Yes. See above.
