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Official Ruling 01-2007
"O"Zone - Big Barrel Bats
January 28, 2007

Effective for the 2007 season, Dixie Youth Baseball will allow the use of "big barrel bats" which may not exceed two and three-quarter (2 ¾) inches in diameter or 33 inches in length in the "O"Zone Division only, for regular season and tournament play. 
The use of big barrel bats in the Majors and AAA (60' base divisions) regular season and tournament play shall continue to be disallowed.  The baseball bat for these divisions may not exceed two and one-quarter (2 ¼) inches in diameter or 33 inches in length.  
Special Note:  Leagues which choose to play in the "O"Zone Division during the regular season but play in the Majors 60' Base Division in tournament play may use the "big barrel bat" in regular season play ONLY.  No league shall be permitted to use the "big barrel bat" in Majors or AAA tournament play.                                         
Although, there is no restriction on length to weight ratio, since 2003, all bats are required to meet the "Bat Exit Speed Ratio" (BESR) performance limitation, which ensures that aluminum bats do not hit the ball any harder than the best wood bats.  ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) developed the BESR bat performance standard for NCAA and high school play.
The Sporting Good Manufacturer's Association (SGMA) has indicated that approved bat manufacturers will not have the approved stamp on these bats for at least two years.  Therefore these bats will not require an approval stamp on the barrel of the bat until at least the 2009 season.
This ruling is not printed in the 2007 Rule Book but has been unanimously approved by the Dixie Youth Baseball, Inc. Executive Committee upon the unanimous recommendation of the program's state directors.
Only the following bat manufacturers are approved for the big barrel bats.
Akadema
Anderson Bat Co.
Combat Baseball
Easton Sports
Franklin Sports
Louisville Slugger
Miken Sports
Nike, Inc.
Rawlings Sporting Goods Co.
Reebok
Sports Supply Group
Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Worth

Wes Skelton, Commissioner

Dixie Youth Baseball Inc. 
(800) 256-5525 
(903) 927-1846 FAX 
dyb@dixie.org  

Concerned about your kid pitching too much?  Check out this article. >click here

Dixie Youth approves use of "big barrel bats" for "O" Zone  (11-12) league.  Read article here.