Nationwide Conference USSSA Bat Testing Procedures

Bat Testing Procedure

Whenever a bat testing machine is at a tournament, the following rules will apply:

1. Each team will be allowed a maximum of 20 bats to be put in a barrel to be used throughout the tournament. Each team may bring a maximum of 25 bats to be tested to get to their maximum of 20. Whatever number up to 20 that passes is what a team plays with. If a team has a player/players arriving late they must leave room to test those bats. Example: Team A has a player whose flight is delayed and he wants to have 2 bats tested. They will have maximum of 23 bats tested to get 18 and save the other 2 slots for the player arriving late. The Tournament Director must be informed of this prior to the team’s first game.

2.  Bats are subject to be tested at anytime throughout the tournament at the tournament director and /or umpire’s discretion. (Bats of teams remaining in the tournament will be checked again on Sunday or last day of the tournament)

3. Any bat that fails compression prior the team’s games will be retained by the tournament director and returned to the team or player whenever the team has completed play in the tournament.

4. Any bat that fails compression once the tournament has begun will be removed from play and retained by the tournament director and returned to the team or player whenever the team has completed play in the tournament. If a bat fails compression after the first test another bat may be tested and replace said bat.

5. In the event a bat breaks another bat may be tested and put in place of the broken one. The broken bat will be retained by the tournament director and returned to the team or player whenever the team has completed play in the tournament.

Note: If a player breaks a bat on purpose (slams it on the ground, against the fence, etc.) and it breaks, he is not allowed to replace it during the tournament. The broken bat will be retained by the tournament director and returned to the team or player whenever the team has completed play in the tournament.

6. If at any time the end cap comes off a bat during a time at bat, the ball is dead and the batter is declared out. The bat is removed from play, given to the Tournament Director to be sent into the manufacturer. If the bat appears to be tampered with the player will be immediately suspended and ejected from the tournament pending inspection by the manufacturer. If the bat does not appear to have been tampered with, the player may continue to play pending inspection by the manufacturer. Any suspension for multiple tournaments will be reviewed and ruled on by the USSSA Conference Committee.

7. If at anytime there are more bats in the barrel than what a team starts with, all bats will be checked prior to their next game and if any bat fails the compression test the violating team will forfeit the game. If all bats pass compression, whatever number of bats over what they started with will be removed from the game and retained by the tournament director and returned to the team or player whenever the team has completed play in the tournament. Any second violation in the game will result in a forfeit for the offending team.

If there is no bat testing machine at a tournament, the removal of a bat from play will be at the tournament director and/or umpire’s discretion. There are no appeals allowed on any bats.