Beginning with the 2018 all charted Little League, Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken League and other nationally affiliated youth baseball programs will adopt the USA Baseball bat standard and move away from the USSSA Bat standards that had been in place over the last several years. The easiest way to determine if a bat is legal for play in the 2018 season, look for the USA Baseball stamp on the bat (see below). Also both 2 1/4" and 2 5/8" diameter barrels are allowed. There are some charts and information floating around that only state 2 5/8" which led to confusion. 2 5/8" is the maximum diameter allowed. BBCOR bats are also NO LONGER legal. If you purchased a T-Ball bat last season, there is a sticker program available that will make the bat legal. MBR will be participating in this program, so ask us during registration for your T-Ball bat sticker. These stickers are not allowed above the T-Ball (6U) level.
If your child's bat is stamped with the old USSSA stamp below, it is no longer allowed for use in any accredited league:
For discussion, where to buy USA Baseball certified bats and USA Baseball's website, please visit the following links:
Babe Ruth Bat RegulationsUSA Baseball Testing Program FAQSJustbats.com DiscussionApproved Bat ListUSA Bat Official Site