CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball and the National Federation of High School State Associations (NFHS) today announced that the NFHS Rules Committee has voted to adopt the newly named USA BBCOR (-3) performance standard and expand permitted bat drop weights in high school baseball to include USABat -4, -5, and -6.
Currently approved BBCOR bats will remain compliant in high school baseball indefinitely. Beginning in 2028, high school athletes will also be able to use bats that carry the new USA BBCOR mark or a USABat -4, -5, -6 mark. Bats with the updated USA BBCOR marks are expected to enter the marketplace in July 2027.
USA Baseball announced last week it would assume the management of the BBCOR standard from the NCAA, introducing a new category under its existing USABat program branded USA BBCOR. The move creates a single unified pathway under USA Baseball that develops players throughout their journey from youth baseball through the collegiate level.
“The NFHS Rules Committee voting to expand permitted drop weight options at the high school level is a significant step forward in keeping more athletes in baseball and supporting their long-term development,” said USA Baseball President John Gall. “We have seen too many athletes entering high school baseball struggle with the immediate jump to the -3-drop weight and then walk away from the game. This rule change creates flexibility for players to continue building strength, refining mechanics, and developing bat speed over time before making the jump to USA BBCOR.”
“The NFHS remains committed to fostering the growth and development of high school students,” said NFHS Director of Sports, Sanctioning, and Student Services Elliot Hopkins. “As the NFHS’ fourth largest sport in the country, baseball continues to attract interest and participation from students of varied ability levels. The adoption of the USA Baseball BBCOR standard and expanding the available drop-weight options provides younger and developing players with additional opportunities to build proper mechanics, confidence, and skills while maintaining the risk minimization and performance standards expected in education-based athletics."
The NFHS has required the BBCOR performance standard in high school play since 2012. As part of USA Baseball assuming management of the renamed USA BBCOR standard, the organization worked with the NFHS to update its rules to reflect the standard’s new name. In doing so, USA Baseball also presented its case to expand permitted drop weights, citing the shared performance standard between USABat and USA BBCOR, the success of the USABat program, and its impact on player development at the youth level.
USABat and USA BBCOR share the same coefficient of restitution and wood-like performance, meaning the bat performance standard in high school baseball will not change. The additional drop weights give high school players access to the same development-based progression model (inset) that younger players have benefited from under USABat since 2018.
USA Baseball is actively engaged with additional baseball organizations on the formal adoption and transition periods of USA BBCOR and will provide additional updates over the coming months.
