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The first piece of safety equipment you’ll need is a youth baseball helmet. Helmets will protect your child’s brain from trauma. There are several different styles of helmets you should consider for your child. First, there’s open face helmets. These helmets offer protection to the upper head, but leave the face exposed. Second, there’s helmets with jaw guards. These helmets protect the batting side jaw from getting hit. Finally, there’s fastpitch softball helmets. These helmets protect the lower portion of the face. The good thing is that in most programs the teams have several helmets that adhere to safety regulations & standards set by baseball organizations and Little League Baseball to share amongst players.  The bad news is that due to COVID19 They may or may not be able to use those helmets so you may be required or prefer to purchase your own. Ask your players coach for more information on this topic. Also if you do decide to purchase one make sure that the helmet adheres to the same regulations & standards set by Little League Baseball or your player’s league. You should also know whether your league requires a facemask or if your player would prefer to have one.

ESSENTIAL:

Cleats are important to baseball. Could you imagine making those tight base turns without good traction? You may end up looking more like a cartoon than a baseball player. A good pair of cleats can make all the difference when your child is making their way around the bases.

Baseball cleats should fit snugly but not too snug. This will prevent them falling off in the middle of a game or practice. Good youth cleats also need to comply with your child’s particular league. Each league may have different cleat requirements, so it’s better to ask around before purchasing a pair. Cleats are essential and will prevent injuries. A player who plays in sneakers will run the risk of injury due to unintentional slipping or sliding. Baseball cleats are different than soccer cleats since they have a toe cleat so make sure you get baseball cleats.

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A good bat will not only help your child perform better, but it also will help them develop their skills. Youth baseball bats come in two varieties: metal alloy and composite. Choose the right youth baseball bat so you can see your child shine on the field.

If your child plays fastpitch, they’ll need a specific kind of bat. Fastpitch bats are also constructed out of alloy or composite. The difference between these bats and youth bats is that they are a little smaller and easier to handle. Bats can be very expensive and really don’t have to be a priority purchase. Most recreational league teams will have bats available. Also, if your baseball player wants to take batting practice at the local batting cage then they usually make practice bats available for people who do not own bats. Travel players and players who are getting more serious about the sport will want their own bat so they get practice reps with their game bat.

ESSENTIAL:

Another essential part of youth baseball equipment is the glove. Of course, a glove is absolutely essential. It is also essential that the glove is well broken-in before the first practice. Purchase a glove that is the correct size for your player this season. Buying a glove that is too big will just give them difficulty fielding.

Gloves protect the hands from high speed baseballs and may even help prevent your child from picking the grass in the outfield. There are four types of youth baseball glove: batting gloves, catcher’s mitts, infielder gloves, and outfielder gloves.

Your child will need a batting glove when they go up to bat. Batting gloves can give your child a better grip and reduce the sting from making contact with the ball. Catcher’s mitts are position-specific gloves used only by the catcher. They offer the most padding of any glove to deal with fast pitches. Infielder gloves have less padding than outfielder gloves because infielders need more hand dexterity. Outfielder gloves have more padding so the hand is more protected when catching fly balls. You may be surprised to see batting gloves on the list of essential equipment. Many players do not use batting gloves regularly, but find them useful in plenty of situations such as during adverse weather conditions like cold or light rain. At the very least buy an inexpensive pair for such an emergency.

ESSENTIAL:

People play their entire baseball careers without using any of this protective gear and, luckily, without serious injury. As a catcher, I was a little smarter. The advances they have made since then would have saved many injuries from bad hops and sliding.

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The mouth guard would be more for the infield positions. Even if your baseball player isn’t an infielder, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have one just in case they were asked to play an infield position.

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As a result of COVID 19 many leagues are requiring the use of cloth face masks in order to limit exposure in an effort to help decrease the spread of the virus.  Consult with your players coach or league in order to find out if you need these or not.

ESSENTIAL:

Even an inexpensive pair of sunglasses is a good investment. Some players will play almost their entire baseball career without needing them. However, there will be that one day that the sun is in just the right spot and sunglasses will be essential, especially outfielders and first basemen. Keep an inexpensive pair on hand for such an emergency.

ESSENTIAL:

When participating in a physical activity like baseball, it is very important to stay hydrated. The water bottle would be great for anytime water is not available or not easily obtainable.

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An equipment bag can also be an expensive purchase that can wait or may not even be necessary. Many players opt to use their school book bag as an equipment bag.

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The catching position doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves, but that doesn’t mean you should skimp on the gear. Catcher’s equipment can be an extremely expensive purchase. Catcher’s equipment will usually be made available by most recreational league teams. If a parent decides to buy their child catcher’s equipment then it is usually because the child is a catcher and has made a commitment to that position for years to come. Catchers are in a dangerous position because they are the target of each pitch. Catcher’s gear helps protect vulnerable areas while receiving a pitch.

Catcher’s gear has three main pieces: a catcher’s mask, a chest guard, and leg protectors. You can find all three pieces sold in sets known as catcher’s gear sets. Most sets have matching colors, so your little one will be quite the looker on the field too

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A relatively new safety device on the market is a chest protector players wear under their uniforms. It is a compression shirt with protection pad over the chest area. It gives the player extra protection from chest impact. Players who have experienced an injury or are nervous about getting injured sometimes feel more confident wearing it and it gives parents piece of mind

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Kids will see their Major League Baseball heroes wearing all kinds of different protective gear, modified gear and protective sleeves. It is normal for kids to want to emulate their heroes, but this protective gear in most cases does not help performance. The gear is made to help the big leaguer deal with a specific injury or condition and can hinder a player who is not used to wearing it.

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You will never make friends quicker than the day you bring eye black to a baseball game. Players really enjoy the accessories because they enjoy looking and feeling the part.

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A training aid can help a player learn new skills by giving them a tool specifically designed to teach a concept. There are a lot of good training aids out there, but they tend to be expensive. Check what your team or private instructor have before purchasing an expensive training aid you don’t anticipate using a lot