| 24 September 2010
Seems as though all the work that was done after Gunnar Sandberg's injury has had an effect, a very positive one. Rational discussion promoted by rational thinking people that care more about the game and those playing it than those concerned with the dollars to be made from the game have affected positive change. I am not big on the headgear part but there are those that have a greater focus on safety than the game. My focus has been on making the quality of the game better and therefore, a byproduct of that would be an increased level of safety. I understand there is inherent risk in all sporting activities... heck, I was drilled in the side of the head the other day (throwing BP) by a batted ball that richocheted off a pole and blindsided me... half an inch from my temple. I accept risk in the activity but perhaps wearing a helmet while throwing BP would have been wise! Oh yes... I was throwing to a kid using a wood bat.
http://www.cifstate.org/media/pdf/CIF%20Tighten%20Bat%20Standard%20release.pdf
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/news/story?id=5456531
CIF UNVEILS PLAN TO TIGHTEN BASEBALL BAT STANDARDS
FOR MEMBER HIGH SCHOOLS
Ruling Speeds Up Implementation of National Standards as a Way to
Address Safety, Cost and Fairness Issues
SACRAMENTO
--In a move to protect high school athletes, save schools money and ensure a levelplaying field on prep baseball diamonds throughout the state, the California Interscholastic Federation
today announced tighter standards for non-wooden baseball bats that will go into effect for the
upcoming 2010-11 baseball season.
The new standards, ratified last week by the CIF State Executive Committee, come on the heels of
decisions at the national level, several high-profile accidents and a recent California legislative proposal
from Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), according to CIF officials, who underscored that
the changes reflect the broader concerns of its members and the high school sports community
statewide.
Highlights of the new performance standards include:
The implementation of the new (NFHS) National Federation of State High School Associations’
BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution) performance standards for composite baseball bats to the 2011 season; initially the national standards for both composite and aluminum bats were to go into effect in 2012;
The acceleration of the new performance standards for aluminum bats to the 2010-11 season;
(A provision that allows for the use of current aluminum bats in 2010-11 if new aluminum bats are commercially unavailable by Jan. 1, 2011);
All non-wood bats that are compliant with the BBCOR performance standard must be affixed
with a stamp/decal that shows the bats are “tamper-evident” so they cannot be modified to enhance performance beyond what they have been tested for – otherwise known as “bat rolling”; passed the ABI (Accelerated Break In) procedure and the type of material contained in the barrel of the bat.
“In addition to addressing safety issues raised by legislators, our approach is intended to minimize the
fiscal impact on schools and families, who could otherwise have been required to purchase expensive
bats twice – for both the 2011 and 2012 seasons,” CIF State Executive Director Marie M. Ishida said.
“Additionally, our decision helps protect the integrity of baseball by weeding out modified highperformance
bats that provide an unfair advantage and have no place on the baseball diamond.”
Ishida commended Assemblyman Huffman for closely working with CIF to find a workable solution to
address the concerns of all stakeholders. “This approach was highly constructive, and we appreciate
the opportunity to collaborate with him on this important matter,” she said. “Our agreed upon approach
gets to the core issues without imposing increased costs and a wooden-bats-only policy as originally
proposed.”
In addition to the new bat standards, the CIF executive committee also announced the following other
actions it has taken to promote safety in high school baseball and softball:
CIF will propose to the NFHS Baseball and Softball Rules Committees that they develop
standards for protective headgear for baseball and softball defensive infielders and base coaches in 2012;
CIF will encourage member schools to voluntarily require protective headgear for baseball and
softball defensive infielders as allowed by NFHS rules and base coaches in the 2011 season. “The safety of California’s student-athletes remains our top priority,” Ishida said. “We hope our recent actions will help promote that goal nationally.” --CIF--
