barrel and taper, straight in length and measure not more

than 36 inches long, including tape or other grip additions to

the bat, shall have a knob at the end of its handle, and not

more than 2-1/4 inches in diameter for small barrel bats and

not more than 2 and ¾ inches for big barrel bats at its

largest part. Its weight shall not exceed 31-ounces, including

tape or grip addition to the bat. The bat shall have a grip of

tape or some other material to facilitate holding the bat during the batter’s swing. All key graphics, including USSSA and

BPF markings, must be permanent and cannot be applied as decals or by any other method that would allow the key

graphics to be easily removed or added to the bat.

together with adhesive in such a way that the grain directions of all the pieces are essentially parallel to the length of the

bat. THE BAT may also be made of aluminum or other metals, fiberglass, graphite or composite materials.

taper, a handle and a taper. The bat may be modular with interchangeable parts, subject to additional safety and

tampering requirements as set forth in the standard USSSA Bat Licensing Agreement. The knob portion must be welded

or mechanically attached to the bat. Only USSSA approved bats, USSSA approved weighted bats or USSSA approved

weights, may be used the on deck circle.

EFFECTIVE January 1, 2012 14 U AND YOUNGER BIG BARREL BAT RULES. TO BE LEGAL IN 2012 FOR USSSA

14U AND BELOW, A BIG BARREL BAT (no more than 2¾ inches diameter and no more than 36 inches in length) MUST

BE MANUFACTURERED BY AN APPROVED USSSA BAT LICENSEE, AND

i) HAVE THE NEW USSSA MARK ON ITS TAPER, OR

must be applied by the USSSA licensed manufacturer. No stickers or decals are

allowed and no one may add graphics to a bat once manufactured. Use of a bat with

graphics not applied by the manufacturer will be use of an altered bat and subject to

suspension under the USSSA Altered Bat rules. In addition to being violation of the

USSSA Altered Bat rules, any use, creation or application of a USSSA mark without

written permission of USSSA is a violation of Federal Trademark law and may result

in prosecution by USSSA. If you have any concern about the person selling or

providing you a bat, do not accept the bat, because you will be held responsible for

any bat you bring into or use in a USSSA facility.” )

ii) BE A QUALIFIED BBCOR BAT, OR

iii) BE A WOOD BAT.

"Qualified BBCOR Bat" means a Big Barrel bat that is made by a USSSA approved bat licensee, has a BBCOR mark

permanently attached to the bat that is recognized by NHSF as a legal bat for NHSF sanctioned play and has no more

than a minus 3 ounces difference from the length of the bat which bat must be at least 29 inches long. Please note that

only Qualified BBCOR bats have any weight v. length (drop) limitation.

EFFECTIVE January 1, 2012, 15U and Above Division of Play (15U – 18U scholastic divisions). All bats for scholastic

divisions 15U – 18U must conform to the NFHS (National Federation of High School Association) bat limitations including

a length to weight ratio no greater than negative three (-3) ounces. These bats must be made by an approved USSSA

licensed manufacturer AND

i) Must be NHSF approved with the appropriate BBCOR certification mark, OR

ii) Be a Wood Bat.

The new USSSA mark can be found in the Baseball Tab of the USSSA Website.

EFFECTIVE for the calendar years 2012 and 2013. Only those Small Barrel bats made by approved USSSA licensed

manufacturers that are either:

i) Wood, OR

ii) Made with the old USSSA mark, OR

iii) Have the New USSSA Mark will be allowed in USSSA play.

This includes Tee Ball bats that are longer than 23 inches. 23 inch and shorter. Small Barrel Tee Ball bats from

approved USSSA licensed manufacturers will continue to be allowed in 2012 and 2013 without the Old or New USSSA

Mark.

The Old mark is simply the words “USSSA 1.15 BPF”, all together in one spot on the bat.

The new USSSA mark can be found in the Baseball Tab of the USSSA Website.

EFFECTIVE for the calendar years 2014, only those Small Barrel bats made by approved USSSA licensed

manufacturers that are either:

i) Wood, OR

ii) Made with the New USSSA Mark will be allowed in USSSA play.

This includes all Tee Ball bats that are longer than 23 inches. 23 inch and shorter Small Barrel Tee Ball bats from

approved USSSA licensed manufacturers will continue to be allowed in 2014 without the New USSSA Mark.

that has been brought into the location of a USSSA sanctioned event or any other USSSA facility. The owner

and/or user may either:

1. Withhold the bat from inspection and accept an immediate two year (automatic life for second time offenders

under EI and/or E) suspension from USSSA sanctioned activities with no right to appeal; or,

2. Allow the Director to inspect the bat and reach a conclusion as to whether or not the bat might be altered.

making the inspection of a potential altered bat, the Director in his discretion decides that the bat might be an

altered bat, the suspected offending owner and/or user and may either:

1. Withhold the bat from further examination by the USSSA Altered Bat Committee Chairman or Manufacturer of

the bat and accept an immediate two year (up to life for second time offenders under sections E and/or EI)

suspension from USSSA sanctioned activities with no right to appeal; or

2. Allow the Director to send the bat to the USSSA Altered Bat Committee Chairman and/or Manufacturer of the

bat for a determination as to whether or not the bat is altered. If the Manufacturer or the USSSA Altered Bat

Committee Chairman determines that the bat has been altered, the Altered Bat Committee Chairman in

consultation with the Director who inspected the bat at the USSSA facility may suspend a first time offender for

up to five (5) years from USSSA play. For a second time offender under E and/or EI, any such suspension will

be for to life.

that of the users and the owner of the bat. If an individual uses an altered bat in USSSA sanctioned play or is the owner

of an altered bat that is brought into a USSSA facility, the suspensions under this Rule 2, Section 1 will be imposed

without regard to what the individual actually knew about the altered bat. An individual must know that his bat is not an

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altered bat, if he brings it into a USSSA facility or used it in a USSSA sanctioned activity. If not, the individual can be

suspended from USSSA activities for using or owning an altered bat. The fact that the individual did not know that the bat

was altered is not a factor in imposing the suspension. The only question is whether the bat is altered or whether the

owner/user has refused to let the bat be examined to determine if it is altered. After the Director, Altered Bat Committee

and Manufacturer examination of a bat to determine if it is altered have all been completed, or upon the decision of the

owner/user to not allow further inspection of the bat under E or EI, above, the bat shall be returned to the owner. If no

one claims to be the owner, USSSA shall retain the bat. Once the bat has been returned to the owner, no appeal can be

made with respect to whether the bat is altered or not.

investigation by USSSA of a potential or actual altered bat shall be subject to an unsportsmanlike conduct suspension. A

manager or coach of a team that has more than one of his team’s bats determined to be altered (or not allowed to be

inspected upon request for an altered bat inspection under E and/or EI, above) shall be subject to an unsportsmanlike

conduct suspension.

Altered Bat Committee or the Manufacturer no awards will be given to the team until the bat is determined not to

be altered. If the bat is found to be altered, no awards or berth will be given and the team will be placed last in the

standings and the listed manager and coaches may be suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct.

participates in, profits from, or encourages the altering of USSSA marked bats shall be suspended indefinitely from all

USSSA activities, until the offending party has satisfied all requests of the USSSA Altered Bat Committee with respect to

his altered bat activities including but not limited to publicly swearing under penalties of perjury to never again participate

in, profit from, or encourage the altering of USSSA marked bats. Violation of such an oath shall result in permanent

suspension from all USSSA activities.

offending bat being removed from play for the duration of the tournament or league game, not longer without the

permission of the owner/user—such as in the case of an allowed USSSA altered bat determination under section EI.

Multiple failures of such USSSA compression testing may in the discretion of USSSA be viewed as unsportsmanlike

conduct of the owner/user, coaches, manager and team.

marked bats made by a USSSA approved manufacturer must be available to the public for purchase. Individualized

graphics (such as a team name, different color, player name or number only changes for a team or player), however, do

not constitute custom bats for purposes of this section K.

1. No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if it is damaged in any way. Damaged bats include those with damage to

the knob or end cap, those which have loose knobs or end caps, and those with cracks or dents in the bat

material. For example, it the end cap is in any way loose or appears damaged, the bat should be removed from

play for being a damaged bat. If an end plug has come out or the knob has come off, the only way that such bat

is legal in USSSA play, is if the knob or end cap is replaced by the manufacturer. Replacement by anyone else

results in an altered bat with potential suspension for the owner/user of the bat.

2. No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if any of the graphics of the bat have worn off. For example, even if the

only graphics that have worn off are not Key Graphic Information and are only items such as the patent no., a

manufacturer logo, or the approval mark of another association, the bat should be removed from play for being

too worn.

3. No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if the paint has been worn through and the actual bat material is showing.

For example, if at the end of the barrel next to the taper where there are no graphics the bat paint is worn off

and the underlying bat material is exposed, that bat should be removed from play for being too worn.

4. No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if there is a foreign substance on the barrel or taper of a bat. Foreign

substances included among other substances, pine tar, stick-em type products and even dirt or mud, but only if

the substance adds to the thickness of the barrel or covers Key Graphic Information such as the USSSA 1.15

BPF mark, the serial number of the bat, the model or manufacturer name, official softball, etc.. Players are

responsible for their equipment and must clean such substances off of their bats so that the substance does not

add to the thickness of the bat or obscure any Key Graphics Information about the bat. For example, while bats

will surely get dirt on them under normal use and may have pine tar added to the grip, if the dirt or pine tar

obscures Key Graphic Information or adds to the thickness of the bat, such bats cannot be used in USSSA play

until the dirt or pine tar has been removed to the extent necessary to make all such Key Graphic Information

readable and the bat not have increased thickness. If Key Graphic Information about a bat cannot be read,

the bat should not be used in USSSA play.

5. If any removed bat under these section L rules is brought back into play at any USSSA sanctioned event an any time,

the owner and user of such bat may be suspended for up to one year for unsportsmanlike conduct. And if the

foreign substance or the wear/abuse/damage is apparent enough that the batter should have been aware of it,

the batter may be so suspended for bringing such a bat into the batters box without having been warned in

advance. Players are responsible for their equipment and must not use equipment that is even potentially illegal

for use in USSSA sanctioned play.

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6. In addition to the player being suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct, coaches of youth teams may also be so

suspended when their players attempt to bat with such bats. Also, coaches of adult teams which have multiple

offenses under this rule may also be so suspended for failing to have his team follow USSSA equipment rules.

Please be reminded that unsportsmanlike conduct can result in a game or tournament suspension in the

discretion of the umpire or tournament director and up to a year suspension in the discretion of the state

director.

and/or EI shall be suspended for life from all USSSA sanctioned activities. As such, the player even after his suspension

has ended under E and/or EI. can not participate in USSSA sanctioned activities until the player is 18 years old.

In addition to any other penalties under this rule 2.1, any coach or manager of a youth team that has more than

one suspension imposed on his players in connection with sections E and/or EI. will be suspended from all

USSSA activities for life.

1. The bat has had the surface of the barrel or the taper changed in any way such as by addition of graphics,

painting, repainting, removal of bat material or paint by any means including but not limited to

sandpapering or applying a solvent to the surface such as fingernail polish remover or by any other

means.

2. The bat has had the plug or the knob removed/replaced or changed in any way.

3. The bat has had anything removed or added or inserted to the inside or outside of the bat other than tape at

the handle or knob. Other examples of altering a bat would be changing or replacing manufacturers’

markings or replacing the handle of a bat with a new handle.. Replacing the grip, adding tape or adding

a build up to the handle is not considered altering a bat.

4. The bat has been subjected to pressure in a manner that exceeds that of striking the bat at game speed

swing speed against a USSSA approved ball traveling at game speeds. Such pressure would include,

but is not limited to, compressing the bat, rolling the bat, vicing the bat or hitting the bat against an

object such as a tree or pole. The bat has in any other way had its on field performance improved by

physically changing the bat (other than by hitting the bat at game condition swing speeds against a

USSSA approved ball traveling at game condition speeds).

during or after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out and/or

ejection from the game. If the umpire discovers that a bat has been used to put a ball in play and before the next

legal pitch, the defensive team will have the choice of the result of play or the batter being called out and all

runners returning to the base occupied before the pitch.

addition to the First Offense penalty.

determine the use of the protective equipment when they deem it appropriate. Game conditions (temperature,

equipment, rain, wind, visibility, field conditions, humidity, etc.) vary greatly from game to game and from field to field. In

addition, the relative and absolute experience and skill levels of teams and players will vary from player to player and

from team to team. Thus, USSSA encourages players to utilize any protective equipment that they deem

appropriate. Such protective gear will be allowed in USSSA sanctioned play, unless by rule or by

director/umpire ruling that such protective gear is disallowed as unsafe or as providing an unfair competitive

advantage .

An Altered Ball is one which has had its physical structure changed in any way, including (but not limited to)

balls that have been frozen, micro-waved, heated, melted, cooled, recovered, re-stitched, surface modified to be

rougher or softer, etc. Altered Balls and the potential of a ball being altered and those suspected of altering, owning or

using an altered ball (or determined to have altered, owned or used an Altered Ball) shall be viewed as falling under the

same rules in place above for Altered bats, above.

metal baseball spikes may be worn.

regarding uniform legality. Violation of the uniform rules shall result in the violator being allowed to immediately

conform or be removed from the game. Managers and coaches may wear athletic type shorts.

extended throat guard or a separately attached throat guard, chest protector, shin and / or leg guards, and protective

cup. In age divisions 4U – 12U, the catcher’s helmet shall fully cover both ears.

outside of the dugout and the ball is live and in play. Bat/ball boys are not allowed

corrected. If the violation is not immediately corrected, in the umpire’s judgment, the umpire shall eject the offender

from the game.

gloves and mitts, infielders and outfielders gloves and mitts, protective helmets, and uniforms as detailed in the

provisions of this rule, shall not contain any undue commercialization of the product. Designations by the manufacturer

on any such equipment shall be in good taste as to the size and content of the manufacturer’s logo or the brand name.

Baseball National Committee prior to production.