Tougher language, including the possiblity of facing criminal charges, has been added to high school baseball rules to re-emphasize that non-wood bats cannot be altered.
This additional note in Rule 1-3-2 was one of four rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee at its June 3-5 meeting in Indianapolis, according to Bruce Howard, the NFHS Director of Publications and Communications.
Howard said in a press release that all rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
The new note in Rule 1-3-2 is as follows: "The NFHS has been advised that certain manufacturers consider alteration, modification and 'doctoring' of their bats to be unlawful and subject to civil and, under certain circumstances, criminal action."
"Not only is it a violation of NFHS baseball rules to alter a non-wood bat, this new language emphasizes that an individual could be subjected to a civil or criminal lawsuit for tampering with a bat," said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and educational services and staff liaison to the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee.
Two other changes deal with the use of new technology. Rule 3-3-1f prohibits the use of video monitoring equipment for coaching purposes during the game, and Rule 3-3-1i prohibits the use of any electronic devices in the coach's box.
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