CIF Baseball Bat Implementation
Questions and Answers
CIF BASEBALL BAT IMPLEMENTATION
(REVISED 10-1-10)
(REVISED 11-16-10)
The CIF Executive Committee had a special meeting by conference call and made several decisions which affect the upcoming baseball season. The following are questions that have been asked and our current responses. This information will be updated as necessary on the CIF Web site: cifstate.org.
UPDATE: A list of APPROVED non-wood bats meeting the new BBCOR standards and ABI test will soon be posted on the NFHS Web site. The CIF will have a link to the site as soon as it is available.
UPDATE: The CIF Federated Council has affirmed new baseball bat standards that will affect the upcoming 2010-11 baseball season and beyond. BBCOR APPROVED baseball bats for use this season are listed below. Availability of the different baseball bat models on the BBCOR APPROVED list is solely up to the discretion of the various retail stores. Please note: When the CIF received this list, it only had the manufacturer and model number of the bats. The CIF has attempted to match the model number with the model name (more commonly used) by going to the manufacturer’s Web site. Not all model names could be found. Please note: ALL APPROVED BBCOR BASEBALL BATS WILL HAVE THE BBCOR MARK / STAMP / LABEL on the bat.
This list of approved BBCOR baseball bats will be updated as more baseball bats are approved. Every indication is BBCOR baseball bats will be available in retail stores starting mid-December and certainly by January 1, 2011.
BBCOR Approved Baseball Bats List (12-9-10)
A: GENERAL QUESTIONS
1. Q: Why was this decision made so late?
A: Several circumstances have led to the delay of these new recommendations. In early July, the National Federation of State High Schools Associations (NFHS) placed a moratorium on the use of composite bats for 2010-11 season, unless they meet the new Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard or pass the waiver test. In addition, legislation was introduced in California last March that would ban the use of all non-wood bats in the 2010-11 season. As a result, the CIF was put in a position to try and resolve this legislation so it would have the lowest fiscal impact on our member schools, yet take into account the safety of our student-athletes. This agreement was not resolved until August 11.
2. Q: What are the new standards for composite bats?
A: They must meet the BBCOR standards that include the Accelerated Break In (ABI) procedure and these bats will be affixed with some type of decal/stamp/silkscreen mark that indicates the bat is BBCOR compliant. In 2010-11, these bats do not need to be affixed with a “tamper evident” stamp/decal or have a stamp/decal that indicates the type of material contained in the barrel of the bat. (It is anticipated that the bat manufacturers, which produce a BBCOR-compliant bat this year, will meet the “tamper evident” seal displayed on the barrel of the bat decal/stamp, but it is possible that bats which have only the BBCOR compliant stamp/decal will be produced.)
UPDATE: Information that we’ve received indicates the “tamper evident” mark will not be on the 2010-11BBCOR approved bats list. In that case, the “tamper evident” mark will not be required this year.
3. Q: If I purchase a composite bat for the 2010-11 season that only has the BBCOR compliant mark, will the bat be legal in the 2011-12 school year?
A: At this point, no. Starting in 2011-12, all legal non-wood bats must have all the compliance marks as indicated previously.
UPDATE: Our sources indicate some type of “tamper evident” technology will be available next year, 2011-12. Once a definitive answer is available, the CIF will determine the best course of action to take.
4. Q: Will I be able to use the composite bat I used last year?
A: Probably not. However, the NFHS will allow waivers or modifications under certain circumstances as long as the composite bats meet the current BESR standards AND pass the new ABI procedure. The composite bats meeting this waiver or modification will be posted on the CIF Web site, cifstate.org, as the information becomes available. (It is anticipated very few bats will meet the waiver requirements.)
UPDATE: A list of non-wood bats meeting the approved waiver is now posted. Click on the link to the NFHS Web site that is provided. THESE BATS ARE ONLY APPROVED FOR 2010-11 and will not be approved for 2011-12.
5. Q: I just purchased a composite bat this summer. Will I be able to use this bat?
A: No, not unless it meets at the minimum the BBCOR performance standards or is a bat on the approved waiver/modification list that is posted on the CIF Web site, cifstate.org.
6. Q: I purchased a bat that is not legal. Can I apply for a waiver?
A: No, only bat manufacturers can submit bats to be tested.
7. Q: When will I be able to purchase a composite bat that meets the new standards?
A: It is anticipated the composite bats meeting the new standards will be available in November/December 2010.
UPDATED: We’ve been told retail stores will receive BBCOR approved bats by mid-December and the bats should be for sale at that time or no later than January 1, 2011. The number of bats may be limited at stores, but all stores are expected to receive approved bats.
UPDATE: This information is still accurate.
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8. Q: When will I be able to purchase an aluminum bat that meets the new standards?
A: Since the CIF is accelerating the implementation of aluminum bats to 2010-2011 instead of 2011-2012, the bat manufacturers are just learning of the CIF action. It is anticipated that aluminum bats will be available prior to January 1, 2011. If the aluminum bats that meet the new standards are not available statewide, aluminum bats meeting the current Ball Exit Speed Ratio (BESR) standards will be allowed. As the school year progresses, updates to this question will be posted on the CIF Web site: ciftstate.org.
NFHS Approved BESR-ABI Composite Baseball Bats – Approved for Waiver
UPDATE: We’ve been told retail stores will receive BBCOR approved bats – both composite and aluminum – by mid-December and the bats should be for sale at that time or no later than January 1, 2011. The number of bats may be limited at stores, but all stores are expected to receive approved bats.
UPDATE: This information is still accurate.
9. Q: What exactly do you mean by “available statewide”?
A: Schools and individuals will have the same opportunity to purchase aluminum bats from their normal sources, regardless of where they live. As the year progresses, CIF will monitor the availability of these bats. Availability updates will be posted on the CIF Web site.
UPDATE: We’ve been told aluminum bats will be commercially available statewide on or before January 1, 2011.
10. Q: Will this same exception be allowed for composite bats?
A: No. Composite bats must meet the new BBCOR performance standards this school year, 2010-11 unless the bat is listed on the waiver/modification list.
11. Q: Are there different standards that must be met for aluminum bats?
A: The requirements are the same as those required for composite bats.
In order to level the playing field the governing board should have voted to either ban non BBCOR certified bats or wait until 2012 to switch to BBCOR! the waiver is ridiculous. This maneuver will probably have CIF in the courtroom with some lawsuit of fraud against them.
The BESR bats that passed the Advanced Break In test have a huge advantage over BBCOR baseball bats. If you are in California, a CF4 or B1, B2 will give you a major advantage over a BBCOR bat.
What about BESR certified? TPX exo grid 2 bat