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Announcements
New Little League International Size & Bat Performance Factor (BPF) Requirements for Bats
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Bats in Junior League Baseball
(ALLB Juniors and Seniors Divisions)
Beginning with the 2009 season, baseball bats with a diameter of 2-5/8 (two-and-five-eighths) inches are now the standard for all teenage baseball divisions (Junior, Senior and Big League). Baseball bats with a diameter of 2-3/4 (two-and-three-fourths) inches are no longer permitted for use in the Junior League Division of Baseball. Previously, these bats could be used in Juniors, but not in Senior or Big League.
Little League Baseball (Majors) and Below
(ALLB Tee Ball, A, AA, AAA, and Majors Divisions)
In effect for the 2009 season is the requirement that all non-wood bats used in Little League Baseball (Majors) Divisions and below shall be printed with a BPF of 1.15 or less. This stipulation has been included in the Official Rules and Regulations for the past few years, leading up to 2009, so that leagues, parents, and bat manufacturers could prepare for it. Most non-wood bats manufactured over the past several years for the age groups involved in Little League Baseball (Majors) and below have been permanently imprinted with the BPF. In fact, very few bats sold today with a diameter of 2-1/4 (two and one-quarter) inches are not printed with the BPF rating. So, starting with the 2009 season, bats printed with a BPF higher than 1.15, or without a BPF printed (or not legible) on the bat, are not permitted in these divisions.
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Little League International Issues Update Regarding Composite Bats: Moratorium Imposed Immediately
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Dec. 30, 2010) - Little League International has placed a moratorium on the use of composite bats in the Little League (Majors) Division and all other baseball divisions of Little League, effective immediately.
"Today's decision of the Little League International Board of Directors Executive Committee is based on scientific research data from the University of Massachusetts (Lowell), which was contracted by Little League Baseball," Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball, said. "The maximum performance standard for non-wood bats in the divisions for 12-year-olds and below is a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15. The research found that composite bats, while they may meet the standard when new, can exceed that standard after a break-in process."
Local Little Leagues were first informed of the research last September.
"From the beginning, and throughout this process, we wanted to keep everyone informed," Patrick W. Wilson, Vice President of Operations at Little League International, said. "Our intent was to provide local league constituents clear direction regarding composite bats. There is a process through which manufacturers can submit individual models for a possible waiver if they wish to seek it. Going forward, we will let our leagues know which ones meet the standards for the Little League Baseball (Majors) 12-and-under divisions, if any."
On Sept. 1, Little League International placed a moratorium on composite bats in the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League. Subsequent to that moratorium, some composite bat models have received a waiver and may be used in those divisions. Information on the composite bats that have received waivers for the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League may be found here:
http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/approvedcompbats.htm
The moratorium on composite bats, which now applies to all baseball divisions of Little League, does not apply to any softball divisions of Little League.
UPDATE ON APPROVED COMPOSITE BATS 1/20/11
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Dear Little League Volunteers,
The first test result has been received at Little League International regarding composite-barreled bats for use in the Little League (Majors) Division and below. Little League has created a list for those bats that receive waivers of the moratorium that was enacted on Dec. 30, 2010.
Little League International's moratorium on the use of composite bats extends to all of its baseball divisions, including the Little League (Majors) division.
Information on the composite baseball bats that have received waivers of the moratorium for the Little League (Majors) Baseball Division and below can be found here:
http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/approvedcompbatssmall.htm
The list will be updated as more information comes into Little League.
Information on the composite baseball bats that have received waivers of the moratorium for the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League can be found here:
http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/approvedcompbats.htm
By definition, a moratorium is: An authorized delay or stopping of some specified activity. As applied by Little League International, the moratorium disallows the use of all baseball bats constructed with composite material in its barrel unless a specific model shows in laboratory testing that it will not exceed the standard that is printed on the bat, after the bat is broken in.
There is a process through which manufacturers can submit individual models for a possible waiver if they wish to seek it. Individual bat models are tested at an independent laboratory, and the results are conveyed to the manufacturer. If the manufacturer provides the results to Little League, and the bat passes the test, it will be noted on one of the two lists noted above.
Wooden and aluminum metal/alloy bats are not subject to the moratorium. Bats that have only a metal or alloy barrel (and no other material, unless it is in the end cap of the bat), and if it meets the other standards (length, diameter, etc. for the respective division in which it is used) are not subject to the moratorium, regardless of the composition of the handle or the transition to the barrel.
A listing of licensed, non-wood/non-composite baseball bats for use in the Little League (Majors) Division and below can be found here: http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/2011ApprovedNonWoodBatList.pdf
This list also may be updated frequently.
Because of the moratorium, several common questions have arisen. We have addressed the most common questions in a Frequently-Asked Questions page here: http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2010/Sep-Dec/LLBBCompositeBatMoratoriumFAQ.htm
If you have further questions, we encourage you to sign on to Little League's Facebook page. At that page, over the past few days, Little League International staff has answered hundreds of questions regarding the moratorium. The Little League Facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/LittleLeagueBaseballAndSoftball
Little League International first placed the moratorium on composite bats in the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League. Subsequent to that moratorium, scientific research that began on October 18, 2010, showed the need for the same moratorium on composite-barreled bats with 2 1/4 inch barrels as well. Starting in September, and throughout the following weeks, this information was conveyed multiple times to every local Little League, every district, to the media, on Facebook, on the Little League web site, and to more than 250,000 parents who had signed up to receive updates from Little League International.
The original announcement regarding the moratorium, enacted on September 1, 2010, is here: http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2010/Sep-Dec/CompositeBatMoratium.htm
The moratorium on composite bats, which now applies to all baseball divisions of Little League, does not apply to any softball divisions of Little League.
Sincerely,
Little League International
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