Baseball bats are an integral piece of gear, and every player has at least one of their own. There are tons of different brands, sizes, and styles to choose from, which makes it easy for many players to find a bat that’s perfect for their swing style and overall preference. However, it’s crucially important to know the rules when choosing a bat to be compliant.
Regulations for youth baseball bats have changed a lot over the years, most importantly to make games safer for everyone. When players don’t use compliant bats, it creates a dangerous, unfair, and unethical situation on the field, which is why bat regulations are taken so seriously in youth baseball.
Let’s go over what bats are legal and what bats aren’t according to the latest NFHS rulebook. We’ll also go over some key definitions, such as BBCOR, and how modifications to an otherwise legal bat can make it illegal. When armed with this information, you can ensure that players are compliant with the rules and avoid penalties.
What’s considered a LEGAL bat?
A legal bat in youth baseball is any bat manufactured with the intended use for the sport of baseball that is constructed out of wood, aluminum, or composite material. It must also follow the following specifications:
A legal bat must have a barrel diameter that does not exceed 2 5/8 inches, a length-to-weight ratio not greater than -3, and an overall length that does not exceed 36 inches. In addition, it must have a knob that protrudes from the handle, a taper that does not exceed 18 inches from the base of the knob, and a permanently affixed end cap when applicable.
Non-wood bats must meet BBCOR standards and show the certification stamp added by the manufacturer. Any non-wood bat that does not show a BBCOR certification mark is illegal for use in any game.
All non-wood bats also must have a non-slip safety grip made of cork, commercially manufactured material, or tape (cannot be smooth plastic tape). The grip material must be a minimum of 10 inches, but no more than 18 inches.
Wood bats are legal, but to be considered a wood bat it must be a single piece of wood. If a bat is constructed of both wood and metal, it must comply with BBCOR standards.
BBCOR Certification Stamp. All non-wood bats must have this certification stamp from the manufacturer.
What is BBCOR?
As mentioned previously, all non-wood bats must be BBCOR certified and marked as such with a certification stamp, which will appear as “BBCOR Certified .50”. BBCOR is the accepted standard for both NFHS and NCAA baseball, as well as many other youth and amateur baseball organizations.
BBCOR stands for the “batted ball coefficient of restitution” standard, which ensures BBCOR-certified bats preserve the integrity of competition at the youth and amateur level, as well as increased safety for players. In the years before the BBCOR standard, balls hit by aluminum bats were the cause of many serious injuries to players due to high ball speeds.
Since the introduction of BBCOR, most youth baseball leagues and tournaments across the U.S. mandate the use of BBCOR-certified bats.
What Are Some Examples of an ILLEGAL Bat?
Illegal bats can be a bat that does not conform to the regulations by their construction or design, or an otherwise legal bat that is modified, thus making it illegal. Examples of illegal bats include bats that have any of the following:
- A barrel diameter greater than 2 5/8 inches
- An overall length greater than 36 inches
- A length-to-weight ratio greater than -3
- Not BBCOR certified
- Exposed rivets, pins, rough, sharp edges, or any form of exterior fastener or attachments that present a potential hazard
- The absence of a permanently affixed knob that protrudes from the handle
- A taper portion that extends more than 18 inches from the base of the knob
- A one-piece rubber knob and bat grip combination
- An end cap that is NOT firmly secured and permanently affixed to the bat
- Non-wood bats without a non-slip safety grip
- Is cracked, dented, or broken
- Causes the ball to be continually discolored
Are Bat Modifications Permitted?
Any modification to the original manufacturing of a bat is strictly prohibited. Players or coaching staff that are found to be modifying bats may be ejected from the game and may also be removed from competing in additional games at the discretion of the respective organization.
There are a few exceptions where slight modifications can be made to a bat. Examples include adding or changing grip material as long as it’s non-slip and does not cause the knob to become flush with the handle. Resin, pine tar, or any drying agent to enhance the hold is also permitted, but only on the grip.
What is the Penalty for Using an Illegal Bat?
As with most youth baseball rules, the penalties for using an illegal bat are at the discretion of the umpires. In most situations when an illegal bat is discovered, the umpires will simply have the batter change bats to a compliant one in order to not interrupt the pace of play. Players who attempt to use such bats after they have been removed may then be ejected.
A player who makes a hit using an illegal bat is out and no runners may advance because of a batter’s actions with such bat.
Illegal bats are taken very seriously across all youth baseball leagues and organizations. To intentionally use or modify a bat to gain an unfair advantage is clearly unsportsmanlike behavior, and it also increases the risks of injuries. For these reasons, instances where players or teams are found to be knowingly using illegal bats may result in ejection.
Conclusion
The BBCOR standard and the other rules surrounding illegal bats are very important to keep the integrity of the sport intact as well as ensure the safety of young ball players. The responsibility for understanding what is and isn’t an illegal bat ultimately falls on players and coaches, so these rules should by no means be overlooked.
This information is provided by Kings Sports, a company focused on youth baseball for the past 20 years. We manage tournaments and local leagues in the greater Cincinnati area, along with individual player opportunities to participate in events in Georgia, Florida, and many other locations. To learn more, visit playksports.com