National Baseball Congress World Series implements new minimum age for bat boys, bat girls
The National Baseball Congress World Series previously operated under an unwritten age restriction for bat boys and bat girls. The NBC is making it official for the 2016 World Series, raising the minimum age from 10 years old to 12.
Last year, during the second week of the tournament, 9-year-old Liberal Bee Jays bat boy Kaiser Carlile died after being hit in the head by a backswing near the on-deck circle. Tournament director Kevin Jenks decided to complete the rest of the tournament without bat boys.
This year, Jenks put in writing the new age limit on waivers that are signed by parents. The NBC is also training bat boys who volunteer to the NBC and those who are used by specific teams.
“(The training) is going down to the field and knowing where their parameters are,” Jenks said. “Where they need to be when the game is in play. And certainly what their parameters are about how far they go out onto the field.
“We don’t have dirt at home plate (at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium), but what is considered dirt – the tan turf – bat kids are only allowed to go that far. An umpire or a player must bring them the bat unless there is a bat right there. They are only allowed to go to the edge of the dirt.”
Jenks said he used legal counsel and received recommendation from the NBC’s insurance company before deciding on the age limit. Each bat boy is required to wear a helmet, provided by the NBC.
“I think going any older than that, it would be a challenge for us to find bat kids if we went higher than 12,” Jenks said. “At 12, we think they’re a little more mature at that age.
Most of the NBC’s bat boys are volunteers, Jenks said, but some teams in this year’s 30-team field have inquired about using their own. Last year, Jenks said Kaiser was able to be Liberal’s World Series bat boy at age 9 because he had been the team’s bat boy all summer.
Jenks said Kaiser’s family members encouraged him to reinstate bat boys to this year’s tournament, which runs from July 29 to Aug. 13.
“The decision that we made after the Kaiser situation last year, to us, was an easy decision to make considering all that had taken place,” Jenks said.
“…Now everyone understands what the rules are and all that. I’m glad we’re bringing it back, and I think it’s great to have those kids as part of the World Series.”
This story was originally published July 11, 2016 at 1:53 PM with the headline "National Baseball Congress World Series implements new minimum age for bat boys, bat girls."