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Youth organizations usually provide teams with bats, balls,
helmets, and catchers gear. Players
provide personal equipment such as a glove. Here are some suggestions for parents and players
who want
there own equipment.
Bats
Q: My kid wants a bat, what size and kind do I get them?
A: Bats will range from $15 to $150+ depending on the material they are made out
of. Bats are measured by length and weight difference, a minus 8 is eight
inches longer than it weighs, i.e. 29 inches long and weighs 21 ounces. I
would recommend buying lightest bat that you can afford and go with a shorter
bat length. Remember most bats wind up laying in the back yard in
the rain or bounced on the concrete. The clank of a $100 bat hitting the
concrete is very painful to the person who paid for it. If a bat is
damaged it may be disqualified for game play. Bat
Sizing Chart , Article: Bat
Guide
High School Bats (-3)
College, High School, Jr. High and Semi-Pro only allow metal bats that are a
maximum drop of length to weight of -3. i.e. 33 inch long bat weight 30
ounces. Also, the bat must be BESR certified. BESR acronym for Bat Exit
Speed Ratio. The University at Massachusetts' Lowell Baseball Research Center (UMLBRC)
performs the testing for the NCAA certification. Current
list of certified bats
Helmets
Many parents prefer that there child have their own helmet. Helmets
run between $10 & $20 and can be purchased at local sporting goods store or
on-line. If they have own helmet encourage them not to let anyone else use
it and carry it in their bat bag. Put their name on the back, you can go
to a place like Michaels Arts Supply and get some one inch stick on
letters.
Gloves
Get a flexible glove that is in proportion to the player's size, one that
can be controlled by the player. Don't get a glove that is too big, youth sizes
range from 9" to 11". A used glove is a good choice and there
are several new pre-oiled gloves that are very supple and require little or no
break-in. Mizuno has such gloves, design especially for younger players
that close when a ball hits them and are already broken in. They range
from $20 to $50 and can be found at local sporting good stores. One more point,
as we have several gloves that are lost each year, put the player's name
on the glove, they tend to find their way home easier. Article: Buying
& Breaking in a New glove
Balls
Balls tend to be consumed like screwdrivers and socks. For the younger player
I suggest getting a soft baseball they tend to bounce better and won't hurt as
much. Vinyl covered balls tend to hold up better in the spring, don't absorb
water as fast as a leather ball.
Batting Gloves
I think batting gloves for little leaguers is an exercise in
frustration. By the end of two games 80% of the kids will have no idea
where they are. My suggestions is buy the least inexpensive you can find
and make sure it has some white on it so you can write their name on them.
Shopping for Equipment
The prices for equipment will very greatly from store to store.
Compare and look for sales. Local stores that carry equipment are GI Joes,
Garts, Fred Meyer, Athletic Supply and Big Five. Also, check out online stores
like Western Athletic Supply
or HQ Sports .
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Bat
Sizing Chart
WEIGHT
|
HEIGHT
3'-3'4" |
3'5"-3'8" |
3'9"-4' |
4'1"-4'4" |
4'5"-4'8" |
4'9"-5' |
5'1"-5'4" |
5'5"-5'8" |
5'9"-6' |
6'1"
OVER |
| UNDER
60 LBS. |
26" |
27" |
28" |
28" |
28" |
|
|
|
|
|
| 61-70 |
27" |
27" |
28" |
28" |
29" |
30" |
|
|
|
|
| 71-80 |
|
28" |
28" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
|
|
|
| 81-90 |
|
28" |
29" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
32" |
|
|
| 91-100 |
|
28" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
|
|
| 101-110 |
|
29" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
|
|
| 111-120 |
|
29" |
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
|
|
| 121-130 |
|
29" |
30" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
|
| 131-140 |
|
29" |
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
|
| 141-150 |
|
|
30" |
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
|
| 151-160 |
|
|
30" |
31" |
31" |
32" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
33" |
| 161-170 |
|
|
|
31" |
31" |
32" |
32" |
33" |
33" |
34" |
| 171-180 |
|
|
|
|
|
32" |
33" |
33" |
34" |
34" |
| OVER
180 LBS. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
33" |
33" |
34" |
34" |
Note, I would tend to go with a bat that is an inch shorter if there is
a question, encourages a more compact swing. |
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