Equipment...What Do You Actually Need?

What equipment do you really need?

Have you gone down the equipment rabbit hole yet?  There is an endless array of gear for ball players and it can be hard to know what your Player really needs. Every family should decide what’s important to their Player, but here’s what we think:

Must have

·         A baseball/softball glove. (Check out our glove buying guide here!)

·         Baseball/softball pants (they can be either below the knee or full length, in any color)

·         Softball pitchers (age 9 & up) only: defensive face mask

Recommended

·         Softball players only - defensive face mask (only pitchers are required to wear a face mask, but we recommend all softball infielders wear one.)

·         Cleats – regular gym shoes will work, but cleats are helpful on the infield dirt, especially for Players 9 & up.  Metal cleats are not allowed!

Nice to have

·         Bat – if you want to buy one additional piece of equipment, a bat is a good one.  Be sure to check our bat rules before purchasing, and check out our bat buying guide here.

·         Batting helmet – Teams are provided with shared helmets, but many Players like to choose their own in their favorite color.

·         Batting gloves – batting gloves help a Player grip the bat and absorb some impact.. They’re not needed, but many Players like to have them.

·         Bat bag – if you’ve decided to invest in a few extra pieces of equipment, a bat bag might be a good idea. 

Find some of our favorite styles and brands on our Gear page!