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It’s spring and your son has come excited because baseball tryouts for the community baseball teams will be in a few days. He really wants to play baseball but you don’t have a glove for him to use. Here are some tips to help you select a baseball glove when you go shopping with your child.
First, consider what position your child will be playing. There are different gloves for different positions on the team. Gloves for pitchers and infield positions are smaller than an outfielder’s, catcher’s, or first baseman’s glove. If you think your child will play multiple positions, get a utility glove. It is larger than an infielder’s glove.
An outfielder, catcher, or first baseman need to have a glove with a pocket that is fairly large. They need to be able to catch fly balls, balls that are hit high in the air, and to reach and stretch out to catch a ball that is thrown to them.
Have your child put the glove on. Make sure the glove feels right. While the glove will loosen up as it is used, a glove that rubs the knuckles or thumb joint will always cause blisters and be uncomfortable to wear.
What is the age and size of your child? Gloves vary in sizes to fit different ages. A youth glove ranges between 8 inches to 12 inches in the “pocket” area. Don’t get one that measures more than 12 inches because those gloves are for adults.
Check the webbing of the glove. An open web is best for outfielders and the third baseman. A closed web glove is preferred by infielders and pitchers. A catcher’s baseball glove is more like a mitten and is heavily padded.