After the 30-day period, the NFHS Board of Directors will meet by conference call to consider adoption of the proposal. Rules are exact, but the rule-making process often cannot be. We must do the best job we can in the midst of well-meaning but often conflicting interests and beliefs. At this time, the changes we are proposing seem to us to be appropriate for play at the high school level. With respect to implementation, we are guided by the premise that the greater the safety risk posed by a given product or procedure, the greater the economic dislocation appropriate when fashioning a remedy.
Bats pose some safety risks to student-athletes, coaches, umpires and spectators.
The abrupt disallowance of certain previously permissible bats would cause some hardship to student-athletes, parents, high schools, dealers and manufacturers. However, the committee is not aware of a material change in the rate of such injuries. Nor does the committee believe that the rate of such injuries has yet become materially greater than it would be if wooden bats were in general use. The change proposed by the committee may be viewed, in part, as precautionary against a future uptrend in injuries. The rule change suggested by the committee is a lowering of the ceiling of permissible bat performance.