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Is your child starting little league soon? Here are a few tips on how to help them pick out their first baseball glove.
Your little one looks so big in their Little League uniform, and you're so proud. You're probably the best parent in the stands, too, cheering them on and attending every game.
Yet if you haven't done the most basic thing for them, they won't be very successful. Choosing a glove for your player that fits well can mean the difference between a successful season and endless defeat.
If you want to make sure your child's baseball glove fits them the right way, you've come to the right place. Here are 7 tips for picking out the right baseball mitt.
A glove makes a great gift for a child just starting Little League, but choosing the right size glove is hard. You want to make sure their glove fits snugly, even if it means they may grow out of it sooner. It's better to buy them a new glove if they grow than ask them to try and play with a glove that's too big.
When a glove is too big, it hinders the player's ability to perform on the field. They worry more about the glove falling off than the ball coming at them. A glove that fits well is an extension of the hand that a player won't notice as much.
If you can't find a size stitched on the glove on the pinky or the thumb, you can measure. Use a tape measure and stretch it from the center of the heel of the glove's hand, to the top of the pointer finger. Unless you're getting a catcher's mitt, you'll find sizes from 8 to 15 inches for baseball gloves.
The agility of the baseball glove is important. Choose a lightweight glove that's flexible so that it moves with your player's hand. These types of gloves are easier to use.
This is a key factor for professionals who are choosing a new glove, and equipment should always help you perform on the field, rather than hinder you. It's true that kids who are starting out may not have the hang of using the equipment yet, so it could encumber them no matter how agile the glove is. Yet you can give them the best chance possible by choosing a lightweight baseball mitt with agility.
You want to make sure you're buying a glove for your child's correct hand. Baseball gloves are labeled with the hand the player throws with. You read that right: do not select a glove based on the hand they catch with.
You want a right-hand thrower glove for a child who catches with their left hand--it could also have the label "regular." And you want a left-hand thrower glove for a child who catches with their right hand, which could also have the label "full right." It's confusing but very important as you make a selection.
You can have great training tips and tricks, but if your equipment is sub-par, you won't perform as well. If you want to give your child the advantage on the field, then their glove needs to fit well. One of the ways to get a great fit is to buy a mitt with wrist adjustment options.
The fastener comes in all types, from buckles to Velcro. They help cinch the wrist to keep the glove on the hand. It's perfect for children who haven't grown into themselves or their gloves yet if you can't find a glove small enough.
The web is the part of the baseball glove that connects the thumb and first finger. It forms a basket or web that allows players to catch the ball, especially if it's a fly ball.
Different player positions need different types of webs, including fielders, catchers, and basemen. Because they handle the ball differently, leather webbing should be custom to their position. At the same time, Little League players may get rotated a lot to help them learn the game, and won't always be stuck in one position for the whole season.
Rather than buying several gloves with different webbing, get a glove that has all-around good performance. A basket web hides the ball, but your Little League player may want to be able to see the ball to help them catch it. Players who are just starting might want an H or I web glove, as those are the most common types, especially in the outfield.
When looking for a baseball glove, you need strong leather that will protect the hand. Baseball gloves originated as a projection for an injury in the 1800s, and now they protect from getting injuries. Cheap gloves made of inferior quality materials won't hold up and won't help on the field.
Look for a stiff glove that offers strength, but not one that is too sturdy to allow movement. When you combine the agility quality with this one, you'll get the right type of glove for your child.
While you may insist your child choose something that's functional, lots of kids are going to want a fashionable glove, too. Talk it out together and choose something that appeals to them and that you can have confidence in, too. You don't want the baseball glove to be a point of contention or a constant reminder of a fight you had.
With the right fitting baseball glove, you'll help your child be the best they can be. On the field and off, Little League and baseball teams help kids learn about teamwork and character.
You may even find they have some amazing achievements you want to celebrate. One of the trendiest ways to recognize their accomplishments is through trading pins. You can even order custom ones specific to their season and record.
Get pricing now on unique Cooperstown Trading Pins for your new Little League player.