Little League Rules

Little League’s bat rules are a bit confusing. To find bats that are legal in your specific league, visit BaseballExpress.com.

2012 Rules – per official Little League website

Rule 1.10 – Baseball – The bat must be a baseball bat which meets Little League specifications and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards.

Little League (Majors) and below: it shall not be more than thirty-three (33) inches in length nor more than two and one-quarter (2¼) inches in diameter. Non-wood bats shall be labeled with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.15 or less; EXCEPTION: For the 2011-2012 Little League (Majors) and below, for regular season play and Tournament, composite bats are prohibited unless approved by Little League International.

A list of approved and licensed composite bats can be found on the Little League website at www.littleleague.org.

Junior League: it shall not be more than 34 inches in length; nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. All composite bats shall meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard, and such bats shall be so labeled with a silkscreen or other permanent certification mark. The certification mark shall be rectangular, a minimum of a half-inch on each side and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color.

Senior/Big League: it shall not be more than 36 inches in length, nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. The bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat (e.g., a 33-inch-long bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). All bats not made of a single piece of wood shall meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard, and such bats shall be so labeled with a silkscreen or other permanent certification mark. The certification mark shall be rectangular, a minimum of a half-inch on each side and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color. Aluminum and composite bats shall be marked as to their material makeup being aluminum or composite. This marking shall be silkscreen or other permanent certification mark, a minimum of one-half-inch on each side and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color.

In all divisions, wood bats may be taped or fitted with a sleeve for a distance not exceeding sixteen (16) inches (18 inches for Junior/Senior/Big League baseball) from the small end. A non-wood bat must have a grip of cork, tape or composition material, and must extend a minimum of 10 inches from the small end. Slippery tape or similar material is prohibited.

NOTE 1: Junior/Senior/Big League: The 2 3/4 inch in diameter bat is not allowed in any division.

NOTE 2: The traditional batting donut is not permissible

NOTE 3: The bat may carry the mark “Little League Tee Ball.”

NOTE 4: Non-wood bats may develop dents from time to time. Bats that cannot pass through the approved Little League bat ring for the appropriate division must be removed from play. The 2¼ inch bat ring must be used for bats in the Tee Ball, Minor League and Little League Baseball divisions. The 2 5/8 inch bat ring must be used for bats in the Junior, Senior and Big League divisions of baseball.

NOTE 5: An illegal bat must be removed. Any bat that has been altered shall be removed from play. Penalty – See Rule – 6.06 (d).

Rule 2.00 Definition of Illegal Bat
Illegal Bat – An Illegal bat is a bat that has been altered or a bat that is not approved for play because it does not meet specifications with regard to length, weight, barrel diameter, labeling or performance standard for the division in which it is used.

Rule 6.06 – Baseball – The batter is out for illegal action when –
(d) The batter enters the batter’s box with an illegal bat (see bat specifications Rule 1.10) or is discovered having used an illegal bat.
Note: If the infraction is discovered before the next pitch following the turn at bat of the player who used an illegal bat -
1.The manager of the defense may advise the plate umpire of a decision to decline the penalty and accept the play. Such election shall be made immediately at the end of the play.
2.For the first violation, the offensive team will lose one eligible adult base coach for the duration of the game.
3.For the second violation, the manager of the team will be ejected from the game. Any subsequent violation will result in the newly designated manager being ejected.

Old 2011 Rules

Little League Baseball placed a moratorium on composite barrel baseball bats in 2011. However, they released a list of approved composite bats that are legal. An updated list of 2 ¼” barrel bats (Majors Division and below) can be found here and the list of 2 ?” barrel bats (Junior League, Senior League, and Big League) can be found here.

Wooden and aluminum metal/alloy bats are not affected by the moratorium. Bats that have only a metal or alloy barrel are not subject to the moratorium, regardless of the composition of the handle or the transition to the barrel.

Maximum Length and Barrel Size

• Little League (Majors and below): 33 inches / 2 ¼ inches
• Junior League: 34 inches / 2 ? inches
• Senior/Big League: 36 inches / 2 ? inches / Drop 3 (must not weigh more than three ounces less than the length of the bat)

Beginning In 2012, Little League Baseball’s Senior League and Big League divisions will adopt the BBCOR standard as a requirement for use in their leagues. Each bat must have the BBCOR logo to considered legal in play for these older age leagues. The BBCOR standard will also apply to composite bats in Junior League Play.

2 ¾ inch barrels are not permitted in any of Little League’s divisions.

Little League’s bat rules are a bit confusing. To find bats that are legal in your specific league, visit BaseballExpress.com.