Times are changing in the big leagues. New regulations are added to the rulebook every year in Major League Baseball. The no-pitch intentional walk and two-minute guideline the officials must adhere to are just a few changes we’ve seen lately. As one of America’s favorite pastimes, the game is always being modified to help keep its integrity and also better the experience for this day and age.

The world of Little League is no exception. Equipment and gameplay are constantly being modified. On January 1, 2018, a new regulation for youth baseball bats went into effect. The new USABat standard states that all leagues governed by USA Baseball, which include the Babe Ruth League, Dixie Youth Baseball, the American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC), Cal Ripken Baseball, Pony Baseball and of course Little League Baseball, will be affected. This means that any bat marked with a 1.15 BPF can no longer be used within these leagues. The new Little League bat regulation requires all baseball bats to have the new USA Baseball stamp on them.

The New Baseball Bat Standard

With recent technology advancements, manufacturers have been able to build baseball bats that perform at a wood-like level, thus protecting the integrity of the game. This technology allows for a more wood-like performance, keeping gameplay consistent for the players. It also makes measuring bat performance much more accurate.

If you play USSSA youth baseball or in a local travel league, the USA Baseball Bat standard change will not affect you. Keep using the 1.15 BPF baseball bats, as the USSSA is not implementing this rule. Local rec leagues can keep operating as usual, with no need to change equipment. The new baseball bat standard only will change things for the leagues that compete nationally and fall under the official USA Baseball umbrella.

What To Do For Your Little Leaguer

Many people have voiced concerns about how long the rule will be in place and what happens if it gets changed again next year? This is a fear among many families that have multiple Little Leaguers, as buying multiple new bats each season can get pricey. Also, what do you do with all of the old ones? Here at SPC Sports, we have a baseball bat trade-in program for retired equipment. It’s a great option if you want to avoid hoarding old equipment that is no longer used within the leagues. This is a great way to get gift cards or credit towards a deal on new equipment in order to save money in keeping your equipment up to standard.

An up-and-coming trend is the “bat club” or membership program that sends you new equipment on a rotation basis. When it is time to trade in your bat, ship it back and the company will send you the next one in your queue. These programs always ensure you have the most up-to-date equipment and it meets the standards you are seeking. However, with a membership format you are always paying a fee, whether it is time to rotate or not. This can be a costly alternative, especially if you keep your equipment for a long period of time or regulations remain the same.

Rest assured although the equipment is constantly improving, the game remains the same. Getting kids involved in sports at a young age will give them a sense of accomplishment as well as teach them values they can carry the rest of their lives. If you’re looking to purchase quality baseball or softball gear, be sure to browse some of our various baseball bats for sale which are also USABat certified. Just remember to look for the USA Bat Logo to make sure you’re official.