Buying a Youth Baseball Glove

With Christmas coming, and shortly after that-baseball season, many people will be buying a youth baseball/softball glove or mitt for their youngsters. So, just what do you buy and how do you know if it’s the right size to fit those young, growing hands? Also, how long will a glove last, and will the child “grow out” of it in a year or so. Good questions, considering the price of youth gloves.

 

First, what is a glove and what is a mitt? A mitt has no fingers-like a mitten. Only two positions have mitts; catcher and 1st base. All the rest have fingers. A catchers mitt is round and is measured in circumference. Youth catchers mitts are from 30” for 5-8 year olds to 33” for 12-15 year olds. 31” are for ages 6-10 and 32” are for 9-13 year olds.  Gloves are measured from the index finger, through the pocket area to the heal of the glove. Ten and a half inch gloves should fit your T-ball players. 11” is good for ages 6-10, 11½” for 8-12, and 12” for 12-15 year olds.

 

All of the gloves & mitts should last, and fit those growing hands for at least two years with proper glove care. (See my blog on November 1st, part 1 & 2 on “Breaking in a Baseball Glove.”) Bottom line-gloves and mitts make great gifts!

Related posts:

1. Catchers Mitt
2. Your Glove of Choice-(Part 1)
3. Why Does a Catcher Need a Different Glove?
4. Your Glove of Choice-(Part 2)
5. A Baseball Glove for Christmas