Composite Baseball Bats Banned!
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee’s recommendation to remove, at least temporarily, composite bats from NCAA competition. NOTE: This is a ban in college baseball only, composite bats are still legal in High School down through T-ball for now. Also, hybrid bats are still legal in College baseball (bats with composite handles and alloy barrels).
The rules committee proposed the action in July and met again via conference call August 17 after hearing comments from the membership and manufacturers about the recommendation. After considerable discussion, the rules committee concluded that composite bats will not be allowed for the time being.
The committee’s main concern about composite bats is that they are susceptible to performance improvement above standards set by the NCAA, either through normal use or alterations to the bats.
While committee members are not convinced that simple compliance testing of specific bats will solve what they see to be a significant problem in the sport, the committee agreed with a suggestion from the NCAA Baseball Research Panel to seek additional testing to determine if it is feasible to allow composite bats in NCAA play this season.
The research panel met with baseball bat manufacturers August 12 in Indianapolis to explore whether composite bats could be used within NCAA guidelines and parameters.
During the 2009 Division I Baseball Championship, composite bats were selected for ball exit speed ratio (BESR) certification tests. Of the 25 bats tested, 20 failed the official BESR test for current NCAA performance levels. Because all bat designs must pass that test before mass production, the results indicated that the performance of such bats changed thereafter, most likely due to repeated, normal use or intentional alteration.
In the meantime, the NCAA plans to conduct additional testing that will provide the baseball rules committee another opportunity for review. Additionally, the committee is open to providing an opportunity for companies to prove that their bats would meet current NCAA standards regardless of use or tampering.
As for beyond the upcoming season, the baseball research panel is recommending that an Accelerated Break-In (ABI) process be added to the certification process under the new Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standard to help address the issue of improved performance and further the goal of having all bats in NCAA play remain under the NCAA limit through the life of the bat.
The BBCOR is a method designed to measure the performance of the bat. The ABI is designed to replicate repeated use or intentional alteration of the bat. This process has been used with some success in the certification process for softball bats.
does this apply for little leagues too?
September 13th, 2009 at 5:31 pmThe ban is only at the college level. It could trickle down in the future but it’s still legal everywhere else as of today.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:53 amI wrote to Mr. Steve Keener, President and CEO of Little League Baseball, on this topic. He provided a very comprehensive and quick reply (same day, 9/19/09). I really appreciate his forthrightness and information. I thought you would be interested in his view responding to me on this topic. It covers the Little League inquiry–
Mr. Greene –
Thanks for your note and your perspective regarding composite bat use in Little League play. This is a very complex issue and I won’t attempt to take you through all of it in an email response, but what I will do is assure you that Little League International is attentive to the matter and is currently working through USA Baseball and its’ Bat Advisory Committee (comprised of some of the most knowledgeable scientists on this subject) to determine the future direction of non wood ( composite, aluminum and other materials) bat performance standards in youth baseball. An independent field testing study, under the direction of this distinguished group, will be completed later this month at Brown University. Upon completion of the study, recommendations will be made to all youth baseball organizations specific to any necessary modifications or changes to the current non wood bat performance standards. Little League Baseball is in complete support of this independent study which will address the very issue of your concern.
You may also may know that in 2011, the NCAA will replace its current BESR performance standard with a new standard, BBCOR. The science involved in the development of the BBCOR standard is out of my area of expertise, but I do know that it will require all non wood bats to perform as close to wood bats as possible. The National HS Federation will adopt this standard as well as the teenage divisions of the Little League program. This new standard applies only to 2 5/8″ barrel bats. Little League only allows use of 2 1/4″ barrel bats in our 12 and under divisions and we are working through the USA Baseball committee to address these bats as well. You may also be interested to know that the NCAA would not share its data or testing results on composite bats with any of the 15 or so USA Baseball member organizations ( LLB, PONY, Babe Ruth, Dixie, AABC and others). Thus, the reason for our own independent testing.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with me and I hope you’ll take some comfort now knowing that LLB, and all youth baseball organizations, are attentive this matter and will address it appropriately.
Steve Keener
September 21st, 2009 at 2:06 pmPresident and CEO
Little League International