To: Mike Smith, Supervisor
From: r, Intern
Date: January 29, 2014
Subject: Memo for Potential Response to Correspondent’s Letters

Due to your request for potential responses to the many letters regarding questions/concerns about wooden vs. metal bats, I have gathered information that will allow us to provide several different responses that will satisfy the questions that the writers have for us. With all of the letters being sorted into 5 different categories, I was able to write an adequate response for each of those 5 categories to send out in a bulk method.

Why has the NCAA not banned the use of metal bats? : * First and foremost make sure to apologize for their unfortunate experience and assure them that changes have been made to protect the safety of the players involved. * Explain in detail the efforts made by the BBCOR to ensure the approval of only certain bats that meet its requirements. * Ensure the writer that each and every bat that is available for use in the league that it will be stamped with a NCAA certification mark. * http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/BBCOR%20Protocol-Effective%201.1.14.pdf
Outside research and lack of change/action taken by the NCAA to change regulations: * Start out by acknowledging their effort to write a letter to us and tell them that we are always looking for ways to better the safety efforts and standards for the players. * The writer’s information may be outdated, because the BBCOR regulations of 2014 have made a significant change in the “trampoline effect” and are much safer than they were in prior years. * Each and every bat must be approved and the facts can be checked at our website as well as the following link to show that changes have indeed been made and we are continuing to do so… * http://phys.org/news/2012-02-aluminum-baseball-game.html
Lawsuit/Restitution Letters: * First start by apologizing and ensure the writer is aware of the ongoing task to keep players safe and regulations updated. * Give background information on regulations set for bat standards set by the BBCOR and that the safety in the NCAA baseball league is as safe as it can possibly be without impeding the game of baseball itself.
Is baseball a safe sport and are other sports safer alternatives? : * Start by thanking them for their time to write and that we would love to inform them about the game of baseball and its perks. * Tell the writer that the misconceptions that baseball is safer/more safe than other sports can be looked up on the web and that statistics are out there that can more than satisfy their inquiries.
Which bat is safer? Aluminum or Wood? : * Thank the writer for writing and that we will provide as much information as we possibly can. * Inform them that the MLB is exclusive to wooden bats and that it may make more sense to get the players used to the bats that will later be allowed in their leagues. * If they wish for more information, include this website to further expand their knowledge to make a responsible decision in which bat to buy… Type of Complaint | Possible Response | Sources which Support Response | NCAA Lawsuit Responsibility | * Clarify that once the bats are certified and pass inspection that the NCAA is no longer liable for injuries caused by play. * The school that the student enrolls in is then responsible for all/any injuries that incur upon the player due to their involvement in athletics. * For proof of these statements we can refer them to our website that will clarify this even further if they wish to know more… | * http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/BBCOR%20Protocol-Effective%201.1.14.pdf | Wooden vs. Aluminum Bats * Differences? * BBS? * Reaction Time? | * State statistics that show that although metal bats meet regulations made by the BBCOR, they are inherently more dangerous. * They are lighter and can be swung faster, let go and hit others, the ball projects off the bat faster etc… * Make sure to be unbiased in tone and state you cannot advise them either way, but that the facts are clear about metal bats. | * http://sports.solveyourproblem.com/baseball/wood-metal-baseball-bats.shtml | Which Sport is Safer? | * State that baseball is a high paced sport and is in essence a potential risk for injury like the vast majority of sports are. * State the facts that baseball involves contact with high speed balls and bats along with other players and can serve a potential risk. | * http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2007-06-03-bats-cover_N.htm |
These are the 5 categories I have found to be most encompassing for all the hundreds of letters we have received. Please read over these potential ideas to send back to the correspondents with you and the rest of the department meeting and then let me know if I can make any changes to make the letters more precise. If these meet the expectations you have set, I will further the progress of these letter and have them sent out as fast as possible. If you have any questions regarding the response letters or anything else regarding this task, please feel free to contact me at my email (pdw2@geneseo.edu) and I will get back as speedily as possible.