Coaches and AD's,

 

As many of you have heard, the NCAA and NAIA have made a ruling change concerning composite bat use for this year (2010). NCCAA D-II Bylaws state that for Regional and Championship competition, the NCCAA D-II Baseball will adhere to Professional Baseball Rules with NAIA modifications. Therefore, the NCCAA will be adhering to this same composite bat rules as the NAIA.

In general, the rule modification states that 100%-composite bats are outlawed for 2010. Most bats with only composite handles but with aluminum barrels are still legal. To be sure your bat is legal, consult your local representative for bat purchases. EASTON, LOUISVILLE, RAWLINGS, et al were all addressing this issue with coaches at the ABCA Convention this year. So they know how to advise you. The specific NAIA ruling can be found at the following link: http://naia.cstv.com/member-services/championships/Coaches_Corner/baseball/documents/NAIA_BB_Manual.pdf#page=37.

Additionally, this web site can give you some historic background on the cause of the ruling: http://paws.kettering.edu/~drussell/bats-new/abi.html

 

Unfortunately, more changes are likely to come. Therefore, please use CAUTION when ordering bats for this season. Also, please be sure to advise your athletes as to which bats to avoid.

As we go through the spring and summer, more information will be coming out of the NCAA and NAIA offices regarding composite bat usage for 2011 and beyond. We will try to get you that information as soon as possible.
 

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me.

 

Regards,

Doug Yager
Head Baseball Coach / Asst Prof HPE
Lancaster Bible College
717-560-8200 (x-5263)

1. Each Region playoff or game should have a Christian Service Project (CSP). The reason for this so all teams can participate in an NCCAA sponsored CSP……even if they never make it to Nationals (where we always have CSP’s for the participating teams). It is a small way that the NCCAA can send the message of the hope of Christ during these difficult times for our neighbors. We also hope that coaches can use this as a teachable moment with their players. 

2. The NCCAA office has suggested a food drive. Their goal for the year (2009-10) is 8,000 lbs. of food collected and distributed. After the 2009 fall seasons, they've already collected nearly 5,000 lbs. toward that goal! In addition to the food collected, one region collected over 1300 lbs. of clothes and Cross Country Nationals collected $1,008 that was given to an organization to use to help needy people. 

3. The host school for the Regional should organize the collection process and choose where to distribute what has been collected.  Each participating team should bring something.

1.      1. Organize a time to present it to the agency during the event if possible.

2.       2. Take a picture of the presentation:  try to include agency personnel, teams, and product distributed in the picture and send it to Kwood@thenccaa.org for the web site.

3.       3. Send the amount collected (approximate) and the name of the agency used to jmalone@thenccaa.org so the National Office can track the amount distributed----see updates on the web site.

4. In light of the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti and their great need at this time, we would like to encourage each NCCAA Member institution to do what they can to help. If you would like to re-direct your Regional CSP effort to aid Haiti, we would certainly support that. Each College/University probably has their own contacts in Haiti and we would encourage you to use those contacts.  The host school for Regionals can make the determination of what to collect and send and/or how to send it. Just let me know what you decide (Food Drive or Haiti). The NCCAA would still like to hear what you are doing as well. You can send a picture to Kwood@thenccaa.org and send a report of what you did to jmalone@thenccaa.org so that the NCCAA Office can keep track of it.

5. Please cc me on any of your correspondences to the NCCAA Office.

 

SEASON STATS

 

Please remember the following important dates:

    DATE                                                                        ITEM                                                               DESTINATION

1. Postmarked Prior to First Game of Scrimmage             Eligibility Certificate Mailed                                NCCAA Region Chair (not Region Baseball Chair)

2. March 1                                                                    Amended Intent to Participate Form                    National Office