Uniforms & Equipment

Akins Eagles Baseball 2003

Uniforms & Equipment

Important requirements

Game Jerseys

Akins Eagles game jerseys are the property of the school's Athletic Department and must be returned when a coach requests it. Typically, jerseys are assigned and distributed before a game and taken up for cleaning, repair and safe-keeping following the game. If you have questions, consult your coach.

Equipment Performance and Safety

Excerpts from the 2003 UIL Baseball Manual:

NATIONAL FEDERATION HIGH SCHOOL BAT STANDARD.
The National Federation of State High School Associations Board of Directors has approved a rule calling for narrower, heavier and more wood-like bats. Beginning in the 2000-2001 school year, the maximum diameter of bats will be reduced from 2 3/4 inches to 2 5/8 inches, and the unit differential, namely the difference between bat length measured in inches and bat weight measured in ounces, will be reduced from minus 5 to minus 3. All non-wood bats shall meet the Ball Exit Speed Ratio (BESR) performance standard and such bats shall be labeled with a silk screen or other permanent certification mark. Effective January 1, 2003. [SEE NOTE 1, BELOW]

NOCSAE Standard For Catcher's Headgear
Begining January 1, 2003, the NOCSAE standard for a catcher's headgear is in effect. The NOCSAE standard for a catcher's helmet and mast only applies to products where the helmet and face guard (mask) are attached together by some means, either permanent means or something as simple a Velcro. It is not possible for a catcher's face guard (mask) or a catcher's helmet to be NOCSAE tested and certified as individual units. If however these individual units are used together in a combination intended by the manufacturer(s), they have to be tested together to the NOCSAE standard in that combination in order to be legal. Remember the face guard (mask) portion must attach to the helmet, and only the helmets will have the NOCSAE stamp. This means that it will be virtually impossible for umpires on the field to determine if different manufactured components have been tested and certified together.

If the umpires have any doubt regarding the legality of any combination, then the umpires shall require the head coach to provide written documentation verifying the legality of that combination in question. The written verification shall include a statement indicating that the indivudally manufactured components of the combination have been tested and certified together as called for in the standard. Any helmet and mask combination that has been manufactured together as a single unit (hockey style helmets) and has been certified to meet the NOCSAE standard will have their stamp on it. Umpires can then tell if it is a legal helmet by the identifying stamp. The stamp is depicted in the 2003 NFHS Baseball Rules Book and the NFHS Web site.

Links

University Interscholastic League

2002-2003 UIL Baseball Manual.

National Federation of State High School Associations

The NFHS has established a certification program for certain items of baseball equipment. Details are on the NFHS web site, along with rule interpretations, standard warnings, disclaimers, and all the things you've come to expect from quasi-public groups with access to lawyers.

The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment

NOCSAE was formed in 1969 to commission research directed toward injury reduction. Its standards are recognized by the bodies governing high school baseball at Akins.

Notes

BESR

The ball exit speed ratio (BESR) is defined by:

BESR = [v* - (V-v) / 2] / (V+v)

where v and v* are the ball entry and exit speeds, respectively, and V is the bat entry speed (this is the speed at the 6" point on the bat). Therefore, the measured bat input speed should be adjusted accordingly to reflect the bat input speed at the 6" point by use of the formula:

V = Vcontact x (Length - 11.375) / (Length - 5.375 - Location)

Where V is bat entry speed at the 6-inch location, Vcontact is the bat entry speed as recorded on the test datasheet, Length is the overall length of the bat, and
Location is the hit location, e.g. 6.5 in. or 7.0 in.

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