Heated Bats
 

NCAA Game:

When checking bats 4 bats are sitting by the heatedr and hot to the touch. When told, the team moves the bats away from the heater and 35 minutes elapse prior to game time. Is it then OK to use the bats?

Don't know, what is the NCAA's rule involving heating bats?

ASA just eliminated their opposition (which I have anticipated for a couple years), but NFHS just went off the deep end on banning any type of heating of the bats. Go figure!

According to Dr. Lloyd Smith of Washington State Univ. bats will heat up, but the heat will dissipate before the batter can get to the plate and swing the bat. I specifically asked him this question at the ASA convention in Colorado Springs a couple years ago. He said the players would literally have to hit the ball immediately upon removing the bat from the heated bat bag. I would have to assume removing the bats from in front of a heater would have the same results.

the warmest place, short of using a bat warmer on a cold day, is between the legs. that's what I see players doing on a cold day, warming up the bat between the legs. it looks a bit funny and odd, but it is warm there.

I would say bats are illegal, shall be removed from game, and incident report needs to be sent to dee. here is what the ncaa book says:

3.3.5 The use of any treatment or device that fundamentally changes the
specifications of bats is prohibited and renders the equipment altered and
unsuitable for play.
A.R. 3.3.5: A dugout heater or electric blankets are used to keep the players warm.
Before going on deck, each batter uses the heater to warm herself and her bat.
RULING: Artificially warming the bats by use of the heater is illegal. Players can
warm themselves without placing the bat where it could be warmed.

I believe you can get the bats away from the heater and have them be legal by the time the game starts...to avoid conflict it would be a good idea to move the heater and allow the bats. But technically it would make the bats illegal per rule book.

I reread what i said in previous post and wanted to clarify a little better what i thought.

Considering over half an hour had elapsed, and that they readily complied with your directive, I see no problem with allowing the bats.

Thanks for all the replies. One of the officials wanted to throw out the bats/coach and the other was OK with moving them and letting them cool down. Considering that they actually played the game in a snow storm, I can' imagine that the bats stayed warm for long.:)

Yeah.... like 10 seconds. ;)

So it's OK to put bats in the sun in Arizona in July (not artificial) , but not OK to heat them artificially in Michigan in April?

Who thought that one up?

You may have noticed this thread questioned the NCAA ruling specifically.

It is my experience that July in Arizona (or any other state) isn't a factor in the NCAA softball season (February through May).

OK then - June in Oklahoma City. :rolleyes: