Disengage-Able Base Rule

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WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Local Little Leagues have until the 2008 season to install disengage-able bases for all levels of play, if they have not already done so.

So now is the best time to get this important project done!

The new rule appeared in the 2006 baseball and softball rule books of Little League:

The new rule applies to first, second and third base.

The following is a list companies that manufacture disengage-able bases. Although there may be others, these particular companies are licensed by Little League International:

The traditional stationary base consists of two major parts:

Since it takes 3,500 foot pounds of force to dislodge a stationary base, a runner who slides into a traditional base can be hurt quite seriously. It is time for local Little Leagues to get rid of these, and replace them with a disengage-able base system.

Here’s the best news about complying with the new rule: In most cases, a disengage-able base system can be used in conjunction with the anchor already being used by many local leagues.

A disengage-able base often consists of three major parts:

When a runner slides into a disengage-able base, the pillow has the ability to release from the mat and move with the motion of the runner. But when the disengage-able base is stepped on by a runner crossing the base, or by a fielder, it will stay in place.

A five year study conducted from 2000 to 2004 showed that 55 percent of injuries to runners occur while sliding into base, and 47 percent of all injuries to runners result in fractures.

In his book, “The Awakening Surgeon,” Dr. David Janda discusses a two-year study he conducted comparing injuries sustained on fields using traditional stationary bases versus fields with disengage-able bases. In the study, 637 games were played on the disengage-able–base field and 635 on the stationary-base field. By the end of the study, 45 players sustained injuries on the stationary-base field while only two were injured on the fields with disengage-able bases.

The study concluded that, although the disengage-able bases did not prevent all sliding injuries, they can reduce the number of these injuries.

Installing disengage-able bases on your league’s field is a great way to help make Little League Baseball and Softball safer for the children who participate.
For information on manufacturers of disengage-able bases, please visit
www.littleleague.org/common/equipment/view.asp?cid=5&id=25

Photo No. 1 shows the buried metal post that is standard on many baseball and softball fields. With the traditional system, the base (with post attached) is inserted into the post shown. However, that does not allow the base to “give” when a player slides into it with excessive force. That’s because the post is unmovable, and usually is anchored in concrete. The good news is, installing a disengage-able base in this situation is simple, and requires no digging.

Photo No. 2 shows the standard metal post in the ground, plus the other two elements of a disengage-able base. At left is the “pillow” portion of the base. Next to that is the pad, with attached pole, that fits into the existing post in the ground.

Photo No. 3 shows the pad, placed over the metal post. The post attached to the bottom of the pad fits into the existing metal post in the ground. The pad is flush with the ground, which allows a following runner to be able to tag the “base” when the pillow becomes dislodged by a preceding runner. The pad includes bumps and ridges that hold the “pillow” in place when a runner or fielder tags the base.

Photo No. 4 shows the “pillow” in place over the pad.