Youth Baseball Gear: Picking the Perfect Glove

Young baseball players are still learning the fundamental skills that they need to play a solid game. Every time they practice or play, they learn something new that they will always need on the field.

Shopping for the right baseball glove is vital to this learning process. When parents force their young players to use the wrong equipment, children pay less attention to developing fundamental skills.

You might think that the one-hundred-dollar, professional-grade glove is ideal for your tee-ball player, but he needs something that fits him much more than he needs the coolest glove in the entire league. He could be so busy trying to make the glove work that he can’t concentrate on making the play.

When you help your child find the right glove, you’re helping him do his best on the field. These tips will guide you and your player to the right gear for his position and size.

The first thing that you need to consider is your child’s position. If he plays outfield, you should not buy him a first-baseman’s mitt. You can buy him a second glove if he’s trying to learn a new position, but make sure that he has the right glove for his usual job. Otherwise he’ll waste lots of time and energy trying to make the wrong equipment fit his position – when he could be concentrating on making his body do its job.

Some leagues have rules about different gloves. There can be size restrictions as well as rules governing colors and other options. Ask your child’s coach or a league representative for information on these rules. This is easier and far less expensive than buying a glove, only to learn that your child’s league doesn’t allow that equipment on the field.

Some parents think that their children will “grow into” gloves. This might work for some sports equipment, but not in this case. Tee-ball players have in fact been given adult-sized gloves before – and their parents expected them to use these gloves like pros!

The problem with oversized equipment is that a child’s body isn’t large or strong enough to properly use the adult-sized gear. Most pros began playing ball with pint-sized gloves when they were your child’s age, so don’t be afraid to follow that example.

A glove that fits properly won’t fall off the child’s hand easily. Your child will also be able to lift and lower this glove with one arm. If he must use both arms to bring the glove off the ground after fielding a ground ball, the gear is probably too large. Try a smaller version.

And if you’re concerned about the cost of buying new gloves as your child grows into larger models, remember that you can trade or sell almost any sports equipment. Your city or town probably has a sports-themed consignment shop that will take outgrown gear. You can also trade with other parents or find an online store or auction to help you get rid of outgrown gear.