Deadline of Free Online Rules Clinic Reminder

Rules Clinic -- Reminder to all Baseball Head Coaches and Umpires ....the deadline for the free online baseball rules clinic is midnight Wednesday. If you have not already completed the course online (or attended the Baseball Coaches Conference or have not registered to attend Saturday's Umpires Camp) you need to log in and complete the course by the deadline.

Beginning March 1, there is a $100 late fee (must be paid prior to viewing the clinic). 3/1 to 3/31 for 2012, the Baseball Clinic will be online only and may be viewed by coaches and officials for the makeup fee ($100) during this period.

4/1 to 4/30 for 2012, the Baseball Clinic will be online only and may be viewed by coaches and officials for the makeup fee ($300) per the Bylaw 33 schedule during this period. After this time, postseason penalties per Bylaw 33 will apply.

The presentation can be viewed from any computer, and is a web-based flash video product that should be viewable through any web browser. Once you advanced to the last slide of the presentation, an email will automatically be generated to the KHSAA so that you can receive credit. If the presentation is not completed, the umpire/coach will not receive credit.

Athletic Directors - you can check to see that your coach has completed the clinic by going to the members school page and choosing the maintain schools coaching personnel link. Once the clinic is complete there will be a Clinic OK next to your coaches name. For member schools, the clinics are located on the member schools only area. To access the clinic, go tohttp://schools.khsaa.org and click on the link that says "Online Rules Clinics". If you have any trouble finding that link, you can type the following URL into your Internet browser. http://schools.khsaa.org/rule_clinics/ For officials, the clinics are located on the Officials Dvision page. To access the clinic, to tohttp://officials.khsaa.org log in and click the link that says "Online Rules Clinics".

Please make sure you log in, whether coach or official. If you simply watch the public version without logging in, you will not receive credit for the clinic. If you have trouble logging into the system, contact the KHSAA offices at 859-299-5472, where Rob Catron or Marilyn Mitchell will be happy to assist you.

Heat Index for Spring Sports Information regarding the spring sports and the requirement to adhere to the Heat Index Program is listed within the online rules clinic. Simply, Baseball must adhere and record the heat index -- practice and play -- (beginning April 15). This is of importance that even when travelling out of state you are responsible for aherence to the program so please make host schools aware of this requirement. Here is a link to the Heat Index Program on the KHSAA website. http://www.khsaa.org/sportsmedicine/heat/

Lastly, a reminder that play may begin March 7. Your two scrimmages must be conducted prior to your first contest, whenever that is played.

Marucci Bat Decertification Notice

This below was just received from the NFHS To: Member State Association Executive Directors From: B. Elliot Hopkins, MLD, CAA, NFHS Baseball Rules Editor Subject: Decertification of 33-inch Marucci CAT5 bat Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 ___________________________________________________________________________ The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has advised us that the BBCOR decertification process has been implemented for the Marucci CAT5 33-inch model.\ Effective immediately and until further notice, this bat (Marucci CAT5 33" length) should be considered a non-compliant bat and subject to NFHS Baseball Rules 4-1-3b and 7-4-1a. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact B. Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Baseball Rules Editor/National Interpreter at (ehopkins@nfhs.org) or (317) 822-6900, extension 5757.

Rip-It Bat

We have received the following from the NFHS 

It was brought to the NFHS's attention that some umpires have identified the Rip-It bat as being non-compliant due to the positioning of the BBCOR .50 certification mark on the taper instead of on the barrel.  This was very observant of them and a correct interpretation.  However, the NFHS has had discussions with the Rip-It management group about this issue and an agreement was worked out to extend to them an administrative remedy to permit their bats to be allowed in high school competition.  Please share this information with your officials that the Rip-It product with the BBCOR .50 certification mark on the taper of the bat instead of the barrel is compliant with the NFHS baseball rules due to an administrative remedy. 

Another point regarding Rip-It products, at some point last year, the NCAA de-certified the Rip-IT bat due to performance issues.  The company recalled all the bats, repaired them and had them re-certified.  The bats that were repaired have a "re-certified" sticker on the barrel.  We want to advise you that they are compliant because they now meet the BBCOR standard.  Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.  Thank you again and have a great baseball season.