Is this Little League?
No, but it’s similar. The BPV Youth Baseball Association (BPV) is affiliated with PONY Baseball which is youth baseball that covers all ages. We have divisions in BPV for kids from age 7 - 18.

Wait, I thought PONY was for teens?
Originally, that was so. Since the 1950’s PONY has expanded to cover all youth ages.

Since it covers a bunch of ages, what are the age divisions for BPV PONY Baseball?
We offer two-year age brackets as follows:
º Pinto Division - 7 and 8 (Coach Pitch)
º Mustang Division - 9 and 10 (Kid Pitch)
º Bronco Division - 11 and 12 (Lead-offs allowed)
º Pony Division - 13 and 14 (Play the dropped third strike rule, no metal spikes)
º Colt Division - 15 through 18 (Just like the Major Leagues)

Where do I need to live?
You must live inside the Bettendorf or Pleasant Valley School District boundaries in order to play in the BPVYBA.

How much does this cost for a season?
$80: For all age divisions
$15: Late Fee (after 21 March 09)

How do I sign up?
Registration forms will be available:
º Through all Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley Schools
º At the Library, Community Center, and HyVee
º On our website under Handouts
  

What makes BPV and PONY Baseball different from Little League Baseball and what are the key features in PONY Baseball?
º A two-year age bracket system.
º Scaled diamonds - we move the bases back 10 feet every two years.
º Little League plays 60 foot bases until kids turn 13.
º On-deck batters allowed at all levels.
º Full leading-off and stealing beginning in Bronco Division - requires pitchers to learn to pitch from the stretch.
º Batters can run on a dropped third strike beginning in Pony Division.
º In Little League, players can differ by as much as three years within a division resulting in younger players finding it hard to compete and communicate with the older players - they find themselves spending a disproportionate amount of time on the bench.
º All players bat throughout game (Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, and this year, Pony) – free defensive substitution, except Pitchers.
º BPV objective is to have all players see at least 3 innings of defensive play each game.

The base dimensions for PONY Baseball are:
50-foot: Pinto
60-foot: Mustang
70-foot: Bronco
80-foot: Pony
90-foot: Colt

Pitching distance is also scaled

Is BPVYBA baseball one of those competitive “traveling” leagues?
We actually have both.

First, we are a recreational, developmental, and instructional league designed for players of all skill levels with the goal of making the game fun, yet reasonably competitive, for all. All BPV divisions aim to enhance the competitive baseball spirit. We keep score and track the standings at all division levels. Many managers keep player performance statistics, such as batting averages, as a means for the player to gage his performance. We have a lot of passionate coaches and players, but we still have fun.

Next, we have a traveling program, usually at each level. We call it our Blaster program which is basically an all-star team of competetive players from each team in the level who want to play weekend tournaments or weekend leagues. Our pre-season tryouts serve as a preliminary tryout for the Blaster program.

Where are the games played?
The BPV plays all games at Bettendorf Community Parks. The physical condition of these Bettendorf Park and Recreation-maintained playing fields are superb. Each division has several field locations. Check Locations to find out more.

When are the games played?
Most Pinto, Mustang, and Bronco games start at 6PM and will play about two games a week.

Bronco games in May will begin at 5:30.

Typically weekends and most Fridays are reserved for rainout make-ups.

Players should arrive at the field by 45 minutes before gametime for warm-ups and to allow managers enough time to establish line-ups.

Pony and Colt may have a few games scheduled on Fridays and weekends. Pony and Colt game times vary, but typically start about 6:30PM.

How often, and where, will the kids practice?
Prior to the beginning of the season, teams will usually practice twice during the week and once on the weekend. However, this can vary due to the individual manager's particular schedule. You should expect practices to last a minimum of 2 hours. All practices are at one of each league's particular field. In addition to field practice, many managers will often schedule a batting cage practice. During the season, practices will likely not exceed once per week, but that choice is at the manager's descretion.

When will the practices begin?
Practices will begin around the second week in April.

When will the season begin?
May 4, 2009.

How long will the season last?
All divisions are to end their season by mid-July.

How many games will the kids play in a season?
º Pinto and Mustang Divisions generally play 12-14 regular season games.
º Bronco Division will play from 18 to 25 games.
º Pony/Colt Divisions will play from 20 to 30 games, including tournaments.

In all divisions, teams that progress through the end-of-season tournament will play a few more games.

What equipment does a player need before the first practice or game?
The registration fee provides:
º Jersey
º Socks
º Cap

Players must provide their own:
º Standard WHITE baseball pants or a color as directed by their teams' coach
º Belt (as necessary)
º Athletic supporter (protective cup required for Catchers)
º Baseball Shoes (Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, Pony must wear rubber molded cleats)
º Leather glove

Each team will supply:
º Bats
º Balls
º Batting helmets
º Specialized equipment, such as catcher's gear

Players may use personally owned gear providing it meets safety requirements for the intended level of play

Who do I call if I have a problem that the league should resolve?
º For general problems or information: Jim Smith 563-359-5841 or your divisional representative.
Please remember you are calling someone’s home - spouses typically try to answer many of your questions but please don't expect them to be able to give you all the information you want.
º You are welcome to attend a board meeting and express your concerns directly to the board. We meet on a periodic basis as announced on our web page. Please leave a message on the phone number above if you wish to be added to the agenda for the next meeting.

I live in the Bettendorf School District between I-74 and 18th Street. This is part of the Southeast Davenport Little League. Can I play there, too?
Technically, yes. But take our advice; don’t try to do two leagues at once. Players that live in this geographic area are eligible to play in either organization. Although both PONY and Little League have rules prohibiting players from participating in more than one PONY or Little League at the same time, there is no official restriction prohibiting a player from “cross-playing” in both organizations at the same time. Although this happens, we do not encourage such practice, especially for youth pitchers because of potential for injury. Additionally, cross-playing invariably leads to game conflicts where a player has two games scheduled at the same time. Choosing between which game to attend is unfair to both the individual youth player involved and the other teammates and coaches from both teams. Further, although baseball is one of the very best of team games, too much baseball for a youngster, especially if he’s receiving excessive parental pressure to play, can result in baseball burn-out.

If this isn’t Little League, that means my son can’t go to the Little League World Series like the kids from Davenport have done recently. Right?
Yes, that’s pretty much what it means. Realistically however, the chances for any particular youth, regardless of where he lives or how talented he is, to go to the Little League World Series is extremely remote and really has no bearing whether the youth will develop into a high school, college, or professional player. Some Little Leagues structure their entire season around the chance for a few of their best boys to attend the Little League World Series. The BPV is not about sending a select few players to a national tournament, but rather developing knowledge of baseball, good sportsmanship, character, a sense of competition, and fair play, while having fun.

What are “exempt” or “protected” players?
The manager for each team is allowed to protect one player (typically his own child) and two additional players prior to the draft. The additional players are usually assistant coaches kids so that the manager and coaches can work together to manage a team.

How are kids placed on teams?
º Pinto teams are roughly-based on the child’s elementary school. We do our best to accommodate requests for specific teams or placement with friends, only at the Pinto Division, but we can't always grant all requests.
º Mustang, Bronco, and Pony teams are selected new each year with players chosen by coaches through a draft.
º Colt Division selects new players through a draft following tryouts and continuing players return to their team of the prior season.

Why are there tryouts and how does that figure into the draft?
At tryouts, players will show their skills in front of scorers for their particular division. Each player receives a total score and is rank-ordered to assist managers in selecting players during the draft. Managers and coaches kids are placed in the rank order as well and are selected via draft along with all other players. This method allows for relative parity for all teams so players (and their parents) are confident that the team they are selected upon will have an approximately equal chance of winning games as all other teams in their division.

If my child does poorly at tryouts will he/she be cut?
No. All players participating in the BPVYBA player tryout will be placed on a team during the draft. Sufficient numbers of teams are created each season to accommodate all player applicants, based upon a 12 player-per-team roster objective.

Can I bring my child up a division a year early?
Yes. As each division in the BPV is an age or under a player may play up to a higher division level.
º Example: A 12 year old that should play in the Bronco Division may elect to play up to the Pony Division if he desires.

Many times, parents see that their child actually is on the same level as most of the other player prospects trying out and elect to place their child in the division that corresponds with their child’s age.

My son’s birthday is on 30 April, the cutoff date; can he play down at the lower level?
No. BPV does not allow players to remain at a lower division level if their age places them in a higher division; regardless of how close to the 30 April cutoff date the player’s birthday rests.
º Example: A player that turns 13 on 30 April is considered 13 and must play in the Pony Division or higher, but cannot play down to the Bronco Division, despite the fact that if he were born just one day later on 1 May, he would be considered a 12 year old for the season and could play in the Bronco Division.

Regardless of where in the calendar year the cutoff date is established, there will be some players that just miss the cutoff date. The BPV selected 30 April date beginning with the 2006 season to correspond with nearly all other national youth baseball leagues (Little League, Babe Ruth League, Cal Ripkin League, etc) that adjusted their age brackets for the 2006 season.

Can my child switch teams if he is unhappy with his team?
Only in extreme cases do we allow children to switch teams after the teams have been formed. Such requests must be made in writing to the BPV Board of Directors.

If my child decides to quit, can I get a refund?
No. Registration fees are non-refundable.

Is the Pinto division an instructional or competitive division?
º Recreational, developmental, and instructional, with some competition thrown in. If you believe your child’s manager or coach is becoming too intense and demanding of the players on the team please give us a call at 359-5841 or contact your division representative. We'll have talk with that team's coaching staff to insure the kids best interest are being looked after.
º Conversely, we keep score in the Pinto Division and all teams are encouraged to try to win games, not simply “horse-around” during games.

Do the players pitch in the Pinto division?
No. Pinto Division is “Coach Pitch”. Mustang Division is the first season of “Kid Pitch” and is where the games really start to get interesting.

Does BPV have a girls Softball League?
No. Girls are always welcome and encouraged to play baseball in our association and we have numerous girls, especially at the Pinto levels.  Pleas contact the Bettndorf Park Board for more information on their softball leagues.