The Upcoming Bat Rule Changes and how it affects you the Canadian Slopitch player..

So here are three slo-pitch groups in Canada and their  individual take or ruling on how the new bat testing parameters will change/evolve, interesting read....albeit a little confusing to the every day player.

I am going to follow up with some thoughts on this in my next post

SLO-PITCH NATIONAL BAT POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT - NEW FOR 2012

Beginning on January 1^st, 2012, Slo-Pitch National is pleased to announce that we will be recognizing and accepting the USSSA bat testing methods for use in the SPN program www.usssa.com.

All USSSA approved bats must carry the “NEW” USSSSA stamp on the taper of the bat, for use in the SPN Program.

Starting on January 1^st, 2012 USSSA bats marked with the “NEW” USSSA stamp on the taper of the bat will be allowed in the SPN program. SPN will continue the ASA and ISF Approved bat list

“NOTE” SPN WILL NOT BE GRANDFATHERING USSSA BATS WITHOUT THE NEW STAMP ON THE TAPER OF THE BAT IN THE 2012 SEASON”.

Slo Pitch Ontario

New Slo-Pitch Ontario Softball Bat Marks and Grandfathering Rules

Effective January 1 2012

Effective  January 1,2012

• Have a new USSSA Mark on it's taper OR
• Have the old USSSA Mark OR
• Be a wood Bat

All of the above must be manufactured by an approved USSSA Bat Licensee

Effective January 1, 2014

• Have the new USSSA Mark on its taper OR
• Be a wood Bat

All of the above must be manufactured by an approved USSSA Bat Licensee
                                       
Slo Pitch Ontario has grandfathered this rule one additional year.
This was done with the interests of the players and retailers in mind.

 

For Release- October 2011.

NSA Canada Head Office

With the news this week of SPN adopting the USSSA bat standards……

 SLO-PITCH NATIONAL BAT POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT - NEW FOR 2012

Beginning on January 1^st, 2012, Slo-Pitch National is pleased to announce that we will be recognizing and accepting the USSSA bat testing methods for use in the SPN program www.usssa.com.

All USSSA approved bats must carry the “NEW” USSSSA stamp on the taper of the bat, for use in the SPN Program.

Starting on January 1^st, 2012 USSSA bats marked with the “NEW” USSSA stamp on the taper of the bat will be allowed in the SPN program. SPN will continue the ASA and ISF Approved Bat List.

“NOTE” SPN WILL NOT BE GRANDFATHERING USSSA BATS WITHOUT THE NEW STAMP ON THE TAPER OF THE BAT IN THE 2012 SEASON

 We at NSA Canada wanted to address some questions and concerns that have come up due to this release.

 NSA Canada has always been the Market Leader in Canada in regards to many areas and one of these has been the 1.20 BPF testing standard.

Before Slopitch National and Slopitch Ontario decided to join us at this similar testing level through their approval of  the USSSA standard, NSA Canada had set the 1.20 BPF standard as this is what our customers, YOU …the players, asked for.

The players wanted to swing 1.20 BPF approved bats in their respective league and tournament play because it was the best performance and selection of product available for slopitch in Canada.

And when you are swinging the best available performance product, you are less inclined to “cheat” by doctoring or altering the bat to improve the performance level.

Going into our 15^th season in Canada using this standard has improved game performance while still keeping an eye on the incidents of injury which is still less than 1% per season(this includes all forms, base running, fielding, liability and batted ball)

For years, the contention from NSA Canada’s main competition was that the 1.20 BPF approved bats were dangerous and players were going to get hurt and their association kept its bat standard with ASA approval to “protect” the player.

In all honesty, the testing has always amounted to a minimum difference of 1-2 miles per hour in batted ball speed between the ASA 98 MPH testing and the 1.20 BPF standard.

 In the infield , where most batted ball injuries occur, this is a negligible amount for speed and with  the SPN new adopted standards of USSSA for 2012, they are agreeing with this, as even with the new 52 300 ball, this will not slow down  batted balls through the infield, but just restrict their flight.

As a players first company, we at NSA Canada  have been involved in lengthy conversations with players , directors, bat manufacturers and testing experts to ensure we do what’s right for not only the organization but more importantly our participants.

We don’t want jump too quickly in regards to this as we want to make sure we make a truly informed decision.

More info to come

Please feel free to contact us at NSA Canada Head Office – info@nsacanada.ca

If you have any questions or points of view to contribute.