If you like playing complete baseball, then PONY Baseball is for you.  PONY Baseball allows lead offs, base stealing, and lots more big time baseball action. If you are looking for a more challenging baseball experience or just looking for a place to really improve your skills, then PONY Baseball is for you.  Whatever your skill level, PONY baseball is the place for fun and a great baseball experience.

There are currently over 375 Major League Baseball players who are graduates of PONY Baseball. Mark McGwire, Tony Gwynn, Alex Rodriguez and J.T. Snow are just a few of the Major League players who participated in PONY Baseball.

Temple Terrace PONY Baseball is different than other youth baseball leagues’ in the Tampa area in many ways. The rules of play are designed to maximize player development and minimize chance of injury. Players age 3 -14 years old are placed in divisions strictly by age at two-year intervals so that kids are competing with others around their same age and physical development. Most importantly, young players are introduced to more advanced rules at younger ages so that they are challenged with traditional baseball concepts as they grow. It is no wonder that so many local travel-ball and high school players develop their skills by playing PONY Baseball. So if your child would like to lead-off and steal a base, pick a runner off first, and learn to play baseball like the major-leaguers, then PONY Baseball is for you.

The speed of the game is more realistic in PONY ball, i.e., pitching, hitting, running, and fielding. All of this happens at a more rapid pace on a smaller field thus making the players react and perform at a quicker rate. If players can perform and react at a quicker rate in games and practices over the course of 3 to 4 months they will become better players. When they transition to high school ball, the distance will be negligible, but the PONY player will have better reaction times then players from the Juniors Division.

There are currently over 375 Major League players who are graduates of PONY baseball. To name a few – Alex Rodriquez, Tony Gwynn, Mark McGwire, TJ Snow and Kevin Appier.

Following are the top reasons why players and parents choose to play Temple Terrace PONY Baseball (ages 3 -14):

1. Real Baseball – Starting at age 9, Pony allows for full baseball rules. This means leadoff and steals, and pitchers pitching from the stretch with runners on base. When asked, almost unanimously players’ answer they prefer to leadoff and steal bases. Why? Because it is more fun! Our players are also more prepared to play school ball, starting in 7th grade because they have played “real baseball” for a couple of years.

2. Temple Terrace PONY Baseball graduates the playing field distances every two years. Field dimensions (base paths and pitching distance) are gradually expanded with each division to match the growth and development of young players. This ensures that all players will compete on a field that matches their abilities and improves safety concerns that can occur when older players are on fields that are too small:

PONY vs. Little League

The primary features that distinguish Pony baseball from Little League baseball are those of a two year age bracket system and scaled diamonds.  Additionally, PONY teaches lead offs and base stealing starting at age 9 (Mustang Division), or earlier while pitchers learn pick off moves and holding runners on base to counter the potential steal.

In organizations such as Little League player age can differ by as much as 3 years within a division.  As a result, the younger players, because of their lack of maturity, ability and size, find it hard to communicate with the older players.  They often find themselves spending a disproportionate amount of time on the bench and may feel disconnected from their team.  With players of only two ages involved, as is the case with PONY baseball, it is far easier to permit every player to play more positions since the difference in skills within the age groups is not that great.

In addition, PONY baseball scales the size of the diamonds to match the physical capabilities of the players within each division. The base and pitching dimensions for PONY baseball are:

• 50ft bases for Shetland 4, 5 & 6 year olds

• 55 ft bases and 38ft pitching for Pinto 7 & 8 year olds

• 60 ft bases and 44 ft pitching for Mustang 9 & 10 year olds

• 70 ft bases and 48 ft pitching for Bronco 11 & 12 year olds

• 80 ft bases and 54 ft pitching for Pony 13 & 14 year olds

  These base dimensions are the result of extensive experimentation to determine the size on which players of each age group can properly play the game of baseball. Pitching distance is also scaled to the ability of the player and in proportion to the size of the diamond.
  
  The scaled diamonds allow the players to make the plays made by major leaguers. Home runs become a possibility. Outfielders can play in a position proportionate to that played by a major leaguer. The double play, squeeze play and various strategies and tactics, difficult for adults and nearly impossible for youngsters on a full size diamond, become a probability rather than impossibility.

   

  Comparison: Pony League Baseball and Little League Baseball

PONY Divisions:

Shetland 4u- Ages 3-4

This is where it all begins as your children are introduced to the game of baseball.  Shetland is a non-competitive division that emphasizes teaching the basic rules and fundamental skills of baseball.  We believe in developing an environment of friendly competition with little emphasis on winning.  Everyone plays in the field and everyone bats.

Teams practice and play 1-2 times per week.  Games are 3 innings, or a one and one-half hour time limit, whichever comes first.  Play is completely done off a tee for the whole season.  Requests to play with friends must be made at sign-ups. League organizers will do their utmost to accommodate requests made on your registration form.

Shetland- Ages 5-6

This is where it all begins as your children are introduced to the game of baseball.  Shetland is a non-competitive division that emphasizes teaching the basic rules and fundamental skills of baseball.  We believe in developing an environment of friendly competition with little emphasis on winning.  Everyone plays in the field and everyone bats.

Teams practice and play 2-3 times per week.  Games are 6 innings, or a one and one-half hour time limit, whichever comes first.  Play progresses from hitting off a tee to coach pitch , players still hit from the tee if hitting off the coach is unsuccessful.  Requests to play with friends must be made at sign-ups. League organizers will do their utmost to accommodate requests made on your registration form.

Pinto – Ages 7-8

This is an exciting advancement as real baseball is played.  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 the first one third of the season to ensure a consistent pitch to hit, and develop confidence at each at bat, and for players to develop the fundamentals of pitching leading into the remainder of the Season.  Players do have a limited amount of pitches to put the ball in play. For the second two thirds of the season, the kids play Kid Pitch.  Here the batters face a live pitcher and can strikeout.  Walks are not recorded. If one occurs, the coach comes in to pitch a limited number of balls in order for the batter to put the ball in play, or record an out. Teams practice and play 2-3 times per week.  Games are 6 innings long, or an hour and forty-five minute time limit, whichever comes first.

This will help the players achieve specific objectives for throwing, catching, fielding, base running and hitting.  Players at this level are expected to hustle, play their best and have FUN in a safe and learning environment.

Teamwork, respect for the volunteer coaching staff and good sportsmanship is expected from players and parents alike to insure a positive learning environment to help the players develop their baseball and life skills to the best of their ability.

MUSTANG- Ages 9-10

At this age we introduce leading off and stealing. Games are played on a 60-foot diamond with 44-foot pitching distance.

This is the first introduction to pro style baseball. At this level, the basic fundamentals of the game are further reinforced and refined.  This is also the first time the kids are exposed to leading off and stealing bases, pick-offs, and dropped third strikes.  These new concepts are incorporated throughout the season. Each third of the season we teach a new concept to the players to increase their awareness and knowledge of the game. Teams practice and play 3-4 times per week. Games are 6 innings long, or a two- hour time limit, whichever comes first.

Bronco- Ages 11-12

At this stage we again increase the size of the diamond - Broncos move up to 70-foot diamonds with 48-foot pitching distance.

At this level the kids take all of the skills and knowledge that they have acquired over their career, and play real pro style baseball.  This is also the first level in which metal cleats are allowed. Teams practice and play 3-4 times per week. Games are 7 innings long, or a two- hour and fifteen minute time limit, whichever comes first.

Pony- Ages 13-14

Pony increases the field size again to 80-foot diamonds with 54-foot pitching. This continues to help players gradually increase their skills and strength as they prepare for Colt or high-school baseball.