Picking the Right Equipment Bag
If you’re planning on lugging around a lot of gear, then an equipment bag is a good place to start. Equipment bags are great for organization in stressful situations. No one wants to be fumbling for gear when they’re called on to the field, right?
To hold all of your little league supplies, look for a bag that can accommodate a bat, a helmet, cleats, and maybe a few snacks and drinks. If your little league superstar is a catcher, plan on getting a bigger bag because they’ll need a lot more protective equipment.
Picking the Right Baseball Cleats
Youth baseball cleats are another essential part of playing baseball. Cleats come in a variety of styles and sizes, so finding the right ones should be easy. When choosing cleats, it’s a good idea to ask your league about what the requirements for cleats are. Some leagues prefer specific styles over others. Children should avoid using metal cleats because they increase the risk of injury to themselves and other players.
Good cleats can prevent sliding around the field, which could lead to injury. Cleats should fit well and provide enough grip while sprinting and making tight turns around the bases. Purchasing cleats is a good time to get your child involved. Choosing a cool style will help your child feel more confident on the field.
Picking the Right Baseball Bat
What fun is baseball without a bat? Choosing the right bat will mean your child will have a better swing—and maybe even score more often. Youth baseball bats come in a variety of materials, but most are either composite or alloy. It’s important to check with your league to see what bat requirements they have before going out to pick one up.
Composite bats are generally lighter than alloy bats, which can help with getting the right motion while swinging. They also have a larger sweet spot to hit the ball making for better hits in general. However, composite bats may not be accepted in all leagues.
Alloy bats are a little heavier and a little shorter compared to composite bats. The advantage of this is that it may better prepare your little one for high school or college baseball. They have a smaller sweet spot than composite bats, but it’s easier to follow through on a swing because of their weight. This may translate to further hit distances. Alloy bats will help train your little one to swing with meaning and how to locate the sweet spot of a bat better.
Picking the Right Baseball Glove
When looking for a glove, it’s necessary to know what position a child will play. There are four types of baseball gloves: batting gloves, infielder gloves, outfielder gloves, and catcher’s mitts. Each type of glove can help make sure your child plays at peak performance and reduces their risk for hand injuries.
The main difference between an infielder and outfielder gloves is their size. Infielders need to be able to act quickly, which means their gloves are less bulky. Outfielder gloves, on the other hand, are more bulky because they need to have protection from balls hit way up in the sky.
Picking the Right Catcher’s Gear
Your little one may need catcher’s gear if that’s their position. The catcher has the dangerous job of being directly in the path of the ball after every pitch. Because of this, a catcher is more likely to get hit with a high speed ball than any other player. Fortunately, there’s no need to worry about the safety of your child. Good catcher’s gear can prevent many of the injuries associated with getting hit with a ball.
Catcher’s gear consists of a catcher’s helmet, a chest guard, and leg protectors. You can find youth catcher’s gear sets that have all three parts ready to go. When picking out a set, you’ll need to take some measurements for a proper fit. It’s essential that catcher’s gear fits perfectly so their gear fully protects them.
To measure your child for catcher’s gear, you’ll need measurements of their head, chest, and legs. To get a good measurement of the head, get a tailor’s measuring tape and wrap it around your child’s head. Take the head measurement above the ears to get an accurate reading. This measurement will translate to a baseball helmet size. You can get a chest measurement by measuring the length from the collar bone to the top of the belt. This will help you size a chest protector correctly. Finally, measure the distance between the middle of the knee and the top of the foot to get the right leg protectors. Find a catcher’s sizing chart here for more accurate sizing.
