Youth baseball and softball gear FAQ

A glove sized to the hand, a NOCSAE-certified batting helmet, a bat with the stamp the league requires, molded cleats, a bag, and a cup once kid pitch starts. The league supplies balls and usually a jersey. Line by line: the youth baseball equipment checklist.

A 9–10.5 in tee ball glove with a Velcro back, a helmet (T-Ball size), and, if the league does not supply bats, a USA-stamped tee ball bat at 24–26 in. Cleats are optional at most tee ball leagues; sneakers or soccer cleats are fine. See tee ball gloves and tee ball bats.

The stamp, and the league that accepts it. Little League requires the USA Baseball stamp; USSSA travel ball requires the USSSA 1.15 BPF stamp and allows a 2 3/4 in barrel. Neither is legal in the other's league. See USA vs USSSA vs BBCOR.

Usually yes: most USSSA leagues accept USA-stamped bats, though the reverse is never true. Ask the tournament director. The bigger issue is that a USA bat gives up barrel size against the USSSA bats everyone else is swinging. See best USSSA bats.

High school (NFHS) and, since January 1, 2026, USSSA 14U; Little League requires it in Senior League and allows it in Intermediate and Junior. A 13-year-old in USSSA 13U is capped at -8, not -3. See when does my kid need a BBCOR bat.

Usually 26 or 27 in at -12 or -11, decided by height and weight rather than age. The youth bat size chart has the table and two tests you can do in the store.

Usually 29 or 30 in at -10; a small 10-year-old may be a 28 at -11. Length from height and weight, drop from strength. See the youth bat size chart and bat drop weight explained.

Fastpitch drops run lighter than baseball: 26–28 in at -11 to -13 for 8U, 28–30 in at -11 or -12 for 10U, 29–31 in at -10 or -11 for 12U. The fastpitch bat size chart reproduces the retailer's height-and-weight table.

About 11 in, with a Velcro or strap back and a low break-in number so he can close it. A 6-year-old is 10–10.5 in; a 10- to 12-year-old is 11.5 in. Softball gloves run about an inch bigger. See the youth glove size chart.

Catch, a mallet, a light coat of the maker's conditioner, and a ball wrapped in the pocket overnight; about a week for a youth glove with a low break-in rating. Not the oven, the microwave, the hot car, shaving cream or olive oil. See how to break in a baseball glove.

Usually yes in youth leagues: soccer cleats are molded with no toe stud. Football cleats have a toe stud and are the ones to avoid. Metal spikes are prohibited in Little League Majors and below. See baseball vs soccer vs football cleats.

A thumb's width at the toe, snug at the heel, measured in the afternoon on the bigger foot, a half size up on brands the retailer says run small (New Balance). Expect a size change mid-season. See the youth cleat sizing guide.

Measure the head with a tape just above the ears and eyebrows, convert inches to hat size, and buy the shell whose published range contains that number; Rawlings and Easton print the ranges on the product page. See the batting helmet size chart.

Measure from collarbone to navel and match it to the maker's chest-protector table; most 8-year-olds land in the 7–9 or Junior size, but build matters more than age. See the youth catcher's gear size chart and ranked sets.

Three things: the bat (a softball certification on a 2 1/4 in barrel, not the USA stamp), the glove (a deeper, shorter pocket for the 11 or 12 in ball) and the helmet (a face mask, standard in fastpitch). Cleats, the cup, batting gloves and the bag are shared. See softball vs baseball gear.

A fastpitch glove sized to the ball, a helmet with a face mask, a certified fastpitch bat, molded cleats, a bag and batting gloves; catcher's gear only if she catches. In priority order with one pick per item: what does my daughter need for softball.

Something that needs no sizing (a tee, a bat bag, a Hit-A-Way) or a glove after one question to the parents (which hand does he throw with?). Leave the bat to the parents unless the kid is in tee ball. See gifts for kids who love baseball and gifts under $50.

The Aspen Institute's Project Play survey put the average family's spend on a child's primary sport at $1,016 in 2024, up 46% in five years, with baseball the most expensive of the three most-played sports; most of the growth is registration, travel and lessons, not gear. See what a season of youth baseball costs.

No, and every page says so. Every certification, size and spec is quoted from the maker or a named retailer with the link and the date; every rule is quoted from the governing body; scores are compiled from published specs on a public rubric. See the methodology.

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