BBA EQUIPMENT TEAM PURCHASED NOCSAE COMPLIANT CATCHER'S GEAR TO PROTECT AGAINST COMMOTIO CORDIS

Per the NOCSAE certification standard, Commotio Cordis is a rare heart rhythm disruption caused by a blow to the chest and it is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death in athletes. The condition is an episode of ventricular fibrillation induced by a direct blow to the chest over the heart during a specific portion of the heart’s electrical cycle. This can be caused by a direct hit from an object such as a baseball or lacrosse ball, a lacrosse stick or even a collision with another player. The impact doesn’t have to be hard or high velocity. Approximately five to 15 athletes die every year from this event. Most of these deaths are males under the age of 14, many of whom were wearing a form of chest protection when they were hit. Commotio cordis deaths have been recorded in baseball, lacrosse, football and soccer, as well as in other recreational activities.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) implemented a new rule, effective January of 2020, regarding commotio cordis compliant catcher's chest protectors.  All catcher's chest protectors for the 11/12, 13/14 and 15/18 boys baseball age group must be equipped with a special commotio cordis protection plate. 

While it is not required to provide commotio cordis compliant catcher's chest protectors to other baseball age groups or to our softball divisions, the BBA equipment team has purchased compliant catcher's chest protectors for all baseball and softball divisions (t-ball does not use catcher's gear).  This decision was made by the equipment team after conferring with NOCSAE, who stated that the same commotio cordis certification standard was likely to be implemented for non-high school age groups that follow Little League standards in the near future. 

While commotio cordis incidents are rare and compliant catcher's gear cannot protect against all incidents of commotio cordis, the equipment team purchased the gear for all divisions that utilize catcher's gear to provide the maximum amount of protection possible for our youth athletes.  Providing the safest equipment possible to our youth athletes is our top priority.