Houston USSSA Baseball

USSSA has had a stated 1.15 BPF Small Barrel (2¼” barrels) and Big Barrel (2?” and 2¾” barrel bats) baseball bat performance standard in its rule book for 6 years for its sanctioned programs up to and including its 14U program. The 1.15 BPF standard also is utilized for the Approval and the Licensing mark for Small Barrel bats used by at least 5 other Youth Baseball Associations. Additionally, USSSA has used a 1.20 BPF standard in its softball programs for 15 years.

The BPF standard was developed by NYU Physics Professor, Dr. Richard A. Brandt, over 15 years ago. The BPF standard is based on fundamental laws of physics that allow Dr. Brandt’s testing lab to measure the relative performance of bats to be used in USSSA play. Based on its on field experience with the BPF standard, USSSA believes that the 1.15 BPF standard for 14U and younger Big Barrel and Small Barrel baseball play provides an excellent performance level for the game. The response of USSSA customers to its sanctioned baseball play in its 14U and younger programs played under the 1.15 BPF standard has been one of clear and enthusiastic approval. In deed, the USSSA baseball program has in recent years grown at an average annual rate that exceeds 20%.

As such, it is the belief of USSSA that the 1.15 BPF standard remains the best starting point for any new standard to be applied to baseball bats to address the concerns that have arisen as to the improvement of performance in composite (and even aluminum bats) with use or upon illegal alterations being made to a bat. USSSA does not believe that the fundamental issue is the material from which a bat is made. Rather, the USSSA view is that it is question of performance measurement that will disallow bats that can be easily altered or which can simply become too good use. In addition, USSSA believes that such performance standards must be coupled with a system for punishing for those who are found with altered or illegal equipment. In consideration of these beliefs, USSSA has made the following decisions with respect to 2011 and 2012 baseball bat standards.

While USSSA believes that the material oriented 2011 ban and the ultimate move to a wood like performance standard is not in the best interests of the game, USSSA will continue its policy for 15 and over of following the NHSF rules. Because so many of our 15 and over players are focused on being a part of their High School teams, it is the view of USSSA that its customers are best served by playing with the same bats that they will be using in High School play. Thus, if a bat is legal under the NHFS rules, it is legal for USSSA sanctioned play. If not legal for NHFS play, it is not legal for USSSA play.

For 2011, there will be no change to the performance standard for bats allowed in USSSA play in these age groups. 2¾”, 2?^”and 2¼ “ bats will all continue to be allowed in 14U and younger USSSA sanctioned play. Manufacturers, however, will be required to alert USSSA if they are aware, or have reason to be concerned that, any of their bat models—carbon fiber or other material bats-- would significantly exceed the 1.15 BPF standard with normal use. In such a case, USSSA would then list such bats as ones which are not allowed in USSSA play. In general, all bats of USSSA Licensed manufacturers will be allowed in USSSA play, unless they are otherwise identified by USSSA as not being allowed. Bats from manufacturers that are not licensed with USSSA will not be allowed in USSSA sanctioned play without regard to BPF testing.

For 2012, Dr. Brandt in coordination with the Bat Manufacturers will create a more rigorous 1.15 BPF test that will not allow bats that improve past the 1.15 BPF level with use or most alteration without clearly showing visible physical damage. Both 2¾” and 2?^”bats will continue to be allowed in 14U and younger USSSA sanctioned play. Such bats will carry a new USSSA 1.15 Mark that will be easily indentified without the requirement of a close inspection. This test will be similar to that currently used by the 5 associations that require 1.15 BPF testing for Small Barrel bats and which is now being used by USSSA in its Small Barrel bat testing. Beginning in 2012, only such Big Barrel bats with the new USSSA 1.15 BPF mark will be allowed in USSSA play. All other Big Barrel bats will no longer be allowed in USSSA play as of January 1, 2012. It is expected that such 2012 bats will be made available for purchase by October of 2011.

For 2012, Small Barrel bats will be required to carry the new USSSA 1.15 Mark that will be easily indentified without the requirement of a close inspection by USSSA officials. No decision has been reached on whether older small Barrel bats will be allowed in 2012. USSSA will be monitoring the situation. If too many of the current Small Barrel bats are found to not pass the 1.15 BPF test, USSA could remove all older Small Barrel bat models from play beginning in 2012. At present USSSA has no reason, however, to believe that this will be the case.

As clarified during the 2010 season, USSSA does not allow bats marked as (or designed or even marketed as) coach pitch, practice, etc. to be used in any USSSA sanctioned play that utilizes regulation baseballs balls. While in general this remains the rule, at the request of the manufacturers beginning immediately USSSA will allow such bats if they have passed the 1.15 BPF testing and have the appropriate USSSA 1.15 BPF mark on the bat.

Prior to the 2011 baseball season, stiff punishment provisions (which may include lifetime bans from USSSA sanctioned activities) for the use of altered or illegal bats in USSSA sanctioned baseball programs will be clarified. Such penalties will apply to the user and owner of any offending bat, as well as any parent or coach of a player using such a bat. The USSSA licensed bat manufacturers have agreed to work with USSSA in identifying baseball bats that have been altered and then brought into a facility that is hosting a USSSA sanctioned event. In addition, USSSA continues to work with Dr. Brandt to develop a portable-at-the-field-testing device to identify illegal bats that could be used to identify and remove illegal bats from play during sanctioned USSSA events.

The American games of Baseball and Softball have always had the risk of a player (or even a coach or fan) being struck with a ball during a game (or even during the warm up activities prior to a game). Unless the very nature of the game is altered, it is hard to imagine the games of Baseball/Softball without some risk of injury from batted or even thrown balls. Even with the best players in the game and even before the advent of modern balls and modern bats (today's wood bats being much better than the wood bats of yesteryear), injuries have occurred and sometimes they have been serious. It was 1937 and one of the first All-Star games was being played, perhaps the best pitcher of his day-Dizzy Dean-- was on the mound when his career was ended with a batted ball injury. But while there is and always has been some risk inherent in the games of Baseball/Softball from being struck with a batted (or even thrown) ball, the games of Baseball and Softball remain among the very safest sports in America.

USSSA has been made aware in recent years that composite bats may become softer and therefore perform better when used excessively, abused or damaged. And even more concerning, it became clear that players can accelerate this improvement by altering their bats. To address this issue, USSSA has passed stringent penalties for the use of altered bats and is in the process of making available compression testing machines for under $500 for use by ball parks and players alike to determine when bats become too soft. In slow pitch Softball, USSSA has reduced the compression of the ball to half of what it once was, has reduced the COR by over 20% and changed the pitching rule to allow the pitcher to release the ball from as much as 6 feet behind the otherwise designated pitching plate which is 50 feet from home plate. No such changes were made to USSSA licensed baseballs as the Bat Performance Factor ("BPF") for Baseball is significantly lower than that of softball: 1.15 BPF for Baseball and 1.20 BPF for Softball. But for certain youth Baseball ages, USSSA has used a 50 foot pitching distance instead of 46 foot and has lengthened the base paths from 60 feet to 70 feet to allow the game to have the room to be played as it was traditionally designed.

In addition, USSSA has now implemented new rules for testing bats before a manufacturer can license its bats for use in USSSA play. Under the new rules, bats will no longer be licensed for USSSA play if they can significantly improve beyond the BPF standard with use, abuse or damage. Beginning in the fall of 2011, such new engineering standard bats will carry a new and very prominent USSSA mark. In addition, the manufacturers will be required to address the issue of making bats that are less susceptible to alteration before the new mark can be used. While other sanctioning bodies have chosen to ban older composite bats, USSSA has determined that it would be grossly unfair to disallow a bat with no notice to the retailers, manufacturers and customers who had previously relied on USSSA rules in the sale or purchase of a bat.

The current bats first pose a clear competitive imbalance issue and to a much lesser extent a risk of injury issue. The use of too soft bats by some players and not others is an unfair advantage which USSSA believes must be removed from the game. In addition, it has been argued that such bats may increase the risk of injury from a batted ball. Even with the current composite bats in play during recent years, it remains the statistical and insurance experience of USSSA that the games of Softball and Baseball remain among the safest athletic activities in America. However, this does not mean there is no risk of injury from a batted ball. There is, and always has been, risk inherent in the games of Baseball and Softball from being struck with a batted (or even thrown) ball. Even when the new mark bats are the only bats allowed in USSSA play, a risk of injury from a batted (or thrown) ball will still exist. Anyone who has a concern about an injury occurring from being struck with a ball during USSSA Softball or Baseball sanctioned play should address that concern by the use of protective gear which is available and has always been allowed in USSSA sanctioned play.

In addition, USSSA makes available at reasonable rates insurance for teams and players who do not otherwise have insurance to cover the risk of accidental injury from playing USSSA sanctioned Baseball or Softball. If a player or coach does not otherwise have such insurance, it would be only prudent to purchase insurance to cover such risks. If you choose not to be prudent, but to attempt to create a legal liability for USSSA or its officials for such accidental injuries arising from the inherent risks of the games of Baseball or Softball, you should be aware of the USSSA Constitutional provision which bans anyone involved in a lawsuit against USSSA or its officials from ever again participating in a USSSA sanctioned event. In addition, by policy USSSA does not allow anyone who is threatening legal action against USSSA to participate in any USSSA sanctioned event until such threatened legal action has been resolved to the satisfaction of the USSSA Board of Directors. To be clear, USSSA simply does not want or need the participation of anyone who thinks that an amateur athletic rule dispute or injury issue should be resolved by threatening or hiring legal counsel. For those who disagree with this approach, there are a large number of other sanctioning bodies under which you can play Softball or Baseball and USSSA would truly prefer that you played elsewhere.

Working with USSSA on Dispute Resolution Where there is a real allegation that USSSA or its officials have not properly decided the application of a rule, there is a rigorous set of procedures for the protection of teams and players. USSSA encourages you to work through the system to resolve any real concerns that you may have in the application of USSSA rules and will assist you in such efforts. In addition, if you sincerely believe that USSSA or a USSSA official was responsible by negligence or intentional wrongdoing for an injury, USSSA does have insurance for such actions. If the claim is legitimate, please contact USSSA and USSSA can assist you in the filing of such a claim with its insurance carrier.

Altered, Damaged and Too Soft Bats--Player, Parent and Coaches Responsibilities By allowing for a grandfather period for old bats, USSSA believes that the new bats with the new mark will make for a clean break that will make administration of the new rules feasible for umpires and directors. Any approach that requires umpires or directors to closely inspect bats to see if they are metal or composite or if their model number is on a list, is in USSSA's experience and view unworkable. Indeed, if the administration of a system for eliminating old bats is unworkable, such an approach may increase the competitive imbalance concern rather than reduce it and surely will take away from precious playing time with wasted administrative time at the ballpark. For now, it remains first the responsibility of the player (and for youth players, their parents) and their coaches to make sure that altered bats, damaged bats or bats that have clearly become too soft are not used in USSSA Baseball or Softball sanctioned play. In addition, while USSSA is sure that there will always be a way to cheat and alter a bat, USSSA views the manufacturers of bats as the ones who, after the coaches and players, can best stop the altering of bats by anticipating the ways in which their bats may be altered.

USSSA for its part will continue to enforce harsh penalties for those who cheat, but there is simply no way for USSSA umpires and directors to stop the use of altered, damaged or too soft bats without the cooperation and attention of the players, parents, coaches and manufacturers. Once the new mark has been implemented and the manufacturers have improved their bat designs to reduce altering and eliminate the potential for bats getting too soft/good with use or damage, USSSA will continue its vigilance in finding and punishing those who cheat. USSSA will do so with a system designed to make enforcement by umpires and other event officials consistent and easy to implement without excessive disruption of the game itself. In any event, however, there will always be the possibility of cheating and of an injury occurring from a batted ball. Again, anyone who has a concern that the risk is too high should wear the protective gear that they deem appropriate and should know that USSSA rules will continue to allow such gear.

Stopping the Use of Illegal Bats-A Shared Responsibility Where USSSA finds cheaters, it will continue to impose harsh suspension penalties. USSSA, however, has decided not to impose penalties on innocent retailers and customers where such can be avoided with reasonable grandfathering rules for old bats. Again, USSSA has also determined that it does not make sense to pass the complete burden of enforcement on to umpires and event directors who are simply in no position to take on such roles. It remains the view of USSSA that players, parents, coaches and manufacturers must share in this effort with sanctioning bodies to insure that the games of Baseball and Softball are played with legal and sensible equipment. Indeed, it is the primary responsibility of the players, parents and coaches to make sure that illegal bats are not used in USSSA play.