USSSA Bat Rules for 2012

quote:

Originally posted by standballdad:
Can someone explain to me the new USSSA bat rules for 2012 for 14U. It appears to me that they are only allowing BBCOR or wood bats next year. Am I reading this right? or are they allowing any bat that has the USSSA BPF 1.15 marking? Are any of the bat manufacturers coming out with Drop -3 bats that are not BBCOR? Wanna make sure before I spend some bucks on a new Drop -3 bat for my son that I get one that is legal. Thanks

Simply put all drop -3 NCAA, High School bats used for play must have the BBCOR stamp or they are illegal beginning Jan 1, 2012. No exceptions!

I suspect that Out in LF is answering a different question.

In 2012, USSSA will allow players in 14U tournaments/leagues to use bats that have the new USSSA BPF 1.15 marking. Of course they will also allow bats which are wood or BBCOR certified.

So I expect that many USSSA kids will use big barrel (2 3/4") bats in 2012, just as they have in the past. A bat which provides a BPF of 1.15 will provide considerably more pop than a wooden or BBCOR bat. The kicker is that not many bats are currently available with the new sticker. The new sticker is intended to ensure that the bat isn't easily rolled or improves with use.

However, I doubt that the market for specifically -3 new USSSA sticker bats is big enough to interest manufacturers. More likely they'll just make -5 or -7 drops. Presumably you'll be able to buy -3 drop bats which carry the new USSSA sticker, but my guess is these bats will actually be manufactured to BBCOR standards.

For 2011, any bat which carries the old (or new) USSSA sticker is legal (unless it gets put on the banned list--I don't think that there are any banned baseball bats) for 14U.

http://www.usssa.com/usssa/uss...llBatPerformance.htm
2011-12 New Baseball Bat Marks Grandfathering Rules Announcement.pdf

B. ALL MEANS ALL. This rule includes ALL Big Barrel. Thus, if you have a Big
Barrel coach pitch bat with the old USSSA mark of “1.15 BPF USSSA” or “1.15 BPF
USSSA” on the barrel, that bat (while legal because of that mark in 2011) cannot be
used in 2012.

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Thanks for the answer, but if I read para B. it sounds like no 2011 bats can be used even if it carries the old USSSA mark.

quote:

Thanks for the answer, but if I read para B. it sounds like no 2011 bats can be used even if it carries the old USSSA mark.

Why "but"? It doesn't matter if the bat was made in 2011 or 2012. For use in 2012, the bat needs the new BPF 1.15 sticker. Some bats made in 2011 have the new sticker; some don't.

For 2011, any bat which carries the old or (new) USSSA sticker is legal (unless it gets put on the banned list--I don't think that there are any banned baseball bats) for 14U.
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Your reply says if it carries the OLD or NEW sticker its legal on 2011 bats.


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For use in 2012, the bat needs the new BPF 1.15 sticker. Some bats made in 2011 have the new sticker; some don't.
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Then you say it needs to be the new one and some 2011 bats have it. Sorry just confused.

We need to distinguish between the year in which a bat was made versus the playing season in which the bat is to be used.
The USSSA rules don't directly care when a bat was made. Instead, the rules are effective during a given season.

During the 2011 playing season, any bat which carries the old or new USSSA sticker is legal for 14U. So are wooden or BBCOR bats.

About September 1, 2011, the USSSA 2012 season will begin. During the 2012 playing season, and presumably following seasons, a bat must have the new sticker, or a BBCOR sticker, or be made of wood. This rule applies to 14 and under divisions. 15U and up must use bats which are legal in NFHS.

Thanks, now I am clear, looks like if I want to get a drop 3 needs to be a BBCOR or Wood.