USSSA Altered Bats Procedures

The days of using altered bats in USSSA play are about to come to an end. As a result of rule changes to be implemented beginning in the 2004 USSSA playing season, USSSA is intent on removing all altered bats from USSSA play. Beginning in 2004, if you feel that a player may be using an altered bat in USSSA play, you should report it to the appropriate local or state USSSA director. The Director will have the authority to inspect the bat and to suspend the suspected offending player. The suspected offending player will have a couple of choices: First, he can allow the director to inspect the bat and reach his initial conclusion on whether the bat might be altered or he can keep his bat from inspection and accept a 1 year suspension from USSSA play with no right appeal; Second, if after allowing inspection, the director has decided that the bat might be an altered bat, the suspected offending player may allow the director to send the bat to the USSSA Altered Bat Committee and/or the Manufacturer of the bat for a determination on whether the bat is altered or he can accept a 1 year suspension from USSSA play with no right of appeal. During the time of the examination of the bat by the manufacturer, depending on the sole discretion of the USSSA Altered Bat Committee the USSSA may suspend the suspected offending player pending the decision. If the manufacturer or the Altered Bat Committee of the USSSA determine in their sole discretion that the bat has been altered the Altered Bat Committee may suspend a first time offender for up to 2 years from USSSA play. Such suspension decision may be appealed at the next USSSA annual meeting. For a second time offender, any suspension under this altered bat suspension process will be for life.

The responsibility for knowing whether a bat is altered is that of the user and the owner of the bat. If an individual uses a bat in USSSA play or is the owner of a bat that is brought into a USSSA facility, the suspensions will be imposed with out regard to what the individual knew about the bat being altered. An individual must know that his bat is not an Altered bat, if he brings it into a USSSA facility or uses it in a USSSA game. If not, the individual can be suspended from USSSA activities. The fact that the individual did not know that the bat was altered is not a factor in imposing the suspension. The question is only whether the bat is altered or not.

Altered bats are bats, which have 1. had the surface of the barrel or the taper changed in any way such as by sandpapering or applying a solvent to the surface such as fingernail polish remover or by any other means, 2. had the plug removed/replaced or changed in any way, 3. had the knob removed/replaced or changed in any way, or 4. had anything removed or added to the inside or outside of the bat other that tape at the handle or knob. Cracked, worn (paint/lettering wear is not a problem so long as the bat can be identified and has the appropriate BPF marking, but any wearing of the bat material or identifying paint or BPF wear will be cause for removal) or damaged bats are not altered bats, but will also be removed from play by USSSA directors and umpires. Such cracked, worn or damaged bats will not result in a player suspension, unless the player returns the offending bat into USSSA play after it has been removed or the bat is also altered.

The Following Procedure Provided By David Evaul, General Council, USSSA

Umpires Role. Umpires must continue to safe guard the game from illegal equipment, such as illegal, altered, damaged or even overly warn bats. As such, they remain the first line of defense in keeping Altered bats out of USSSA play.
Directors Role. Other than alerting Directors of the possibility of Altered bats, umpires should not change their approach. Beginning in 2004, however, it will be the USSSA Director’s task to make sure that Altered bats do not become an unchecked part of the USSSA game.
When to Ask for the Bat. If a USSSA Director is concerned that an Altered bat has entered a USSSA facility, the Director has the right to ask to inspect any such bat at any time. This includes when the bat is still in an individual’s bat bag before, during and after a game, as well as when the individual is attempting to use the bat in a game or it is just in the dugout.
Player Refusal to Allow Inspection by Director. Within his rights as a USSSA participant, the individual who is using the bat or who owns the bat may refuse to let the Director inspect the bat. Once such a refusal is made, the USSSA Director should remind the refusing individual that the consequence of his refusal to let the USSSA Director inspect the bat is an immediate ejection from the USSSA facility and a one-year suspension from all USSSA activities with no right to appeal. If an individual has been suspended previously as result of an Altered bat question, the suspension may be for life.
Directors Options After Inspection. Upon inspection of the potential Altered bat, A. the Director may determine that the bat is not Altered and return it immediately to the individual who allowed the inspection, or B. the Director may determine that the bat may be Altered and ask the individual if he would allow the Director to take the bat to determine whether it is Altered. The individual should be informed that, if he allows the bat to be taken, the bat may be shipped by the Director to the manufacturer of the bat or to a USSSA Altered Bat Committee Member to make the determination and that the bat will be returned to the individual as soon as is practical. The Altered bat determination process will not destroy or damage the bat.
Player Refusal to Allow the Bat to be taken for an Altered Bat Determination. Within his rights as a USSSA participant, the individual who is using the bat or who owns the bat may refuse to allow the Director take the bat to have an Altered bat determination made by the USSSA Altered Bat Committee. Once such a refusal is made, the USSSA Director should remind the refusing individual that the consequence of his refusal is an immediate ejection from the USSSA facility and a one-year suspension from all USSSA activities with no right to appeal. If an individual has been suspended previously as result of an Altered bat question, the suspension may be for life.
If the Player does allow the bat to be taken for an Altered Bat Determination. If the individual allows the Director to take the bat to determine whether it is altered, the individual remains eligible for USSSA activities until the USSSA Altered Bat Committee makes a determination that the bat is altered. If the individual does offer to give the bat to the Director upon such a request, he should be reminded: A. that if the USSSA Altered Bat Committee determines that the bat in question is an Altered bat, the individual might be given up to a two-year suspension from all USSSA activities, B. That such a suspension may be appealed, but only if the individual allows the USSSA to retain the bat during the appeal, and C. that if the individual asks for the bat prior to the conclusion of the appeal, the right to appeal is forfeited, and D. That for a second time offender under the Altered bat rules, the suspension may be for up to life.
Publication of Altered Bat Crackdown. The USSSA definition of Altered Bats and the USSSA public announcement on Altered bats was published on the USSSA Web Site in December of 2003 and can be shared by Directors to best ensure that USSSA participants are aware of the rules.
Contacting the State Director or Altered Bat Committee. Once a USSSA Director has been allowed to take a bat for an Altered Bat determination, the Director should contact the their State Director as soon as practical to determine how to proceed. Contact should occur no later than 2 days after obtaining the bat. If the State Director has not been contacted within 2 days, Gary Wallick of the USSSA Altered Bat Committed must be contacted for direction as to how to proceed. Any shipping costs with respect to the Altered bat determination will be the responsibility of the USSSA Altered Bat Committee.