Buying Your Child's First Baseball Mitt - By: Marcus Peter

Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the United States today, and children line up to try their hands at being the next Alex Rodriguez or Diasuke Matsuzaka. When you enroll your child in sports, they already have an image in their heads of what equipment that they need. What they may not understand is that there is much more to choosing the appropriate gear than the color, if it is a signature series, or what their sports hero uses.

The Look

There is particular care associated with picking out gear for young children. For optimal comfort and safety, their equipment must be of a comfortable design and fit properly. Children visualize themselves as being baseball stars; so when they see the youth-sized mitt that you are looking at for them, they are usually a bit disappointed. Rather than give in to your child's whim and sacrifice their safety, consider other ways to make their glove more desirable.

You may want to discuss with the coach which designs are the most popular this year, as well as what brand of mitts and what stores coincide within your personal budget. Even though your child may not appreciate the size of his gear, he will probably be comforted by having a similar glove to the other children on the team. Try to locate the signature of a player that they respect on a glove if you can, this can really make their glove something special.

The Size

If your child is a youngster, just old enough to register for the tee-ball teams in your town, then you will want the smallest glove that the stores offer. This is usually a 9” youth glove (which means that it is nine inches from the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger). The next size up would be the 11” youth glove, if your child is somewhat older, or has larger hands than the usual 5-7 year old.

If you are not sure about what size to choose for your child, bring them with you. Much like shoes, it is best to try on baseball mitts before you bring them home. If the mitt fits like their dad's shoes, then step it down a size. If the child feels uncomfortable and you can feel their fingers being restricted, then step it up a size. Bear in mind that your child will likely think that a glove that fits well is too snug at first, as it is not broken in properly.

Youth sizes are not designed to depress a child's enthusiasm, but to encourage better safety and ease of use. If your child's mitt does not “fit like a glove,” then when they use it on the field it will not respond like one. It is always better to use a open web design for children. This allows the child to peek through the glove webbing to look for incoming balls, allowing for better catches with the mitt and fewer taken to the body.

The Quality

Though you may need to opt for discount baseball gloves, you should make sure that this price does not exclude quality. We have all heard of the 9 year old that was disqualified from little league for his minor league pitching speed. Even if your child does not come up against this sort of skill; sports are competitive, and children are driven individuals. Your child's safety should always come first, so ask your local equipment dealer to help you understand what makes a child's baseball glove safe.

Be sure to oil the glove for its life and flexibility. If glove oil is a bit pricey for your sports budget, petroleum jelly will do in a pinch. Put a baseball inside of the glove (as though the glove were holding the ball) and wrap it with some rubber bands for a day or two. This will help the glove take a shape that catches and holds the ball better on the field. With the proper equipment and the proper care, a baseball glove will give you years of good use.

The comfort of a well broken in glove can be hard to let go of. Your child may not bring up a glove that has become too small until their fingers are uncomfortably cramped inside. Be sure to check your child's glove size before every season for maximum safety. With the support of your coach and your equipment dealer, you will find that choosing your child's first baseball glove can be an exciting learning experience.

About the Author

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