Washington,
PA - The PONY Baseball and Softball
International Board of Directors has reached a compromise decision on the
age determination date for baseball. They have voted, unanimously, to
allow each Zone their choice of either July 31 or April 30 as the age
determination date. This will be effective for the 2006 season only. The
girl’s softball age determination date remains January 1.
The North Zone, West Zone, European Zone and
Mexico will continue to use
July 31 and the East Zone, South Zone, Caribbean Zone and Asia Pacific
Zone will use April 30.
"This has been a very difficult decision, however, this one-year
compromise appeals to most sides of the issue and will allow us to assess
the need for change as an organization after one year," stated Abraham
Key, President and CEO. "There was significant resistance to change in
some geographic areas of the country and pressure to change in other parts
of the country. Anytime you have an issue of this magnitude, a compromise
must be sought, the issues weighed, the impact evaluated and a decision
made. This is not the perfect answer, but one that we will have to live
with for one year while we evaluate the future impact of the age
determination date on the organization and youth baseball."
Tournament play will not be affected until the championship rounds at each
World Series. Pool play will be divided as equally as possible relative to
each Zone’s age determination date. World Series championship rounds will
match teams with different age determination dates.
"There are significant philosophical opinions based on geography," said
Joe Gagliardi, West Zone Vice President and Chairman of the Board. "I
thought it was prudent to try and meet with a smaller group of divergent
opinions. In the end it became apparent that two dates were acceptable for
one year. This will allow our membership to continue to provide a great
baseball experience for our players."
The International Board of Directors tabled this issue in October, and a
Special Committee was formed for the sole purpose of trying to solve the
issue of the age determination date. That Special Committee met this past
weekend and after lengthy discussions agreed to the present proposal for
one year. At the conclusion of the 2006 season our Board of Directors
hopes to make final determination on the age date.
"Our organization has
worked very hard to study this issue the past several years. We have met
and talked with many of our member organizations in an attempt to build a
consensus on this issue," concluded Key. "In the end it became very
apparent that a single date was not feasible and that two dates, at least
for one year, was the best solution."
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