Use this list of essential equipment your child needs for T-ball to ensure they have everything they need for their first practice.
Baseball Glove
There is something unexplainably exciting about getting your first glove; it’s the kind of item people cherish and keep long after they’ve grown out of it. Your child will feel genuine excitement when they put it on and smack their hand in it for the first time.
You don’t need to get your child a position-specific glove. T-ball is about learning the fundamentals, so they will likely be bouncing around to different positions all over the infield and outfield. That’s why all they need is something to help them catch the ball.
Helmet
A helmet is vital for your child’s safety. The league will likely provide helmets, so check with them before you invest in one. When looking at a helmet, the most important factor is fit. Suppose your child catches a stray ball in the head. The fit of the helmet can be a significant deciding factor in the seriousness of the injury. Also, the helmets must have a mask.
Since your child is growing, you might need to replace their helmet every season, so ask around for a hand-me-down helmet, if possible.
Bat
Nothing says Americana like a baseball bat. When picking out a bat, the main element to keep in mind is the league’s rules. Each age group and league will have its own requirements for bats. For example, all associations that participate in conjunction with Little League will need to use USA Baseball–approved bats.
Also, certain corks are banned. On top of that, there are restrictions on the bat’s length and width for each age group.
Uniform
Besides the provided uniform, your child will need something to wear at practice. If they just wear gym shorts, they will scrape their knees sliding on the dirt, so you’ll need to get them a couple of pairs of baseball pants to wear. Plus, some leagues won’t even provide baseball pants, just the jersey.
Also, while they’re optional, most players wear baseball cleats to help them grip the dirt and grass when running.
Additional Safety Equipment
If your child has glasses, you might want to invest in sports goggles. Not only will they hold the lenses on your child’s face during activity, but they’ll protect the glass from shattering as easily on accidental impact.
The other standard protective equipment in baseball is elbow and ankle guards. Luckily, your child won’t be facing pitching just yet, so these aren’t necessary for T-ball. Also, the team will provide any catcher’s equipment.
Now that you know the essential equipment your child needs for T-ball, all you need to do is get ready to cheer them on in their first game.
