League News

Composite Bats: Moratorium Imposed Immediately — December 30, 2010

 Little League International Issues Update Regarding Composite Bats: Moratorium Imposed

Immediately

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Dec. 30, 2010) - Little League International has placed
a moratorium on the use of composite bats in the Little League (Majors) Division
and all other baseball divisions of Little League, effective immediately.

"Today's decision of the Little League International Board of Directors Executive
Committee is based on scientific research data from the University of Massachusetts
(Lowell), which was contracted by Little League Baseball," Stephen D. Keener, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball, said. "The maximum
performance standard for non-wood bats in the divisions for 12-year-olds and below
is a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15. The research found that composite bats,
while they may meet the standard when new, can exceed that standard after a break-in
process."

Local Little Leagues were first informed of the research last September.

"From the beginning, and throughout this process, we wanted to keep everyone informed,"
Patrick W. Wilson, Vice President of Operations at Little League International,
said. "Our intent was to provide local league constituents clear direction regarding
composite bats. There is a process through which manufacturers can submit individual
models for a possible waiver if they wish to seek it. Going forward, we will let
our leagues know which ones meet the standards for the Little League Baseball (Majors)
12-and-under divisions, if any."

On Sept. 1, Little League International placed a moratorium on composite bats in
the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League. Subsequent
to that moratorium, some composite bat models have received a waiver and may be
used in those divisions. Information on the composite bats that have received waivers
for the Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Divisions of Little League may be
found here:

http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/approvedcompbats.htm