With the Spring Season nearly upon us, PLL wanted to send out a reminder about the baseball bat guidelines for the 2017 Season.
Please note that guidelines are different in the PLL Intermediate Baseball Division (11-13 year olds) compared to all other PLL Baseball Divisions (10 and under).
You can find competitively priced bats locally at Dick’s, and on-line from many bat providers.
Bat Tip: It’s best to buy a bat that your child can effectively handle and swing for this spring season rather than getting one that they can grow into over the next couple of years.
A simple test is to have them swing the bat the way they would in a real game. If their bat is not level, meaning the barrel of the bat starts to point to the ground as they swing forward, then the bat is too big/heavy for them. If the bat head stays parallel to the ground when they swing, then they can handle the bat.
If you have a bat on order that does not meet the guidelines below, please remember that as long as you don’t break the plastic seal around the barrel of the bat, you can return it for a refund.
Finally, for travel and school team players, please consult with your team managers about which bats will be eligible for the spring season. Travel leagues and travel tournaments set their own bat rules.
Eligible Baseball Bats for PLL Intermediate Division (Ages 11-13)
1) NO FULL COMPOSITE BATS
2) ALL bats MUST have 2 ¼ diameter barrel (No Big Barrel Bats 2 5/8 diameter barrel and larger)
3) Bats CANNOT be more than 34 inches in length
4) Metal bats Are eligible(aluminum/metal alloy)
5) “Half and Half” Bats Are eligible- Bats with a metal barrel and composite handle
6) Wood Bats ARE Eligible, but it cannot be less than 15/16 of an inch in diameter at its smallest part.
Special Note: BBCOR Approved Drop 3 Bats are NOT allowed for use in PLL "In-House Games", but they CAN be used in Inter-League Games against teams from other towns.
Eligible Baseball Bats for Minors, Rookies, Instructional and Tee Ball (Ages 10 and Under)
1) ALL bats MUST have a 2 ¼ diameter barrel (NO Big Barrel Bats 2 5/8 diameter and larger)
2) Bats CANNOT be longer than 33 inches
3) ALL bats, except wood, MUST have a BPF Rating of 1.15 or lower
4) Full Composite bats ARE eligible
5) Metal bats Are Eligible (Aluminum/Metal Alloy)
6) “Half and Half” bats with metal barrel and composite handle ARE Eligible.
7) Wood bats Are eligible (Must be 2 ¼ barrel)
Here is a link to the official Little League International Approved Bat List for you to double-check that the bat you are planning to purchase is eligible:
http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/licensedcompositebats.htm
PLL Provides bats for all players to use in each team bag in all divisions!!!