IHSA Announcements

December 2, 1999

New Baseball Bat Rule To Be Effective No Earlier Than 2001

The National Federation of State High School Associations will not change
its baseball bat rule for the 2000 season. According to NFHS President Dick Durost, "A new bat rule is under active consideration, but will become effective, at the earliest, on January 1, 2001."

The NFHS, which writes voluntary rules in 16 sports, considers three
factors in its rule making procedure: risk minimization, the balance between
offense and defense, and the sound traditions of the various sports. Baseball bat performance has been the subject of considerable scrutiny in recent years
by various rule makers, manufacturers and university-based scientists.

The NFHS Board has requested that the Baseball Rules Committee propose a new bat rule in time for the Board meeting on January 4, 2000. If such a rule were to
be proposed and adopted, it would not, for the coming season, preclude the
use of bats that are currently permitted by NFHS rule.