Little League Adopts USA Baseball Bat Standards
New Bat Rules starting January 1st, 2018
As of January 1, 2018, the new USA Baseball Bat Standard was implemented. Little League-approved baseball bats that were approved for use for the 2017 season will no longer be acceptable for use in any Little League game or activity as of January 1, 2018. For more information on the USABat standard and a complete list of bats approved through the USABat Standard, visit usabat.com.
Rule 1.10
The bat must be a baseball bat which meets the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League.
It shall be a smooth, rounded stick, and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat).
Note: Softball Bats
The composite moratorium only applies to baseball bats with 2 1/4 inch barrels. It DOES NOT apply to any divisions of Little League Softball. Also, there is no list of approved softball bats.
In softball, the bat only needs to meet the specifications of Rule 1.10 for a softball bat.
As of January 1, 2018, the new USA Baseball Bat Standard was implemented. Little League-approved baseball bats that were approved for use for the 2017 season will no longer be acceptable for use in any Little League game or activity as of January 1, 2018. For more information on the USABat standard and a complete list of bats approved through the USABat Standard, visit usabat.com.
Rule 1.10
The bat must be a baseball bat which meets the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League.
It shall be a smooth, rounded stick, and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat).
Note: Softball Bats
The composite moratorium only applies to baseball bats with 2 1/4 inch barrels. It DOES NOT apply to any divisions of Little League Softball. Also, there is no list of approved softball bats.
In softball, the bat only needs to meet the specifications of Rule 1.10 for a softball bat.
Testing and evaluating of youth baseball bats has evolved into a science. So much so that the standard has also evolved to where USA Baseball, the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States, is adopting a new method for measuring bat performance in the testing of youth bats that will go into effect on January 1, 2018. The new USA Baseball bat standard (USABat), was developed by a USA Baseball committee of scientific experts.
Effective on January 1, 2018, Little League Baseball® will adhere to the new USABat standard. No bats previously approved for use in Little League Play (Junior League Baseball and below) will be permitted to be used in any Little League game or practice, or other Little League function, event, or activity.
What this means for local Little Leagues, and Little League baseball players in the Tee Ball through Junior League Divisions, as well as Little League Challenger Division®, is that all current Little League-approved bats can be used during the 2017 Little League regular season and throughout tournament play, but can no longer be used starting in 2018. All of Little League’s current bat regulations will remain in effect until December 31, 2017. Be aware that this new bat standard effects Little League Baseball only. There are no changes to the bat standard or regulations for Little League Softball®.
Effective on January 1, 2018, Little League Baseball® will adhere to the new USABat standard. No bats previously approved for use in Little League Play (Junior League Baseball and below) will be permitted to be used in any Little League game or practice, or other Little League function, event, or activity.
What this means for local Little Leagues, and Little League baseball players in the Tee Ball through Junior League Divisions, as well as Little League Challenger Division®, is that all current Little League-approved bats can be used during the 2017 Little League regular season and throughout tournament play, but can no longer be used starting in 2018. All of Little League’s current bat regulations will remain in effect until December 31, 2017. Be aware that this new bat standard effects Little League Baseball only. There are no changes to the bat standard or regulations for Little League Softball®.
The USABat Standard, developed by USA Baseball, will be in effect beginning on January 1, 2018. To ease a local league or district's financial strain during this transition as baseball bats are replaced, Little League® International has collaborated with Easton, the official team equipment supplier of Little League, to make USABat Standard bats available for leagues to bulk-purchase at a discounted rate through Easton.
The new USABat Standard, is the product of a USA Baseball committee of scientific experts, and Little League Baseball® will be joining most youth baseball organizations in adopting this standard to regulate the baseball bats permitted for use within the program.
Little League-approved BPF 1.15 Performance Factor bats may continue to be used through December 31, 2017 after which the new USABat standard models will be the only acceptable bats permitted to be used (all divisions except Senior League).
The new USABat Standard, is the product of a USA Baseball committee of scientific experts, and Little League Baseball® will be joining most youth baseball organizations in adopting this standard to regulate the baseball bats permitted for use within the program.
Little League-approved BPF 1.15 Performance Factor bats may continue to be used through December 31, 2017 after which the new USABat standard models will be the only acceptable bats permitted to be used (all divisions except Senior League).