Below is an overview of the SM Pony Baseball All-Star Team Policy and Annual Timelines.
Number of All-Star Teams:
The All-Star selection meeting will take place in May before Memorial Day weekend in order to allow ample time for the league playoffs and before any Memorial Day All-star Tournament. Regular season practice is still a priority until the end of Spring season.
At least ONE All-Star team will be selected at each of the following divisions: Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, and Pony.
The creation of a Shetland All-Star team will be considered on a year-by-year basis by the Shetland managers and the commissioner subject to the approval of the Board.
For each division, after the “A” team (which will be the first and best team) is selected, the managers, commissioner, athletic director, and president will decide if there is enough talent (particularly pitching talent) to field a “B” team that can be competitive. Board approval is required for a “B” team in any division.
The “A” team is a team selected with the best chance of winning as many games and tournaments as possible.
The “B” team has several purposes, including the inclusion of worthy players who were left off the first team and the development of players who may represent the league in future All-Star tournaments. SMPB encourages an additional team so that more players will have an opportunity to play extending into summer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the Pony division the creation of a “14-year- old only team” and/or a “13-year-old only team,” instead of an “A” and possibly a “B” team, will be considered on a year-by-year basis by the Pony division managers and commissioner. Board approval is required. At this time, no other “age group” All-Star teams are permitted for any division other than Pony (ages 13-14).
Number of players on All-Star Teams
The number of players on All-Star teams will be left to the discretion of the All- Star team manager (see below for manager selection), except that at least 12 players and at most 15 players will be selected. Roster size is determined by Pony National regulations. An All-Star affidavit must have no less than 12 players and no more than 15 players.
In years when only one All-Star team is selected for a division, the manager is encouraged to carry more than the 12 player minimum.
In years when there are two teams, the “A” team manager is encouraged to only carry 12 players, so as to leave enough talent for the “B” team. This is not mandatory and the “A” manager may request more players for his team. Once the team roster is registered with PONY National, no movement of players is allowed, i.e., the “A” team may not “call up” a player from the “B” team.
Player Selection
Division commissioners and division managers must attend the All-Star selection meeting. If a division manager is unable to attend, he may select one of his coaches to attend in his place. In any event, all division coaches may attend and observe the meeting but they do not vote. The selection of All-Star Players will be audited and overseen by the league President and VP or another board member.
Mustang, Pinto and Shetland* Divisions:
In each division the “A” team roster will be the result of a vote of the division’s managers. The commissioners do not vote unless the commissioner is also a manager in that division. Each manager will select the 12 players he or she considers All-Stars and write them on a ballot. The ballots will be counted by the commissioner and the athletic director. The 12 players with the most votes are the “A” team.
If there is a tie, the managers will decide between the tied players. If the managers cannot come to an agreement, the commissioner will consult with the Athletic Director and President and come to a determination.
At that point, the creation of the “B” team will be discussed. If a “B” team is approved by the Board for a division, a second vote of the division managers will be taken to determine the “B” team.
After 12 players are selected for an All-Star team, then the All-Star team manager is selected based on the procedure below in Paragraph 5, “Manager Selection.” Managers will not be selected until after the voting on 12 players. This is to ensure that the manager’s child earns his or her place on the first team.
Then, after the All-Star manager is selected, if he wishes to carry more than 12 players, he will -- in consultation with the other division managers, coaches, and commissioner -- round out the roster by selecting 1, 2, or 3 more players for a total of no more than 15 players.
If the Shetland commissioner is not sending a team to “sanctioned” All-Stars, they may suggest and request a different selection system for use in “in-house” tournaments.
Pony and Bronco Divisions:
The “A” Pony and “A” Bronco All-Star teams will be selected primarily by a vote of the players in that division. Players in each division will be asked to vote for NINE players they feel are deserving and the NINE players who receive the most votes will be on the “A” team. Each player will receive a roster/ballot of eligible Allstar players with an envelope. After a player votes their ballot will be inserted in an envelope sealed and signed by the player. The ballots (un-opened) will then be handed to the Athletic Director. Ballots will be opened in the presence of the Athletic Director and President or another designated board member.
Before the results of the players’ vote is made public, the division managers will vote on 12 players, similar to the vote in the other divisions.
Then, the nine players selected by the players will be revealed.
In case of a tie, the total number of kid-elected players will revert to the next lowest number. For example, if two or more players are tied for 9th in the player vote, then the All-Star team will have only 8 kid-elected players. If three or more players are tied for 8th in the player vote, then the All-Star team will have only 7 kid- elected players (since there is a tie for 8th and 9th).
If there are no ties in the players’ vote, then, the 10th, 11th, and 12th spots on the roster will be the top three vote getters from the managers’ poll not already on the team by virtue of the player’s vote. In the event of a tie in the players’ vote, causing a reversion to the next lowest number as described in subparagraph (d) above, then the managers’ poll will determine not only the 10th, 11th, and 12th spots but also the 9th spot and any lower spots left open by operation of subparagraph (d) above.
After 12 players are selected for the All-Star team, then the All-Star team manager is selected based on the procedure below in Paragraph 5, “Manager Selection.”
Then, if the manager wishes to carry more than 12 players, he will -- in consult with the other division managers, coaches, and commissioner -- round out the roster by selecting 1, 2, or 3 more players for a total of no more than 15 players.
High School Players: Age-eligible High School players are allowed to return to Pony Division at the conclusion of their CIF season, which is usually mid-May. They may not play or practice with the Pony division prior to this date. To be eligible for Pony All-Stars, High School players must play in at least 50% of the remaining regular season games. (For example, if only two games are remaining on the Pony schedule after the completion of the high school season, then a high-school level Pony player is All-Star eligible if they play in only one of those games.)
Selection Criteria
Only a player’s current season is to be considered. Players are not to receive votes based on past season’s performance. The players who play the best during the current season should receive the votes.
Players are only eligible to participate if they play at least 50% of their teams regular season games.
Non-baseball criteria may be considered, including but not limited to sportsmanship, attitude, enthusiasm, hustle, respect for teammates, respect for coaches, and respect for umpires. It is also fair to exclude a player for lacking any of the above.
Baseball specific criteria may also be used. These might include players who are not necessarily skilled in all areas of the game but possess certain traits desired in an All-Star. These might include catching skills, pinch-running skills, outfield- specific defense or pinch-hitting skills. (This is of particular concern in the Pony and Bronco divisions, where a player vote could leave the team short-handed in terms of catching or pitching.)
Manager Selection
Subject to the approval of the Board, the division commissioner will select the All-Star manager for that division based on consultation, in committee fashion, with the division team managers, Athletic Director and President or other designated board member. There is no All-Star reward for winning any division. Managers who desire the team will make it known to the division commissioner. The division commissioner may choose to endorse one of the volunteers or may recruit a manager to take the job.
The Board will have final approval of all managers.
The criteria for All-Star manager includes, but is not limited to, baseball knowledge, All-Star experience as manager or coach, years in the league, sportsmanship, organization skills, and ability to deal with parents. If a manager volunteers for All-Stars and his or her child is selected for the “B” team, that person will be considered by the commissioner to manage the “B” team. Since Santa Monica Pony Baseball does not officially keep track of the standings, “winning the division” is not one of the criteria for managing All-Stars.
After the All-Star team manager is selected, he may select his coaches from among the division team managers and coaches and league officials. Division commissioners must approve these selections.
Player/Parent Commitment:
All players and parents who accept an invitation to be on an All-Star team acknowledge and agree by such acceptance that the All-Star team is controlled by this All-Star Policy, including without limitation this Paragraph 6. Acceptance of the invitation to be on the All-Star team shall be evidenced by a payment in an amount to be determined by the Board to cover the cost of the “paid by parent” items referenced in Paragraph 6.e. below. All-Star invitees will not be members of the All-Star team, and therefore will not be allowed to participate in any All-Star practices or games, until the league receives the required payment or the invitee’s parent commits in writing to alternative financial arrangements that are agreed to by the Board
Time Commitment: All-Stars requires a commitment that runs through the month of July, possibly into August. Families planning on vacations are expected to notify the league and the All-Star manager immediately. Missing too much time may cause a player to be dropped from the team. Players with a history of missing All- Star games and practices might not be allowed to play All-Stars in future seasons. There are many more practices involved in All-Stars, with a schedule that frequently changes. Families must be flexible and available. There is a “Memorial Day'' exception to the above. As we recognize that many families make vacation plans for Memorial Day Weekend well in advance of All-Star selection, a player selected to the All-Star team but who is unavailable for Memorial Day will still be permitted to fully participate in post-season All-Star competition.
Travel Commitment: All-Star tournaments are played all over Southern California and could theoretically involve cross-country travel if the team advances. Players are expected to be at all games and practices.
Playing Time: For the All-Star season, the League endorses a “play to win” policy. This policy means that the more advanced players will get more playing time than others. More advanced players will get more time at certain positions on the field. Less advanced players will be asked to play positions where they may have less experience. Less advanced players may be asked to play certain roles (pinch hitter, pinch runner, defensive replacement, relief pitcher) that result in sitting on the bench for most of a game or even sitting on the bench for an entire game or tournament. However, in recognition of player diligence, time committed, and travel committed, managers will try to offer some playing opportunities for all players, especially considered in pre-tournaments that take place before PONY International sanctioned tournaments. The manager will make the decision on who plays, and his decisions should be respected. (All-Star games are divided into two categories. There are “sanctioned All-Stars,” which are the official games sponsored by PONY International, played with the goal of winning the Pony World Series. There are also games leading up to sanctioned All-Stars, sometimes called “pre-tournaments,” in which an All-Star team plays in one or more games or tournaments held around Southern California. The purpose of pre-tournaments is to get ready for the sanctioned tournament and to provide a greater opportunity for playing time for all the participants.)
Financial Commitment: Parents pay for All-Star uniforms. The league pays for All-star patches. The league pays the entry fees for each All-Star team to play in two tournaments: one tournament, plus the PONY International Sanctioned All-Star tournament. Travel costs related to the PONY International Sanctioned tournament (i.e., airfare and hotels) will be reviewed by the Board on a case-by-case basis. All other costs related to additional tournaments, games, umpires, etc. are paid by parents.
