Metal vs. Wood Bats In Baseball: Should Metal Bats Be Banned?

Do metal bats pose a significantly greater risk of injury to pitchers and infielders resulting from greater bat exit speeds and associated reduced reaction time? Is there enough scientific evidence to ban metal bats for youth and college baseball in favor of wood bats?

Current scientific studies do not support this conclusion as there is no increase in the trend of significant injuries that would cause the need for the banning of metal bats in favor of wood bats. However, the final results of an important ongoing study on this issue are not yet available.

In My Opinion: Politicians looking for publicity and personal injury attorneys looking for large settlements and jury verdicts say that metal bats should be banned in favor of wood bats based on anecdotal evidence. Instead, we must look to scientific studies for an answer and so far science tells us that there is little existing evidence that would support banning metal bats that are currently approved by the various governing bodies. However, it is possible that new research may result in future recommendations for bat standards that would require certain performace modifications. John Sadler

See USA Baseball Medical and Safety Committee Position Statement On Wood vs. Metal Bat: http://mlb.mlb.com/usa_baseball/article.jsp?story=medsafety10

Should Sport Team Be Allowed To Move Up One Year In Age Category?

Sports Participation Is A Privilege And Not A Right

Fortunately for athletics administrators, while parents might like to believe otherwise, students do not have a constitutionally protected right to participate in high school sports. In the vast majority of cases, the courts have found no legal right to participate in interscholastic athletics, even for athletes good enough to earn athletic scholarships. Participation in athletics, the courts have held, is a privilege only. Therefore, school and athletics administrators have every right to suspend or bar athletes from competing on teams for any number of reasons, including alcohol and drug use.

Source: Attorney John T. Wolohan, Athletic Business, http://athleticbusiness.com/articles/enews-article.aspx?articleid=1946&zoneid=87

Frivolous Lawsuits in Sports….Could It Happen to You?

Frivolous lawsuits are everywhere and sports is by no means immune; it would appear that sports organizations are major “defendants” in the law world.  We have people call and want information on insurance because they are required to have it, not because they want it. As they say “We’ve never had a claim.”, “It wouldn’t happen to us, everyone likes our league.” or “We make everyone provide their own insurance so we are not responsible.” Wow! Simply WOW!  In the world today, it is not longer a question of IF you will get sued, it is WHEN you will get sued.  It is often not what you actually did or what you failed to do;  it is what someone perceives that you did or failed to do that will get you into the court room defending yourself or your organization.   As far as sports go, if you are involved at all, whether you are the coach, administrator, player, or volunteer, there is no other Option than to make sure that your organization has coverage to pay in case you need the defense.

Below are just a few examples of some lawsuits that will make you make you say HMMMMMM.

Rodney Carroll, coach of the 16 & under Brunswick (OH) Cobras baseball team, was sued for $2,000 by the father of his catcher after a 0-15 season in 1999. The grounds? Crummy Coaching View Source

Jason Abbitt sued the Vallejo (CA) Babe Ruth Baseball League for 80 percent of his signup fee in 2002 because he only played in 20 percent of the games.  He sought $65 — which came out to $65 for every hit he had that season. View Source

As featured in the American Specialty Companies Book – Liable to Laugh 2004

Two parents of players on opposing teams became involved in a fistfight during a youth soccer game. The loser of the fight (who also was the aggressor) filed suit against his opponet and the soccer league because of his moderately sever injuries.  He alleged that the soccer league was negligent because it failed to control his behavior when they realized, or should have realized, that he was “out of control.” The soccer league, by the was, was for 5 and 6 year old girls.

A minor claimant was playing in the outfield in a youth baseball league when he missed a fly ball that struck him in the face, causing facial fractures.  The parents sued the league and the coach, claiming that they knew or should have known that the claimant had sight problems and, therefore, should not have been allowed to play in the outfield.

What about crazy claims that never make it to the court room, such as…..

A lady wanted to file a claim stating that she was driving by a youth baseball game when a baseball came over the fence, through her back window, and hit her bird cage, therefore releasing her prized pet.

Injured Shot Putter Assumed The Risks

Should a high school shot-putter that was injured by a shot thrown by his opponent be compensated because of his injury?  According to Injured Shot Putter Chances In Court Are Shot, the plaintiff had participated in numerous track meets and had thrown the same shot hundreds of times.  I fully agree with the courts in this case.  The participant assumed the risk by participating in the event and had experience and knowledge of the game to know he could get injured. There is no difference in this incident and that of a football player running off of the sidelines and hitting the players or cheerleaders on the side. The sideliners know that if they are standing there, someone may hit them.

Sports Officials Under Assault

Attacks on sports officials continue, despite efforts of national governing bodies and sports organizations to emphasize sportsmanship. Today, not only are officials at risk, but coaches have faced similar verbal and physical attacks by overzealous parents and players. The National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) published a Special Report: Officials Under Assault giving examples from all levels of sports and the steps that are being taken to prevent attacks on sports officials. If they do occur the assailant could be banned from sports, fined or even jailed.