On July 17th, 2009, the NCAA announced a proposed immediate and indefinite moratorium on all composite baseball bats. This is unfortunate news for those who have sworn by composite bats over the years and is leading some to question if composite softball bats will be the next to go.
The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee, responding to membership concerns and research conducted at the Division I Baseball Championship, has proposed an indefinite moratorium on the use of composite bats in NCAA competition, effective immediately.
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel must approve the committee’s proposal before the moratorium can be implemented. The proposal will be sent to the membership for comment and PROP will review the responses. PROP’s next conference-call meeting is scheduled for July 29. Source: NCAA.org
The NCAA’s decision was based on a couple factors: preserving the integrity of the game and the safety of the players.
Composite bats routinely fail to meet NCAA standards in field tests because they “heat up” with continued use, and players use illegal methods to increase their bat’s performance. According to the NCAA, these illegal bats have led to a steady increase in players’ batting averages and home run statistics over the past two seasons.
Manufacturers have made efforts to lower the out-of-the-package performance ratings of composite bats to compensate for the natural changes in a bats performance over time, but there isn’t much that can be done about players intentionally altering their bats to reach levels well beyond the manufacturers’ intentions and the leagues legal limits.
Illegal alterations of composite bats and failed field tests aren’t a problem exclusive to baseball. These are problems throughout softball leagues in the United States as well, and are becoming an increasing problem to many softball bat manufacturers and softball organizations.
Some speculate manufacturers pay too much to the NCAA for them to also consider suspending the use of composite softball bats; however, the NCAA openly admits to the financial losses some of their institutions may face following their proposed composite baseball bat ban, and it seems the NCAA has chosen to put the game’s integrity and the players’ safety over any economic hits they may take.
Though there has been no word yet on any NCAA action against the use of composite softball bats, the recent proposal against composite baseball bats may be an early warning to those in the NCAA softball leagues.
Can composite bat bans be avoided in NCAA softball? Manufacturers have done their part to keep their bats legal and tamper proof. It’s now the players’ turn to stop putting their personal gain above the safety of their fellow players and the integrity of the game as a whole. Discontinuing the practice of illegal bat alterations is a major way players can guarantee their favorite composite bats will stay legal and not be next on the list of banned bats.
What do you think? Let us know in a comment below!
Other Sources: Fastpitch.us
“Manufacturers have done their part to keep their bats legal and tamper proof. ”
This comment must be a joke. Composite bats are exceedingly easy to alter. You don’t even have to do it yourself – all you have to do is send your bat to one of the numerous bat rollers/doctors who advertise their services on the web and they will do it for you. If the manufacturers really wanted to stop people from altering bats they would not have an endcap, and they would still be made out of aluminum!
Composite bats have ruined slowpitch softball and they are now ruining fastpitch and baseball from college all the way down to little league. The whole concept of a bat getting hotter over time after it is manufactured to meet a certain standard is ridiculous. Add in the fact that composite bats can be easily altered by rolling or shaving them and now the playing field has been tilted drastically in favor of those willing to cheat. Not to mention that fielders are in danger of being seriously hurt or even killed (it has happened numerous times in slowpitch already). It’s time to level the playing field, put the game back in the hands of the players, and ban composite bats for good!
While I agree with Adam that it is incredible easy to alter a comp bat, I don’t know if going to a metal bat is the solution. I don’t think composite as a whole is a bad thing but there does need to be more steps taken to insure that bats are not tampered. Whether this is on field testing (which a lot of parks have gone to) or another endcap solution. Easton has taken steps with the laser engraved endcaps, but the Umpire still has to take it upon themselves to look for alterations.
When does it become the leagues issue and not the manufacturers. If the manufacture is taking steps to insure safety, why should they be require to make and inferior product?