Youth baseball is designed to teach young players the fundamentals of baseball while having an enjoyable experience. Similar to any level of baseball, youth baseball players use a variety of equipment such as baseball bats. With the technological advancement of baseball bats, leagues and organizations were forced to create regulations regarding the materials, performance and size of the baseball bats used for youth baseball.
Materials
Baseball bats must be a smooth, rounded stick and can be made from a variety of materials including wood and aluminum. Aluminum or other alloys are the most common types of youth baseball bats and composite bats have recently been developed. As a result, most organizations such as the Little League provide a detailed list of composite bats that meet the league standards. These regulations list the specific brands, models and lengths which are acceptable.
Performance
With the development of new, lightweight materials, aluminum baseball bats were beginning to give an unfair advantage to the hitter. To measure the overall performance of the bat, the Bat Performance Factor was developed to measure the recoil ability of the bat and is expressed as a number. For example, a bat that produces a 20 percent faster rebound has a BPF of 1.20. As of 2009, most youth baseball leagues have a maximum BPF of 1.15 or 1.20.
Size
Size regulations for youth baseball bats relate to the overall length, weight, length-weight ration and the barrel size. Rule 1.10 in the Little League rulebook clearly expresses the baseball bat size rules: Maximum length is 33 inches with the maximum barrel width of 2-1/4 inches. Bat lengths commonly range from 28 to 32 inches. The length-weight ratio refers to the difference in length and weight - calculated by subtracting the weight from the length - and is commonly kept to a "minus 13." For example, a bat measuring 28 inches must weigh at least 15 oz.
Considerations
With a wide range of youth baseball bats being produced and various governing leagues such as the Little League, Dixie League, Pony League, USSSA or AAU, there are not standardized tests to provide an all-inclusive list of legal bats. To prevent any penalties from an umpire during a game, always consult your league rulebook for specific rules regarding baseball bats.
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