1. Whats the difference between ECYB and Little League
Baseball?
ECYB follows the rules for PONY Baseball. In PONY baseball, players are placed
on teams strictly according to age. The age and league breakdowns are as follows:
League Age of Players Pinto 7-8 years Mustang 9-10 years Bronco 11-12 years
Pony 13-14 years Colt 15-16 years Palomino 17-18 years In Little League baseball,
players are placed on teams according to skill level. In Little League, it is
possible for a nine-year-old player to be placed on a team with more mature
and physically bigger twelve-year-olds. PONY baseball is organized by age groups.
The other major difference is in the size of field of play. Field sizes for
PONY have been determined based on physical size of players at each level. Little
League has two field sizes only. Pony Field Sizes Pinto 50 base paths Mustang
60 base paths Bronco 70 base paths Pony 80 base paths Colt/Palomino 90 base
paths Distances from the pitchers mound to home plate are also scaled in size
to the appropriate age group. (For Pinto league, coaches and managers pitch
during games to their own players. For Mustang and above, players pitch.)
2. What do the registration fees pay for?
Registration fees are used to pay for the teams equipment (baseballs, bats,
catchers equipment, etc.), field use fees, umpires, and league administration
(mailings, website development, etc.)
3. Is there financial assistance available if I am unable
to pay the registration fee?
Yes. Families unable to pay registration fees may request a payment schedule
to pay registration fees in installments or may request direct financial assistance
from ECYB. Requests must be made in writing and submitted with registration
materials. All requests for financial assistance are kept confidential and considered
only by the President of the ECYB Board of Directors. Contributions are gladly
accepted from ECYB members or sponsors to help us provide financial assistance
to those who need it.
2. Can I get a refund if my player decides not to play?
A full refund will be given to players who withdraw before Player Evaluations
in January. A player requesting a refund after Player Evaluations but before
being placed on a team will receive a full refund minus a $15 processing fee.
No refunds are given once a player has been assigned to a team.
5. What is parent participation and why am I being asked
to help out?
ECYB is run and organized by volunteers including parents or guardians of players.
Each parent or guardian is asked to work a minimum of ten (10) hours to support
ECYB activities. These ten hours are in addition to the regular time that each
parent/guardian is required to contribute to supporting their players team.
Team support activities include: -bringing snacks or water to assigned games
or practices -helping coaches or managers with practices -preparing the field
prior to games as assigned (e.g. chalking foul lines) -serving as the team Business
Manager -selling ECYB spirit items (e.g. ECYB coffee mugs) Parent participation
activities for ECYB include: -working on a Board of Directors committee or task
force (e.g. Opening Day committee) -serving as a coach or manager -helping with
league administrative duties (e.g. checking equipment before the season begins)
-serving in a league administrative role (e.g. league president)
6. How are players assigned to teams?
It is the intent of the ECYB team assignment process to organize teams that
are balanced as much as possible with players of all skill levels. Teams consist
of 12-14 players, organized into leagues by age. Players are assigned to teams
in a two step process, (1) Player Evaluations and (2) a Player Draft. Player
Evaluations (PE) are held in January. All first time ECYB registrants and players
changing leagues (e.g. moving up from Pinto to Mustang) must attend PE. (Some
leagues may also require returning players to attend PE if a particular league
is reconstructing teams.) At PE, players are observed and rated on their baseball
skills. Players are each given a turn fielding groundballs, fly balls, making
throws, and batting. Coaches, managers, and league officials evaluate each player
on their skill levels. Player Drafts are held following completion of Player
Evaluations. During the draft, managers will select players for their teams
in a cyclical system somewhat like professional teams draft players from college.
After the draft is held and team rosters are finalized, each manager will contact
the players selected to play for his/her team and will let them know about practices,
uniforms, etc.
7. Is it possible for my child to not be placed on a team?
The number of teams in each league is determined by the availability of field
space and managers. In the event that we have more players than teams, the following
priorities in registration will be followed to place players who are registered
and who have participated in PE on teams: 1. El Cerrito residents 2. Returning
players who are non-residents 3. Siblings of returning non-residents 4. First
time non-resident ECYB registrants Players not initially placed on a team, and
late registrants, will be put into a player pool and will be placed on teams
as openings arise. Players not placed on a team will be entitled to a full refund.
2. Can my child be placed on a team with their friends?
No. It is our intent and hope that players will develop friendships, team
spirit, and sportsmanship with the teammates on the team to which they are assigned.
ECYB does not accept parent requests for specific team assignments.
9. Can my child switch teams after the draft?
No. As an ECYB registrant, the player and parents or guardians agree to play
for whichever team the player is assigned.
10. How often do teams practice and play games?
Most teams practice two or three times a week beginning in early February (after
completion of Player Evaluations and the Draft) until the season begins. Once
game play begins, practices are usually reduced to once or twice a week. The
practice schedule is determined by availability of fields and the teams manager
and coaches. The season begins with the Opening Day parade and ceremonies on
March 1, 2003. All teams march in the parade wearing their uniforms. Games begin
that weekend and continue through the spring with most league games taking place
on Saturdays and Sundays. Older players, in the Bronco and Pony leagues, may
also play weekday games in the evenings. The baseball season ends in June with
league play-offs. Select players may play for ECYB all-star teams following
regular league play in the summer.
11. Who are the coaches and managers?
Most of the coaches and managers are parents or family members of ECYB players.
Like all leadership in ECYB, they are volunteers and are coaching and managing
due to their interest in working with kids and baseball. There is an application
and interview process for managers and coaches conducted by members of the Board
of Directors. This selection process takes place in November-December for the
following season. Once selected, coaches and managers are invited to participate
in coaching clinics organized by ECYB. Clinics have been held in the past on
things like: how to run practices and how to give hitting and pitching instructions
and coaching. Coaches and managers can always use extra help at practices from
parents of players on their team. Baseball knowledge and skills is helpful but
enthusiasm and a desire to help out are more important.
12. Where are practices held and games played?
ECYB uses a number of fields for practices and games in El Cerrito. Practices
are held on all the fields listed below. In addition, managers may schedule
practices for alternate sites based on field availability and weather conditions
(e.g. blacktop practices when fields are too muddy). Games are played on the
following fields for each league: Pinto Tassajara Park (one field) and Cerrito
Vista Park (three fields) Mustang Central Park and Harding School Bronco Castro
Park and Canyon Trail Pony, Colt, Palomino Cerrito Vista Park (regulation field)
and El Cerrito High School baseball field are home fields. Players in Pony,
Colt, and Palomino may travel for away games at places such as Richmond, Pinole,
Fairfield.
13. Who umpires the games?
Umpires for ECYB games are scheduled from a group of trained current or former
ECYB players. Umpires meet once a week beginning in January to be trained for
their game duties. ECYB is unique in its use of players as umpires. We feel
that developing children as umpires is equally important as developing players.
ECYB maintains a zero tolerance policy regarding abusive or inappropriate
conduct toward umpires by players, managers, coaches, and spectators.
14. Where can I find a copy of the ECYB Baseball rules?
You can see and print the PONY rules for baseball off their website at http://www.pony.org/.
Copies of the supplemental rules for ECYB are available on this Web site.
15. If I have a concern or question about ECYB, whom may
I contact?
For all general inquiries, please contact the ECYB via this web site by sending
email to the ECYB webmaster. You may also send snail mail to the ECYB Board
of Directors and league officials at
ECYB PO BOX 194 El Cerrito CA 94530.
A more complete list of email addresses, board contact information, and league
contact information will be available on this site in the coming weeks.
