STATE OF WASHINGTON, OREGON, OR IDAHO RULE ONLY:

• ANYONE caught using an altered and/or illegal bat within Washington, Oregon, or Idaho, will be ejected immediately from the game.  The player may also be removed from the tournament.  The individual and manager may face disciplinary action from our Ethics Committee.
• Batter stepping into the batter’s box with an illegal bat is ejected when the ball is put into play by the umpire.  *The batter had the intent to use the bat once they stepped into the batter’s box.

RULE 2. EQUIPMENT

Sec. 1. DUE TO RAPIDLY EXPANDING and advanced technologies of softball
equipment, all new equipment introduced to the game of slow-pitch softball must be
reviewed and approved by the USSSA Equipment Performance and Safety Standards
Committee. Each item approved shall be tested for one year. During this time the item
can be further evaluated in actual game-playing situations. The USSSA reserves the right
to disapprove any equipment due to failure to meet current safety standards as set by the
USSSA Equipment Performance and Safety Standards Committee.

Sec. 2. THE OFFICIAL BAT shall be round in cross-section, straight in length, and
measure not more than 34 inches long, including tape or other grip additions to the bat,
shall have a knob at the end of its handle, and not more than 2-1/4 inches in diameter at its
largest part. Its weight shall not exceed 31-ounces, including tape or grip addition to the
bat. The bat shall have a grip of tape or some other material to facilitate holding the bat
during the batter’s swing. The grip shall be not less than 10 inches long, nor extend to touch
the taper or barrel of the bat. All key graphics, including USSSA and BPF markings, must
be permanent and cannot be applied as decals or by any other method that would allow the
key graphics to be easily removed or added to the bat.

A. Material. THE BAT may be made of hard wood of one piece, or laminated
from sections of hard wood bonded together with adhesive in such a way that the
grain directions of all the pieces are essentially parallel to the length of the bat.
THE BAT may also be made of aluminum or other metals, fiberglass, graphite or
composite materials.

B. Construction. The bat may be made in pieces from different materials but
must have a closed barrel end, a handle and a taper. The bat may be modular with
interchangeable parts, subject to additional safety and tampering requirements as
set forth in the standard USSSA Bat Licensing Agreement. The knob portion must
be welded or mechanically attached to the bat. Only USSSA approved bats, USSSA
approved weighted bats or USSSA approved bat weigh attachments, may be used
by the on deck batter while loosening up on the field.

C. Other Criteria for Legal USSSA Bats.

1. Bats will be legal for USSSA sanctioned play only if the bat is
manufactured by an approved USSSA bat manufacturer on the USSSA
approved bat manufacturer list (kept by USSSA and published and made
available by means including, but not limited to, the USSSA website) and
has the new 2020 USSSA Certification Mark. The previous 2014 USSSA
Certification Mark as of January 1, 2023, is ineligible for USSSA Sanctioned
events, but is eligible for use in USSSA league play (pictured below) on the
taper of the bat. Wood bats made on the approved USSSA bat manufacturer list
shall be legal without regard to this section E.2.

2. 2014 USSSA Certification Mark – LEAGUE PLAY ONLY IN WASHINGTON STATE
2020 USSSA Certification Mark – PLEASE SEE WASHINGTON STATE EJECTION RULE

Any addition to the handle or knob area of a bat is altering the bat if and
only if it adds any length to the bat or adds more than half an ounce of weight
to the bat. Tournament Directors at the request of USSSA National Office may,
however, allow for up to an inch increase in length and up to an ounce increase
in weight for an addition to the knob area that is placed on bats in a tournament
for the purpose of gathering swing/batted ball data (such as bat speed) for
USSSA National Office, provided that the Tournament Director insures that
the addition is securely added to the knob and will not create any significant
safety concern.

D. Altered Bat Director Inspection and Suspension. A USSSA Director may
at any time ask to inspect a bat that has been brought into the location of a USSSA
sanctioned event or any other USSSA facility. The owner and/or user may either:

1. Withhold the bat from inspection and accept an immediate two year
(automatic life for second time offenders under EI and/or E) suspension from
USSSA sanctioned activities with no right to appeal; or,

2. Allow the Director to inspect the bat and reach a conclusion as to whether
or not the bat might be altered.

DI. Altered Bat Determination by Altered Bat Committee Chairman or
Manufacturer. If, after making the inspection of a potential altered bat, the
Director in his discretion decides that the bat might be an altered bat, the suspected
offending owner and/or user may either:

1. Withhold the bat from further examination by the USSSA Altered Bat
Committee Chairman or Manufacturer of the bat and accept an immediate
two year (up to life for second time offenders under sections E and/or EI)
suspension from USSSA sanctioned activities with no right to appeal; or

2. Allow the Director to send the bat to the USSSA Altered Bat Committee
Chairman and/or Manufacturer of the bat for a determination as to whether
or not the bat is altered. If the Manufacturer or the USSSA Altered Bat
Committee Chairman determines that the bat has been altered, the Altered Bat
Committee Chairman in consultation with the Director who inspected the bat
at the USSSA facility may suspend a first time offender for up to five (5) years
from USSSA play. For a second time offender under E and/or EI, any such
suspension will be for life.

E. Ownership and Knowledge of Bat Being Altered. The responsibility for
knowing whether a bat is altered is that of the users and the owner of the bat. If
an individual uses an altered bat in USSSA sanctioned play or is the owner of an
altered bat that is brought into a USSSA facility, the suspensions under this Rule
2, Section 1 will be imposed without regard to what the individual actually knew
about the altered bat. An individual must know that his bat is not an altered bat, if
he brings it into a USSSA facility or used it in a USSSA sanctioned activity. If not,
the individual can be suspended from USSSA activities for using or owning an
altered bat. The fact that the individual did not know that the bat was altered is not
a factor in imposing the suspension. The only question is whether the bat is altered
or whether the owner/user has refused to let the bat be examined to determine if it is
altered. After the Director, Altered Bat Committee and Manufacturer examination
of a bat to determine if it is altered have all been completed, or upon the decision of
the owner/user to not allow further inspection of the bat under E or EI, above, the
bat shall be returned to the owner. If no one claims to be the owner, USSSA shall
retain the bat. Once the bat has been returned to the owner, no appeal can be made
with respect to whether the bat is altered or not.

F. Investigation Cooperation. Any coach, manager, player or other person who
fails to cooperate in the investigation by USSSA of a potential or actual altered bat
shall be subject to an unsportsmanlike conduct suspension. A manager or coach of
a team that has more than one of his team’s bats determined to be altered (or not
allowed to be inspected upon request for an altered bat inspection under E and/or EI,
above) shall be subject to an unsportsmanlike conduct suspension.

G. Awards and Coach Suspensions If an owner/user chooses to submit a
suspected altered bat to the USSSA Altered Bat Committee or the Manufacturer
no awards will be given to the team until the bat is determined not to be altered. If
the bat is found to be altered, no awards or berth will be given and the team will be
placed last in the standings and the listed manager and coaches may be suspended
for unsportsmanlike conduct.

H. Participation in, Profits from, or Encouraging the Altering of USSSA
Marked Bats. Any one who participates in, profits from, or encourages the altering
of USSSA marked bats shall be suspended indefinitely from all USSSA activities,
until the offending party has satisfied all requests of the Altered Bat Committee with
respect to his altered bat activities including but not limited to publicly swearing
under penalties of perjury to never again participate in, profit from, or encourage the
altering of USSSA marked bats. Violation of such an oath shall result in permanent
suspension from all USSSA activities.

I. Compression Testing. Failure of a USSSA approved compression testing
device test shall result in the offending bat being removed from play for the
duration of the tournament or league game, not longer without the permission of
the owner/user—such as in the case of an allowed USSSA altered bat determination
under section EI. Multiple failures of such USSSA compression testing may in the
discretion of USSSA be viewed as unsportsmanlike conduct of the owner/user,
coaches, manager and team.

J. Custom Bats. No approved manufacturer may make a custom USSSA bat for a
player or a team. All USSSA marked bats made by a USSSA approved manufacturer
must be available to the public for purchase. Individualized graphics (such as a team
name, different color, player name or number only changes for a team or player),
however, do not constitute custom bats for purposes of this section K.

K. Worn/Abused/Damaged/Foreign Substance Bats Not Allowed in USSSA
Sanctioned Play.

1.  No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if it is damaged in any way.
Damaged bats include those with damage to the knob or end cap, those which
have loose knobs or end caps, and those with cracks or dents in the bat material.
For example, if the end cap is in any way loose or appears damaged, the bat
should be removed from play for being a damaged bat. If an end plug has come
out or the knob has come off, the only way that such bat is legal in USSSA
play, is if the knob or end cap is replaced by the manufacturer. Replacement by
anyone else results in an altered bat with potential suspension for the owner/
user of the bat.

2.  No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if any of the graphics of the
bat have worn off. For example, even if the only graphics that have worn off
are not key graphic information and are only items such as the patent no., a
manufacturer logo, or the approval mark of another association, the bat should
be removed from play for being too worn. NOTE: The bat shall not have
exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges, or any form of exterior fastener that
would present a hazard. Bats shall be free of rattles, dents, burrs and cracks.

3.  No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if the paint has been worn
through and the actual bat material is showing. For example, if at the end of
the barrel next to the taper where there are no graphics the bat paint is worn off
and the underlying bat material is exposed, that bat should be removed from
play for being too worn.

4. No bat is legal for USSSA sanctioned play, if there is a foreign substance
on the barrel or taper of a baseball or softball bat. Foreign substances included
among other substances, pine tar, stick-em type products and even dirt or
mud, but only if the substance adds to the thickness of the barrel or covers
key graphic information such as the USSSA 1.20 BPF mark, the serial number
of the bat, the model or manufacturer name, official softball, etc.. Players are
responsible for their equipment and must clean such substances off of their
bats so that the substance does not add to the thickness of the bat or obscure
any key graphic information about the bat. For example, while bats will surely
get dirt on them under normal use and may have pine tar added to the grip, if
the dirt or pine tar obscures key graphic information or adds to the thickness of
the bat, such bats cannot be used in USSSA play until the dirt or pine tar has
been removed to the extent necessary to make all such key graphic information
readable and the bat not have increased thickness. If key graphic information
about a bat cannot be read, the bat should not be used in USSSA play.

5. If any removed bat under these section L rules is brought back into play
at any USSSA sanctioned event at any time, the owner and user of such bat
may be suspended for up to one year for unsportsmanlike conduct. And if the
foreign substance or the wear/abuse/damage is apparent enough that the batter
should have been aware of it, the batter may be suspended for bringing such
a bat into the batters box without having been warned in advance. Players
are responsible for their equipment and must not use equipment that is even
potentially illegal for use in USSSA sanctioned play.

6. In addition to the player being suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct,
coaches of youth teams may also be so suspended when their players attempt to
bat with such bats. Also, coaches of adult teams which have multiple offenses
under this rule may also be so suspended for failing to have his team follow
USSSA equipment rules. Please be reminded that unsportsmanlike conduct
may result in a game or tournament suspension in the discretion of the umpire
or tournament director and up to a year suspension in the discretion of the state
director.

L. Youth Player Altered Bats. The parents or legal guardians of a youth player
suspended under section E and/or EI shall be suspended for life from all USSSA
sanctioned activities. As such, the player even after his suspension has ended
under E and/or EI cannot participate in USSSA sanctioned activities until the player
is 18 years old. In addition to any other penalties under this Rule 2.1, any coach or
manager of a youth team that has more than one suspension imposed under sections
E and/or EI will be suspended from all USSSA activities for life.

M. 1. League directors may change USSSA Rules in very limited circumstances,
where in the league director’s discretion and judgment such a rule change is in
the clear best interests of the league, its players, and USSSA. Such league rule
changes, however, cannot reduce the right of USSSA Licensees to have their
products allowed in USSSA play or allow non-licensed bats or balls to be use
in USSSA sanctioned play.

2. Any material league rule change under this Rule, however, must within
a reasonable time period be sent by the league director who is authorizing the
change to the USSSA Board of Directors or a Committee designated by the
Board at [email protected] and to the appropriate State Director, each of
which may, in their discretion, overrule any USSSA league rule changes.

Sec. 3
A. THE OFFICIAL BALL to be used shall be of a spherical design with a
smooth surface. The center or core of the ball shall be of a material and design
traditionally used to make softballs or other materials or design as approved by the
USSSA. The cover shall be of horsehide, cowhide or other material approved by the
USSSA and shall be cemented to the core and stitched with cotton, linen or nylon
or any other material approved by the USSSA. A molded cover ball or a molded
ball without a separate cover, or a multiple layer core design or multiple material
core design, may be approved by the discretion of the USSSA on a case by case
basis. The thread shall be in either flat seam or concealed stitch type which gives a
flat surface. The stitch color must be blue. The internal composition of the core and
the material of the cover must be clearly printed on the ball and the words “Official
Slow Pitch Softball” must be clearly printed on the ball. All USSSA balls shall have
the lettering and logo applied to be indelible.

Note: The performance of a softball by reducing the temperature below that of
game conditions is unsportsmanlike conduct.

B. All USSSA balls shall have an optic yellow cover. Each ball shall have its
model name, including: USSSA Classic M, USSSA Classic Plus, USSSA Pro M,
USSSA Stadium, USSSA Senior, and USSSA Women’s Classic and Pro W in 1/8”
letters. Each ball shall have USSSA logo be 7/8-1-1/8” in diameter, dependent on
model specifications in Section D.

USSSA BALL MODEL SPECIFICATIONS CHART

USSSA Classic M OPTIC YELLOW 12″ +/- 1/8″ 6.4 OZ +/- .2 OZ .40 MAX 325 MAX
USSSA Classic Plus OPTIC YELLOW 12” +/- 1/8” 6.4 OZ +/- .2 OZ .52 MAX 300 MAX
USSSA Pro M OPTIC YELLOW 12” +/- 1/8” 6.4 OZ +/- .2 OZ .44 MAX 400 MAX
USSSA STADIUM OPTIC YELLOW 12” +/- 1/8” 6.4 OZ +/- .2 OZ .47 MAX 500 MAX
USSSA Senior OPTIC YELLOW 12” +/- 1/8” 6.4 OZ +/- .2 OZ .44 MAX 400 MAX
USSSA CLASSIC W OPTIC YELLOW 11” +/- 1/8” 5.85 OZ +/- .2 OZ .44 MAX 400 MAX
USSSA Pro W OPTIC YELLOW 11” +/- 1/8” 5.85 OZ +/- .2 OZ .44 MAX 400 MAX
USSSA Classic M BLUE 1/8” BLUE 1-1/8” BLUE
USSSA Classic Plus BLUE 1/8” RED 7/8” RED
USSSA Pro M BLUE 1/8” BLACK 7/8” BLACK
USSSA STADIUM BLUE 1/8” GRAY 1-1/8” GRAY
USSSA Senior BLUE 1/8” BLUE 7/8” BLUE
USSSA CLASSIC W BLUE 1/8” BLUE 7/8” BLUE
USSSA Pro W BLUE 1/8” BLACK 7/8” BLACK

NOTE: The Men’s Stadium ball may only be used in the Men’s Major program; requires
written approval from National Office prior to use in other sanctioned USSSA play. The
Classic M, Classic Plus and Pro M balls may be used in the Men’s Major, Men’s and Mixed
(only for men to hit) programs. The Classic W and Pro W ball may be used only in the
Women’s and Mixed programs (only for women to hit). The Senior ball may be used only
in the Men’s Senior 40 and over and older programs.

E. Altered balls and the potential of a ball being altered and those suspected of
altering, owning or using an altered ball (or determined to have altered, owned or
used an Altered Ball) shall be viewed as falling under the same rules in place above
for Altered Bats in Rule 2 Section 1 above.

F. Increasing the performance of a softball by reducing the temperature below
that of game conditions is unsportsmanlike conduct.