Bat Testing Procedure

SPO Bat Test Procedure

One of SPO's mandates is to both maintain the integrity of the game and protect the safety of its members. In recent years technology has continued to produce bats which are more durable with a larger 'sweet spot' and more power. These bat advances have changed the game. The slo-pitch associations along with the manufacturers have developed and enforce performance limitations on these bats. SPO follows the American Softball Association's ASA2004 policy. Under this policy the participants can have a safe and competitively fair game. Unfortunately some players feel they need an additional advantage and do a variety of things to their bats to increase its performance beyond the allowed criteria. When used, these bats are both potentially dangerous to the defensive players and give the batter an undeserved competitive edge. With this in mind SPO has introduced a program to try and eliminate these illegal bats and the cheater players that use them. SPO has purchased several bat testing machines and will be using these at various events across the province. Because slo-pitch is a team sport in addition to penalties being applied to the player involved, his/her team will also be penalized.

How does the testing work? Composite bats, by their nature, increase their performance through usage (break in). While this was expected, some bats' performance increased dramatically beyond an acceptable level. The portable bat tester checks this by checking the compression of the bat wall. If it tests beyond the acceptable compression, the bat is classified as an illegal bat. This means the bat can no longer be used. The portable bat tester cannot determine how it came to be illegal. It could be from the normal use of the bat or by artificial methods (altered bat). To determine this, the bat has to be returned to the manufacturer for further testing by a trained inspector. This testing may be destructive (physically cut open) or non-destructive (scanning, etc).

How do the bats get selected for testing? SPO will randomly select bats during SPO sanctioned events. This could be before, during or after a game. If selected for testing, the bat's user/owner may either agree to the testing or refuse to submit the selected bat. If he/she refuses to allow the bat to be tested or does not present the bat for testing, he/she is immediately suspended indefinitely and his/her team is also immediately suspended indefinitely.

What happens when the player allows the bat to be tested? If the testing machine is onsite, the test will be conducted at the event. If not present, the bat will be sent to the SPO Office for testing. The machine tests the compression of the bat. If the bat tests within acceptable compression range it will be deemed legal and returned to the player. If the bat tests beyond the compression range, the player will be asked if he/she will allow the bat to be sent for further testing. If he/she refuses, he/she is immediately suspended indefinitely and his/her team is also immediately suspended indefinitely. If the player allows the bat to be sent for further testing, SPO will send the bat to an appropriate testing facility. When the results are returned, the player will be notified. If the bat is deemed to exceed criteria due to normal use, the bat (or a replacement if it was damaged due to the testing) will be returned to the player. Because the bat is illegal, the bat may not be used but no further action is taken. If the bat is found to have been altered, the player and team will be notified and sanctions applied.

What are the sanctions for having an altered bat?
1st offence - The player will be suspended a minimum of two (2) years to a maximum of five (5) years.
- All team members will be under probation for a minimum of two (2) years.
SS teams - Probation for a minimum of two (2) years, loss of all SS points, suspended for 2 SS events. (Mens A and Womens Competitive - players are ineligible to participate in the next year's Canadian Championship)
2nd offence - The player will receive a life suspension.
- All team members will receive a minimum of one (1) year suspension.