Usssa BB Rules 2021
Usssa BB Rules 2021
USSSA LLC
5800 Stadium Parkway, Melbourne, FL 32940
Tel: (800) 741-3014 • Fax: (321) 877-0607
National Website: www.usssa.com
Baseball Website: www.usssabaseball.org
Email: [email protected]
© 2023
USSSA LLC
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of the Official Baseball National By-laws & Rules may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without expressed written permission of USSSA LLC.
Revised 8/16/2023.
0
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item Page
Foreword 1
Rule 1.00 – Name & Objective 1
Rule 2.00 – Membership, Participation & Classifications of Play 1
Rule 3.00 – Individual Player & Team Eligibility 2
Rule 4.00 – Qualifying Tournaments 4
Rule 5.00 – State Championships 4
Rule 6.00 – World Series 5
Rule 7.00 – Rules of Play 5
Rule 7.01 – Playing Field & Equipment 5
Rule 7.02 – Game Preliminaries 6
Rule 7.03 – Starting & Ending a Game 6
Rule 7.04 – The Batter, Batter Runner & Runner 7
Rule 7.05 – The Pitcher 7
Rule 8.00 – Coach Pitch Specific Rules 8
Rule 9.00 – Machine Pitch Specific Rules 9
Rule 10.00 – T-Ball Specific Rules 10
Rule 11.00 – 7U & 8U Kid Pitch Specific Rules 10
Rule 12.00 – Drafted League and All-Stars 11
Rule 13.00 – Safety Rules 11
Rule 14.00 – Sportsmanship 13
Rule 15.00 – Umpires 13
Rule 16.00 – Protests 13
Rule 17.00 – Global Baseball 13
Rule 18.00 – Tobacco & Tobacco Related Products 13
Rule 19.00 – Items Not Specifically Covered 13
AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES HIGHLIGHTED
FOREWORD
Playing rules not specifically covered herein shall be governed by The Official MLB Rules of Baseball – National League. If any conflict in rules
between these Official USSSA Baseball National By-laws & Rules and The Official MLB Rules of Baseball – National League, these Official
USSSA Baseball National By-laws & Rules shall govern. In the event of any conflict in language between any printed version of these Official
USSSA Baseball National By-laws & Rules and the usssabaseball.org online version, the usssabaseball.org online version shall govern.
1
2.05 Classifications of Play: The USSSA Baseball program shall offer four (4) classifications of play for tournament teams: Major, AAA,
AA, A and two (2) classifications for drafted league play League Team and All-Star Team. The Drafted League and All-Star Team
classes are different USSSA programs, and a player can be frozen to an A, AA, AAA, or Major roster and still participate in those classes
within the guidelines set by the Drafted Team and All-Star Team program.
2.06 State Directors shall adopt an acceptable method to classify teams within their respective state. State Directors shall have sole authority
to classify teams within their respective state and the authority to classify and / or re-classify any team within their respective state
during the current season, except when a team classification has been assigned by the USSSA Baseball National Committee.
2
his original birth certificate, as a member on an eligible team’s Official Online Roster. Failure to comply with this rule shall result in your
team being prohibited from participating in USSSA.
3.04 A player who is in violation of the USSSA Constitution or the Official Baseball National By-laws & Rules shall be an illegal player.
3.04.A A team with a player found to be illegal due to age, grade, or class violation, anytime during the USSSA event, will be deemed
ineligible. The team WILL be disqualified and put in last place. The manager could face suspension.
3.04.B Any team in violation of any roster rules WILL be disqualified from their current event and be placed in last place. The manager
could face suspension.
3.04.C A player found to be playing on multiple teams in the same weekend, anytime during the USSSA event, both teams WILL be
disqualified and put in last place. The player, parents and managers could face suspension.
3.04.D An ineligible player is any player not listed on the official online roster (when rosters are required), a player with an incorrect
birthday, or a player with name listed incorrectly on the official online roster. All players must be listed on a team's online roster correctly
prior to their first game or prior to the event's deadline to add players. Penalty: Any ineligible player MAY cause the team to be
disqualified and put in last place. Each case will be looked at by the team’s State Director to determine if the player is ineligible.
3.05 Player Roster Eligibility:
3.05.A Players shall only appear on one (1) Official Online Roster.
3.05.B Players shall only physically play for one (1) team per day, event, tournament, week, or weekend, regardless of
location, venue, age division and / or classification.
3.05.C Once a player has been rostered for the season, they may not be added to a team with lower classification in the
same age group or younger age group without state director approval.
3.05.D Once a player is released from a roster, they may not be added back to that roster without state director approval.
3.06 Guest Player
3.06.A Teams that earn a berth with Guest Players on their roster will be deemed qualified. The Guest Players will
NOT be frozen to the team’s roster, only players on their permanent roster will be considered for freezing at
the appropriate time.
3.06.B Guest Player Application System will be disabled for an event 3 hours prior to the Start Date of the event
based on Eastern Standard Time.
3.06.C Players that are NOT on a current season USSSA roster will NOT be eligible as a Guest Player. Anyone that
is not on a current USSSA roster simply can be added to your team roster to be eligible as long as the
player’s classification does not change your team’s classification.
3.06.D Guest Players are only eligible to participate as a Guest Player for one team at a time. Players will be
blocked from being used as a Guest Player for an additional team for the duration of their guest playing
event (Start Date to End Date).
3.06.E If a Guest Player’s original team registers for an event after being approved as a guest player, the player will.
be deleted as a guest player and the Original Team will be required to de-activate the player before the
player can be used as a guest player
3.06.F If the Pick-Up Team moves divisions and moves to a division that would deem the Guest Player illegal, the
player will be removed.
3.06.G For leagues, teams are allowed unlimited numbers of guest players. Players who guest play in leagues can
also, guest play in tournaments with overlapping dates
3.06.H From the beginning of the season to December 31st teams can add unlimited Guest Players per weekend or
per event.
3.06.I From January 1st to the end of the season Guest players will be limited to 3 per weekend or per event.
3.06.J From the start of the Fall Season until December 31, teams may use unlimited guest players per weekend or
per event.
3.06.K Guest Player eligibility is determined by the age and class of the event the team is playing in. See link below
for more information. http://usssa.com/baseball/bb-guest-player-help-documents
3.07 Team Eligibility:
3.07.A No team shall be allowed to compete in any USSSA Baseball program without first paying their team registration fee to the
Association.
3.07.B All teams shall maintain an Official Online Roster.
Rule 3.07.B Comment: State Directors with the approval of the National Director of Baseball Operations may waive this
roster requirement for the traditional “Fall” playing months of August 1 – December 31.
3.07.C Team rosters for age divisions 4U – 14U shall be composed of not more than twenty-five (25) players.
3.07.D Team rosters for scholastic divisions 15U – 18U shall be composed of not more than forty (40) players.
3.07.E A team’s “home” state shall be determined by the home residency of fifty-one percent (51%) or the majority (whichever is
greater) of the players on the team’s Official Online Roster.
3.07.F The team manager shall be responsible for all aspects of eligibility of the players and the information of the players contained
on the team’s Official Online Roster pursuant to these rules. This includes but is not limited to age eligibility, classifications
of previous teams the players may have participated on, legal names of the players, and correct dates of birth of the players.
3.07.F.1 The intentional or unintentional act of adding ineligible players to the team’s Official Online Roster shall be
grounds for team manager suspension and disqualification of the team.
3.07.F.2 The intentional or unintentional act of incorrectly spelling a player’s name on the team’s Official Online Roster
shall be grounds for team manager suspension and disqualification of the team.
3.07.F.3 The intentional or unintentional act of incorrectly entering a player’s date-of-birth on the team’s Official Online
Roster shall be grounds for team manager suspension and disqualification of the team.
3.07.G State Directors shall have the authority to approve or reject all players contained on a team’s Official Online Roster State
Director approval of a team’s Official Online Roster shall not release the team manager of his responsibilities pursuant to
these rules.
3.07.H An all-girls team can request roster exemptions from the National Director of Baseball Operations.
.
3
3.08 In divisions 4U – 14U a player can only participate on a team up to 2 years older.(Example: a 10U player can be on a 11U or 12U team)
3.09 Area Directors, Executive Board Members, Executive Committee Members, Local Directors, National Committee Members, National
Directors, State Directors or Tournament Directors shall not be eligible to participate in the program as a team manager, team coach,
team sponsor, Umpire or player without approval of the National Director of Baseball Operations.
4
RULE 6.00 – WORLD SERIES
6.01 World Series play shall be under the jurisdiction of the USSSA Baseball National Committee. The National Director of Baseball
Operations shall appoint a duly qualified person to serve as Tournament Director.
6.02 The Tournament Director shall have the authority to amend these National By-laws & Rules to accommodate the needs of the World
Series with the approval of the National Director of Baseball Operations.
6.03 All teams receiving berths to the World Series shall participate in their (home) state’s Spring/Summer State Championship provided
such a State Championship is played. Failure to participate in the State Championship if played shall result in forfeiture of the World
Series berth. Other requirements can be set forth by the state director and must be followed. It is the manager’s responsibility to verify
all requirements to play in a World Series with their respective State Director.
6.04 State Directors shall approve all entries entering the World Series. If the State Director position is vacant, the National Director of
Baseball Operations or his designee shall give such approval. All World Series must be entered and paid for online at USSSA.com.
6.05 A deadline for accepting entries in the World Series shall be set by the USSSA Baseball National Committee.
6.06 A team shall participate in the highest classification World Series in which it wins (is awarded) a berth unless the team is re-classified
by the State Director or USSSA Baseball National Committee.
6.07 A team may participate in a higher age division World Series but shall participate at or above the team’s current classification.
Rule 6.07 Example: A 10U AAA team can participate up in the 11U AAA or 11U Major World Series but cannot participate down in the
11U AA World Series.
6.08 Teams can add up to 3 guest players. In accordance with Rule 3.06.
6.09 Only USSSA licensed baseballs shall be used in World Series play.
6.10 USSSA prohibits the visual display of any non-USSSA association’s logo anywhere on the uniform.
7.03.B (Chart 7.03.B-1) An imposed Mercy (run) Rule shall be used to complete a LENGTH RUN
regulation game when one team’s margin of lead is greater than or equal to OF GAME DIFFERENTIAL INNING
the listed run differential in the corresponding listed start inning. In enforcing 6 Innings 15 3rd Inning
this rule, the home team shall not bat if they are winning, and the mercy
6 Innings 8 4th Inning
requirement is met prior to the start of the bottom half of the listed inning.
7 Innings 15 3rd Inning
Similarly, if the home team is batting and meets the mercy requirement in
the bottom half of a listed inning the home team shall cease batting and the 7 Innings 12 4th Inning
game shall end. 7 Innings 8 5th Inning
7.03.C If a game is called due to rain, Weather, light failure, or other acts of Nature Chart 7.03.B-1
and cannot be resumed it is a regulation game if:
7.03.C.1 For a six (6) inning game, if three (3) innings have been played or if the home team has scored more runs after
two and one half (2 1/2) innings the game shall be declared a complete game.
7.03.C.1(a) In bracket play if a game is tied after 4 or more innings, the score will revert back to the previous
inning. If still tied, the game will be a suspended game.
7.03.C.2 For a seven (7) inning game, if four (4) innings have been played or if the home team has scored more runs
after three and one half (3 1/2) innings the game shall be declared a complete game.
7.03.C.1(a) In bracket play if a game is tied after 5 or more innings, the score will revert to the previous
inning. If still tied, the game will be a suspended game.
7.03.D All games that for any reason cannot be declared a regulation game pursuant to USSSA Rule 7.03.C shall be a suspended
game. A suspended game when resumed, shall resume from the exact point of suspension.
7.04 The Batter, Batter Runner & Runner:
7.04.A An Intentional Walk may be issued upon announcement from either the pitcher or catcher without throwing pitches.
7.04.B 7.04.B.1 At any time, the offensive team may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher of record from the
previous inning on defense. The courtesy runner must be a player not presently in the line-up. If there are no substitute
players available, the courtesy runner shall be the player making the last batted out.
7.04.B.2 If the Pitcher or Catcher get out prior to an out being recorded in the 1 st inning, and there are no substitute
players the curtesy runner shall be the batter furthest from coming back up to bat in the line-up that is not the Pitcher or
Catcher of record. In all other innings, the courtesy runner is the last batted out and if no outs have been recorded, it will be
the last out from the previous inning.
7.04.B.3 The re-entry status of the courtesy runner, pitcher, and catcher shall not be affected by this rule. If at any time while the
courtesy runner is still on base, if determined to be ineligible, a proper replacement pursuant to these rules shall be used
without penalty.
7.04.C Whenever a tag play is evident, a runner must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder and / or catcher. Malicious
contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties. Malicious contact is solely up to the discretion of the Umpire.
Rule 7.04.C Penalty: The runner shall be called out and may be ejected from the game at the discretion of the Umpires.
7.04.D A runner who jumps over a player will be called out whether or not contact is made with the defensive player.
7.04.E A dead ball appeal can be appealed directly to the umpire, without the Pitcher throwing to the appealed base. Only one
dead ball appeal is allowed on any play.
7.04.F Feinting/Faking a bunt and swinging away is allowed in all ages 9 and up.
7.05 The Pitcher:
7.05.A A player removed from the pitching position (starting pitcher or subsequent relief pitcher) may not return to the pitching
position for the remainder of the game. The defensive team may correct this rules infraction at any time by substituting a
legal pitcher without penalty. If an illegal pitcher is permitted to pitch, any pitch or play that results is legal. The rule violation
should be caught by the Umpire or the offensive team and immediately corrected. If the violating pitcher has legal innings
remaining, the violation is deemed an improper substitution and is corrected without penalty. If the violating pitcher has no
legal innings remaining, it’s deemed a pitching limitations violation pursuant to USSSA Rule 7.05. B.7.
7.05.B (Chart 7.05.B-1) The end of the day for the purpose of this rule shall be the time of day or night when the ballpark is shut
down and the teams go home for the night break. Games that for any reason extend past midnight (12:00 AM) or start late
at night, past midnight (12:00 AM) and are completed before the teams take the night break, shall count as being played on
the scheduled day. A game not completed before the night break pursuant to USSSA Rules 7.03.D shall be a suspended
game. Suspended games, when resumed (the next day or another day), shall count as being played on two different days.
The outs recorded during the portion of the game played prior to suspension shall count as being played on the regularly
scheduled day and the outs recorded during the portion of the game played once resumed, shall count as being played on
the resumed day.
7
7.05.B.1 ONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE NEXT
DAY: The maximum number of innings a player AGE ONE DAY ONE DAY THREE DAY
can legally pitch in one (1) day and still pitch the DIVISION MAXIMUM MAXIMUM MAXIMUM
next day. 7U – 12U TO
3 6 8
PITCH THE
Rule 7.05.B.1 Example: In the 7U – 14U age Scholastic 13U – 14U NEXT3 DAY 7 8
divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum Scholastic 15U – 18U Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
of three (3) innings in one (1) day and still legally Chart 7.05.B-1
pitch the next day. If the player pitches three and
one-third (3 1/3) or more innings in one (1) day, the player cannot legally pitch the next day.
7.05.B.2 ONE DAY MAXIMUM: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day.
Rule 7.05.B.2 Example: In the 7U – 12U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of six (6) innings
in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to pitch the next day. Similarly, in the 13U – 14U age divisions,
a player may legally pitch a maximum of seven (7) innings in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to
legally pitch the next day.
7.05.B.3 THREE DAY MAXIMUM: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in three (3) consecutive
days.
7.05.B.4 MANDATORY DAYS OF REST:
7.05.B.4(a) A player that pitches more than three (3) innings in one day MUST rest the next day.
7.05.B.4(b) A player that pitches eight (8) innings in two (2) consecutive days MUST rest the next day.
7.05.B.4(c) A player that pitches three (3) consecutive days (regardless of total quantity of innings pitched)
MUST rest the next day.
7.05.B.5 For all cumulative totals in this rule, one (1) out equals one-third (1/3) of an inning, two (2) outs equals two-
thirds (2/3) of an inning and three (3) outs equals one (1) full inning. A pitcher that pitches in a game and
records no outs is not charged with any innings pitched.
7.05.B.6 Outs recorded during a game that ends in forfeit shall count towards a pitchers’ innings limits.
7.05.B.7 For purposes of pitching limitations rules, a pitcher is in violation of the rule if he records any out above the
legal pitching limits pursuant to these rules.
Rule 7.05.C.7 Exception: Exceeding the maximum innings allowed in the case of a double or triple play shall
not be counted against the pitcher for the purpose of this rule but shall be counted towards the pitcher’s limits
with regards to the eligibility to pitch the next day, etc.
7.05.B.8 It shall be the responsibility of each team to challenge pitching violations by notifying the Umpire and then filing
a Protest with the League / Tournament Director. A protest may be filed at any point after the pitcher in
violation records any out beyond his legal limit AND while the pitcher in violation is in the game as the pitcher
of record. If such violation is the last recorded out of the game, the protest MUST be filed prior to the Umpires
and the protesting team leaving the field of play.
Rule 7.05.B.1 – 7.05.B.7 Penalty: Any violation shall result in immediate forfeiture of the game
7.05.B.9 Pitch Counts may be used in Major Events with the approval of the Association’s Executive Vice President of
Baseball Operations.
7.05.C Pitching mound visits will remain 2 coaches visits per inning, with the second coaches visit to the same pitcher in the same
inning resulting in a pitching change.
7.05.D A Pitcher shall pitch to one batter, until the batter is put out, or reaches 1 st base, or the inning is over. A pitcher that starts
an inning must pitch to the first batter until the batter is put out or reaches 1 st base. USSSA will NOT be using the MLB mandatory
batter limits.
7.05.E USSSA will not be adopting the MLB pitch clock rule.
7.05.F USSSA will not be adopting the Pitchers Disengagement rule.
8
Rule 8.08 Penalty: The play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or
no-pitch.
Rule 8.08 Additional Penalty: First Offense: Warning; Second Offense: Removal of player from the pitching position for the remainder
of the game.
8.09 Defensive coaches shall not be allowed on the field of play and shall coach from the dugout.
8.10 The Infield Fly Rule shall not be in effect at any time.
8.11 The batting order shall constitute all present players on the team roster at the beginning of the game. Late arrivals shall be inserted at
the bottom of the batting order. All players on the roster shall bat before returning to the top of the batting order.
8.11.A Teams may start a game with eight (8) players. The ninth (9th) & tenth (10th) positions in the batting order shall be declared
an out each turn at bat.
Rule 8.11.A Approved Ruling: A ninth (9th) & tenth (10th) player and all subsequent players may be added to the bottom
of the batting line-up as soon as they become available.
8.12 Teams may use free substitution on defense, but the batting order shall remain the same.
8.13 Bunting shall not be allowed.
8.14 The batter shall receive a maximum of six (6) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes. (The bat is extended if the last pitch is hit foul)
8.15 A player may only be Intentionally Walked once per game by announcement from the defensive team.
8.16 Runners shall not lead-off or steal bases. A runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit or reaches home plate.
8.17 A courtesy runner for catcher of record only the previous inning may be used. The courtesy runner shall be the player that made the
previous out. If no outs have been recorded in the game, the courtesy runner shall be the previous batter not on base. If the team
batting has not played defense yet and a courtesy runner is used for a player, the player that was run for must assume the catching
position the next inning. This scenario only applies in the first inning for the visiting team.
8.18 A team may score a maximum of seven (7) runs per inning.
8.19 The game is over, when the opposing team is mathematically eliminated from scoring enough runs to win or tie the game. (Run Rules
still apply)
8.20 Umpires shall call “Time” after every play and declare the ball dead. “Time” shall be called as soon as all the runners are not attempting
to advance. “Time” does not have to be called by the defense for the purpose of this rule.
Rule 8.20 Comment: When a runner stands off a base and “jukes” or “feints” back and forth, this is to be interpreted as “not attempting
to advance” and “Time” shall be called.
8.21 When a batted ball hits the Pitching Coach, the following shall apply:
8.21.A If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did not make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the batter is declared out and no
runners shall advance.
8.21.B If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the ball becomes dead and a no-pitch
is declared.
9
9.18 A team may score a maximum of seven (7) runs per inning.
9.19 The game is over, when the opposing team is mathematically eliminated from scoring enough runs to win or tie the game. (Run Rules
still apply)
9.20 Umpires shall call “Time” after every play and declare the ball dead. “Time” shall be called as soon as all runners are not attempting to
advance. “Time” does not have to be called by the defense for the purpose of this rule.
Rule 9.20 Comment: When a runner stands off a base and “jukes” or “feints” back and forth, this is to be interpreted as “not attempting
to advance” and “Time” shall be called.
9.21 When a batted ball hits the pitching machine, the ball is dead, the batter is awarded first (1st) base and all runners shall advance one
(1) base.
10
RULE 12.00 – DRAFTED LEAGUES & ALL-STAR PROGRAMS
12.01 Drafted League Program: Drafted League is a playing level for actual drafted league teams from USSSA Sanctioned Leagues. Age
divisions shall include 5U – 18U.
12.01.A Leagues that conform to the below guidelines and register one hundred percent (100%) of their league teams shall be
allowed to participate. State Directors may sanction others with the approval of the National Director of Baseball Operations.
12.01.A.1 A league shall consist of a minimum eight (8) game schedule.
12.01.A.2 Eligible players shall compete in a minimum of seventy five percent (75%) of the scheduled league games.
12.01.B State Directors shall set guidelines for teams to qualify for the Drafted League State Championship and World Series.
12.02 All-Star Program: All-Star is a playing level for actual All-Star teams formed from USSSA Sanctioned Drafted Leagues. Players shall
be permitted to participate with an All-Star team and an A, AA, AAA, or Major team pursuant to USSSA Rule 3.00. Age divisions shall
include 5U – 18U.
12.02.A Leagues shall conform to all the requirements pursuant to USSSA Rules 12.01.A.1 – 12.01. A.4.
12.02.A.1 All-Star teams may be chosen by any method.
12.02.A.2 Leagues may have multiple All-Star teams in any age division.
12.02.A.3 The League President (or Highest Officer) shall submit an official roster to the State Director for approval.
12.02.A.4 Only State Directors shall register and approve all Official Online Roster for All-Star teams.
12.02.A.5 National All-Star Division:
12.02.A.5(a) All-Star team players shall not have participated on a team of higher classification than AA
(i.e., AAA, Major) after January 1st of the current year. Any player that has participated on a
AAA or Major team after January 1st of the current year is ineligible for National All-Star
Division play but may be eligible for American All-Star Division play pursuant to these rules.
12.02.A.5(b) All-Star teams can have an unlimited number of players that have played at the AA level during
the current season.
12.02.A.5(c) All-Star teams shall not begin playing together until May 1st.
Upon becoming aware that a participant or coach/manager of his team has received a suspected concussion (or has been struck in the
head area with any significant force), the Team Manager will not allow that person to participate in any USSSA sanctioned event and if
occurring during a USSSA sanctioned event, shall have that person removed from the playing field of any USSSA sanctioned event.
Upon becoming aware that a participant, coach/manager or official/umpire/referee has received a suspected concussion (or has been
struck in the head area with any significant force), a USSSA official/umpire/referee or director will have that person removed from the
playing field of any USSSA sanctioned event. Without a written medical written clearance from a licensed medical doctor to return to
play, such persons will not be allowed to return to the USSSA playing field in a USSSA sanctioned event. For officials/umpires/referees,
the medical written consent form must be presented to the Tournament Director and retained permanently by the USSSA State Director.
For participants and coaches/managers, the medical written medical consent form must be presented to the Team Manager and
retained permanently by the Team Manager. Any Team Manager, who allows a coach/manager or participant back on a USSSA
sanctioned event playing field without first obtaining the required written consent, may be suspended by the State Director for up to one
year and upon request of the State Director, may be suspended for a longer duration by the USSSA disbarment committee. State
Directors allowing an official/umpire/referee back in the field of play without the necessary consent will be subject to being disciplined
as determined by the USSSA Board of Directors.
In the event of severe head trauma in a USSSA sanctioned activity, the injured person will not be moved, and an ambulance will be
called, unless otherwise directed by a qualified medical professional. The parent or guardian of the injured person, however, will not be
bound by this protocol and may choose a different approach consistent with their legal rights as the parent or guardian.
11
13.02.C.1(b) Allow the Director to inspect the bat and reach a conclusion as to whether or not the bat might be altered.
13.02.C.2 Altered Bat Determination by Altered Bat Committee Chairman or Manufacturer: If, after making the inspection of a
potential altered bat, the Director in his discretion decides that the bat might be an altered bat, the suspected offending
owner and / or user and may either:
13.02.C.2(a) Withhold the bat from further examination by the USSSA Altered Bat Committee Chairman or Manufacturer
and accept an immediate two-year (up to life time for second time offenders pursuant to USSSA Rules
13.02.C.1 and / or 13.02.C.2) suspension from USSSA sanctioned activities with no right to appeal; or
13.02.C.2(b) Allow the Director to send the bat to the USSSA Altered Bat Committee Chairman and / or Manufacturer for a
determination as to whether or not the bat is altered. If the Manufacturer or the USSSA Altered Bat Committee
Chairman determines that the bat has been altered, the Altered Bat Committee Chairman in consultation with
the Director who inspected the bat at the USSSA facility may suspend a first-time offender for up to five (5)
years from USSSA play. For a second-time offender pursuant to USSSA Rules 13.02.C.1 and / or 13.02.C.2,
any such suspension shall be lifetime.
13.02.C.3 Ownership and Knowledge of Bat Being Altered: The responsibility for knowing whether a bat is altered is that of the
users and the owner of the bat. If an individual uses an altered bat in USSSA sanctioned play or is the owner of an altered
bat that is brought into a USSSA facility, the suspensions pursuant to USSSA Rules 13.02.C.1 and / or 13.02.C.2 shall be
imposed without regard to what the individual actually knew about the altered bat. An individual must know that his bat is
not an altered bat, if he brings it into a USSSA facility or used it in a USSSA sanctioned activity. If not, the individual can be
suspended from USSSA activities for using or owning an altered bat. The fact that the individual did not know that the bat
was altered is not a factor in imposing the suspension. The only question is whether the bat is altered or whether the owner
/ user has refused to let the bat be examined to determine if it is altered. After the Director, Altered Bat Committee and
Manufacturer examination of a bat to determine if it is altered have all been completed, or upon the decision of the owner /
user to not allow further inspection of the bat pursuant to USSSA Rules 13.02.C.1 and / or 13.02.C.2, the bat shall be
returned to the owner. If no one claims to be the owner, USSSA shall retain the bat. Once the bat has been returned to the
owner, no appeal can be made with respect to whether the bat is altered or not.
13.02.C.4 Investigation Cooperation: Any coach, manager, player or other person who fails to cooperate in the investigation by
USSSA of a potential or actual altered bat may be subject to an unsportsmanlike conduct suspension. A manager or coach
of a team that has more than one of his team’s bats determined to be altered (or not allowed to be inspected upon request
for an altered bat inspection pursuant to USSSA Rules 13.02.C.1 and / or 13.02.C.2, may be subject to an unsportsmanlike
conduct suspension.
13.02.C.5 Awards and Coach Suspensions: If an owner / user chooses to submit a suspected altered bat to the USSSA Altered Bat
Committee or Manufacturer no awards may be given to the team until the bat is determined not to be altered. If the bat is
found to be altered, no awards or berth shall be given, and the team shall be placed last in the standings and the listed
manager and coaches may be suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct.
13.02.C.6 Participation in, Profits from, or Encouraging the Altering of USSSA Marked Bats: Anyone who participates in, profits
from, or encourages the altering of USSSA marked bats shall be suspended indefinitely from all USSSA activities, until the
offending party has satisfied all requests of the USSSA Altered Bat Committee with respect to his altered bat activities
including but not limited to publicly swearing under penalties of perjury to never again participate in, profit from, or encourage
the altering of USSSA marked bats. Violation of such an oath shall result in permanent suspension from all USSSA activities.
13.02.C.7 Compression Testing: Failure of a USSSA approved compression testing device test shall result in the offending bat being
removed from play for the duration of the tournament or league game but no longer without the permission of the owner /
user – such as in the case of an allowed USSSA altered bat determination pursuant to USSSA Rule 13.02.C.1 and / or
13.02.C.2. Multiple failures of such USSSA compression testing may in the discretion of USSSA be viewed as
unsportsmanlike conduct of the owner/user, coaches, manager, and team.
13.02.C.8 Custom Bats: No approved manufacturer may make a custom USSSA bat for a player or a team. All USSSA marked bats
made by a USSSA approved manufacturer must be available to the public for purchase. Individualized graphics (such as a
team name, different color, player name or number only changes for a team or player), however, do not constitute custom
bats for purposes of this rule.
13.02.C.9 Worn / Abused / Damaged / Foreign Substance Bats Not Allowed in USSSA Sanctioned Play:
13.02.C.9(a) No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if it is damaged in any way. Damaged bats include those with
damage to the knob or end cap, those which have loose knobs or end caps, and those with cracks or dents in
the bat material. For example, if the end cap is in any way loose or appears damaged, the bat should be
removed from play for being a damaged bat. If an end plug has come out or the knob has come off, the only
way that such bat is legal in USSSA play, is if the knob or end cap is replaced by the manufacturer.
Replacement by anyone else results in an altered bat with potential suspension for the owner/user of the bat.
13.02.C.9(b) No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if any of the graphics of the bat have worn off. For example, even
if the only graphics that have worn off are not Key Graphic Information and are only items such as the patent
no., a manufacturer logo, or the approval mark of another association, the bat should be removed from play
for being too worn.
13.02.C.9(c) No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play if the paint has been worn through and the actual bat material is
showing. For example, if at the end of the barrel next to the taper where there are no graphics the bat paint is
worn off and the underlying bat material is exposed, that bat should be removed from play for being too worn.
13.02.C.9(d) No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play if there is a foreign substance on the barrel or taper of a bat. Foreign
substances included among other substances, pine tar, stick-em type products and even dirt or mud, but only
if the substance adds to the thickness of the barrel or covers Key Graphic Information such as the USSSA
1.15 BPF mark, the serial number of the bat, the model or manufacturer name, official softball, etc. Players
are responsible for their equipment and must clean such substances off of their bats so that the substance
does not add to the thickness of the bat or obscure any Key Graphics Information about the bat. For example,
while bats shall surely get dirt on them under normal use and may have pine tar added to the grip, if the dirt or
pine tar obscures Key Graphic Information or adds to the thickness of the bat, such bats cannot be used in
USSSA play until the dirt or pine tar has been removed to the extent necessary to make all such Key Graphic
12
Information readable and the bat not have increased thickness. If Key Graphic Information about a bat cannot
be read, the bat should not be used in USSSA play.
13.02.C.9(e) If any removed bat pursuant to USSSA Rule 13.02.C.9 is brought back into play at any USSSA sanctioned
event an any time, the owner and user of such bat may be suspended for up to one year for unsportsmanlike
conduct. And if the worn / abused / damaged / foreign substance is apparent enough that the batter should
have been aware of it, the batter may be so suspended for bringing such a bat into the batter’s box without
having been warned in advance. Players are responsible for their equipment and must not use equipment that
is even potentially illegal for use in USSSA sanctioned play.
13.02.C.9(f) In addition to the player being suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct, coaches of youth teams may also be
so suspended when their players attempt to bat with such bats. Also, coaches of adult teams which have
multiple offenses under this rule may also be so suspended for failing to have his team follow USSSA
equipment rules. Please be reminded that unsportsmanlike conduct can result in a game or tournament
suspension in the discretion of the Umpire or tournament director and up to a year suspension in the discretion
of the State Director.
13.02.C.10 Youth Player Altered Bats: The parents or legal guardians of a youth player suspended pursuant to USSSA Rules
13.02.C.1 and / or 13.02.C.2 may be suspended for any time period, including life, from all USSSA sanctioned activities. If
both parents are suspended, the player even after his suspension has ended pursuant to USSSA Rules 13.02.C.1
and/or13.02.C.2 cannot participate in USSSA sanctioned activities until the suspension of one of the players parents has
also ended or until the player reaches the age of eighteen (18) years old. In addition to any other penalties pursuant to
USSSA Rules, any coach or manager of a youth team that has more than one suspension imposed on his players in
connection with USSSA Rules 13.02.C.1 and /or 13.02.C.2 may be suspended from all USSSA activities for any time period,
including life.
13.02.C.11 Altered Bat: An “Altered Bat” is a bat that has had its physical structure changed, including, but not limited to:
13.02.C.11(a) The bat has had the surface of the barrel or the taper changed in any way such as by addition of graphics,
painting, repainting, removal of bat material or paint by any means including but not limited to sandpapering
or applying a solvent to the surface such as fingernail polish remover or by any other means.
13.02.C.11(b) The bat has had the plug, or the knob removed / replaced or changed in any way.
13.02.C.11(c) The bat has had anything removed or added or inserted to the inside or outside of the bat other than tape
at the handle or knob. Other examples of altering a bat would be changing or replacing manufacturers’
markings or replacing the handle of a bat with a new handle. Replacing the grip, adding tape or adding a build
up to the handle is not considered altering a bat.
13.02.C.11(d) The bat has been subjected to pressure in a manner that exceeds that of striking the bat at game speed
swing speed against a USSSA approved ball traveling at game speeds. Such pressure would include, but is
not limited to, compressing the bat, rolling the bat, vicing the bat or hitting the bat against an object such as a
tree or pole. The bat has in any other way had its on-field performance improved by physically changing the
bat (other than by hitting the bat at game condition swing speeds against a USSSA approved ball traveling at
game condition speeds).
13
16.02 The Protest fee shall be $100.00 CASH. The fee shall be returned only if the protest is upheld. Leagues may develop their own fee
structure and methods of recording and settling protests.
14