What Equipment Should I Own?

 

Every player is required to provide his/her own glove, shoes and extra pants. Beyond that, the League provides virtually all of the equipment he/she will need to play Little League Baseball.  However, as kids get older they tend to start acquiring more of their own equipment.  By age 9 or 10 players may own their own bats. Catchers or first basemen may own special gloves; etc. The following provides some general advice regarding the type of equipment you might consider purchasing at some point in time.

 

Gloves

Types of Gloves: There are four general types of gloves.  The first, and most basic glove is the infielder glove, characterized by a shallow pocket and open webbing.  Beyond that, one can look at special-purpose gloves, including larger (closed webbing, deep pocket) gloves for playing outfield, catchers mitts, or first basemen's gloves. Normally kids only own one glove, unless they are a catcher.

Size of Glove: Look for a glove that the player can easily "squeeze." Gloves sizes are stamped inside the glove, and can range from T-ball size (usually 10 1/2 or smaller) up to "adult size," which is either 12 1/2 or 13. Generally speaking, kids 10-12 years old will be using size 12. Little League rules also limit the size and color of the gloves, depending on the position, so please consult the rulebook if purchasing something unusual in that regard.

Bats

Bats come in all sizes, weights, and cost.  Make sure any bat you buy has the "Approved by Little League" stamp of approval - this basically limits the bats to a 2 1/4 inch diameter barrel and 33 inches in length through Major Division (2 3/4 x 34 inches for Junior and Senior Divisions).  Most Little Leaguers use aluminum bats.  RNLL supplies each team with bats, but they are "middle of the road" quality. When you spend more money you generally get a better grade of aluminum which permits thinner walls and less weight for a given length.  You may also get less vibration (sting) for balls hit off the sweet spot, and better performance.  The most expensive bat will have a "12 drop" or even "12.5 drop," which means the length (in inches) exceeds the bat weight (in ounces) by 12 or whatever.  An example of a "12 drop" bat would be an 18 ounce, 30 inch bat.  Bats are also tested by Little League to limit the rebound velocity, so there will probably not be much difference among the upper-end bats for a given size and weight.

Probably the most important parameter, though, is personal preference, including the grip. Most teams will have an assortment of bats available - try them out or borrow bats from friends before buying your own.  And remember, favorite bats can be re-gripped. Swinging a bat with the appropriate size and weight is critical. 

The frustrating thing for parents is kids will likely change bat sizes almost every year, so it is hard to keep up.  If there is a single, most common mistake, is trying to swing a bat that is too heavy.

The accompanying table furnished by Louisville Slugger provides some general guidelines regarding the appropriate length .  Implicit in these guidelines for youth bats (up to 31 or 32 inches) is a 12 drop, which means you subtract 12 from the length to get the appropriate bat weight (weight is the more important parameter).

Batter's Height /Weight
36-40
(in)
41-44
(in)
45-48
(in)
49-52
(in)
53-56
(in)
57-60
(in)
61-64
(in)
65-68
(in)
69-72
(in)
Over 72
(in)
Under 60 lbs
26"
27"
28"
29"
29"
61-70 lbs
27"
27"
28"
29"
30"
30"
71-80 lbs
28"
28"
29"
30"
30"
31"
81-90 lbs
28"
29"
29"
30"
30"
31"
32"
91-100 lbs
28"
29"
30"
30"
31"
31"
32"
101-110 lbs
29"
29"
30"
30"
31"
31"
32"
111-120 lbs
29"
29"
30"
30"
31"
31"
32"
121-130 lbs
29"
30"
30"
30"
31"
32"
33"
33"
131-140 lbs
29"
30"
30"
31"
31"
32"
33"
33"
141-150 lbs
30"
30"
31"
31"
32"
33"
33"
151-160 lbs
30"
31"
31"
32"
32"
33"
33"
33"
161-170 lbs
31"
31"
32"
32"
33"
33"
34"
171-180 lbs
32"
33"
33"
34"
34"
Over 180 lbs
33"
33"
34"
34"

One other guideline based on RNLL experience:  most kids in AA use 16 or 17 ounce bats; most kids in AAA use either 17 or 18 ounce bats; and most kids in Majors use 17 - 19 ounce bats - depending on their size.

Durability.  A bat will last several seasons, unless there are obvious signs of damage - the most common being denting or cracking. A dented bat is no longer legal.  If damage occurs through normal use, check with the manufacturer for possible repair or replacement.

Myth or Fact?  Do Rubber Practice Balls Damage Bats?
There is no clear consensus that this is true, although the rubber balls are heavier.  Best advice is to rotate the bat 1/4 turn every pitch, or save your favorite bat for games only.

Catcher's Equipment

Teams are always supplied with Little League-approved catchers gear, so there is little need for a player to purchase his own equipment, unless there are personal preferences involved.  Please note that the helmet must meet NOCSAE standards and the mask must include a "dangling" type throat protector (not shown).

Baseballs

A  baseball is not necessarily a baseball!  Balls approved for Little League play will carry a printed label "Little League."  In addition, they may be marked either "RS" for regular season play, or "RS-T" for regular season or tournament play. 
A soft-cover safety ball is used for Tee Ball and Rookie divisions.  The "Little League" balls are characterized by a cork center.

Other Equipment

Other equipment that you might need to purchase would include tting gloves (particularly useful for extensive batting cage practice), a helmet for unscheduled batting practice; an equipment bag (particularly if a player has more than one glove or his own bat) and a protective cup for male catchers (required).

Excluded Equipment

Please note that the following equipment is specifically prohibited by Little League:  batting donuts; metal cleats; white-colored bats; and catchers skull caps.  Little League also prohibits the painting of batting helmets without written consent of the manufacturer to confirm the structural integrity of the helmet.

Where to Shop

There are at least five major retail outlets in the local area:  Chicks in Laguna Hills (specializes in special orders and high-end equipment); Sports Chalet (stores in both LN and Mission Viejo); Sports Authority off Cabot Road and  Big 5 in Laguna Hills.  There are also a number of on-line retailers who sell baseball equipment.

Playing baseball is not real life. It's a fantasy world... It's a dream come true.

- Dale Murphy