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 original decision may be found here:
Little League Composite Bat Moratorium Overview & Background
At present, no composite bats for the Little League (Majors) Division and below have received a waiver. If and when any models do receive a waiver, Little League International will inform its leagues of that decision.
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.
The PBI Baseball League will follow suit.
Is it true that this does not apply to travel baseball, just little league majors?
It depends upon the travel league. If it’s a Little League-sponsored summer tournament, our understanding is that the rules still hold. As far as the PBI Baseball League is concerned, we are fully compliant with Little League’s bat rules for all our leagues.
The moratorium applies to Little League from Majors on down. We can’t speak for other travel leagues, but the PBI Baseball League will abide by the Little League decision on this. My guess is that other travel leagues will follow suit.
On January 7, 2011 Little League International released an updated list of approved non-wood bats. For complete details, click here.
And a reminder – for those coaches, players, or parents who will be participating in the 2011 PBI Baseball League spring season, we will follow the LL bat guidelines.
From LL Baseball’s Facebook page – ” If and when a manufacturer submits a particular model of bat for testing, and if that bat shows that it will remain within the current standard throughout the life of the bat, the bat will receive a waiver. As of this date, no composite baseball bats for the Little League (Majors) Division and below have received a waiver.”
And
“No bats have been banned. Instead, there is a moratorium on some of them because they exceed the performance standard after the break-in process. … The difference from the ban is, with a moratorium (defined as a delay or a suspension), there is the possibility of individual bat models receiving a waiver if/when they are tested. That should be soon.”
The approved bat list (link is above in the 3rd comment to this thread) has been updated as of January 12, 2011.
The approved bat list has been updated as of January 14, 2011.