[Jerry]

Rog,
First . . . I prefaced all my replies that these were my opinions only. Whenever I officiate High School games under the NFHS Rules, I require legal equipment to be used.

That said, according to NFHS own admition . . . "All recent changes in bat requirements have been to minimize the risk of injury to high school student-athletes."

Since NFHS is the governing body for High School VARSITY athletics only (i.e. other leagues and levels may choose to adopt any/all of the FED rules and interpretations), officials at those OTHER levels are not obligated to unilaterally enforce that same interpretation regarding BESR requirements.

In all honesty, I seriously doubt it will even be an issue at the HS Varsity level. All coaches and AD's are well-aware of the new equipment requirements. We may very well see adaptations at the JV, Freshman and Summer Federation levels.

And just as an addendum . . . the BESR ratings are only required for non-wood bats. Invariably, someone on the team has a wooden bat.

Jerry