SOFTBALL EQUIPMENT

Essentials to be purchased by parent/family:

- Glove (required)
- Defensive face mask (required)
- Softball/baseball pants in BLACK (required)
- Helmet (strongly recommended)
- Bat (strongly recommended)
- Baseball/softball cleats (strongly recommended


Provided by the Little League:

- Each softball player will receive a jersey and socks. For Minors and above, players will also receive a belt. 
- Coaches will have access to balls, a net, catcher’s gear, and a tee to use for the season.
- The league will also provide one bat and a helmet to the team’s coach to share across the team if needed.

Tips & Reminders:

- A Defensive Face Mask is required as it protects players from being hit in the face—even good athletes. For Tee ball and Rookies, the Rip-It Defender plastic defensive mask is lighter and can be more comfortable. 
- Helmets with a cage is recommended, but is not required.  As they move into the Minors Division with more kid pitch, they will want it!
- Due to hygiene and sizing, it’s recommended that players do try to secure their own helmet as best as possible. 
- The League will make bats, helmets and catchers gear available to share at the younger ages. For older ages (9+), most kids will have their own gear - gloves, bats, bags, etc.

Equipment Sizing:

Softballs used: 
- Tee-ball (4-6 YOs) – 10” soft core softballs (or soft core baseballs)
- Rookies – 11” soft core softballs
- Minors – 11” (hard) softballs 
- Majors & Above – 12” softball balls

Glove sizing recommendations: 
- Depending on the ball and her size, we recommend:
- Tee-ball (4-6 YOs) – 10.75”
- Rookies (6-8 YOs) – 11.0” - 11.75”
- Minors and above - 12"-12.5” for their age, depending on their hand size.

Bat sizing:  
- Have the Player hold it out perpendicular to their body (like a T) for 30 seconds with their non-dominant hand.  If they can't do it, it's too heavy.  If they can do it, even with a little struggle, that's a good weight.
- As for length, have the player stand like a T with arms out.  Place the knob of the bat in the center of their chest and extend the barrel along one arm past her fingertips about ½”.  That is the proper length for a bat. 
- Bat sizes are usually printed with the length on the bottom/knob and the weight in oz as a “drop”.  For example, a 28 drop -11 would be a 28 inch bat, weighing 17 ounces (28-11=17).
- Make sure it's a "softball" bat and not "baseball".

Questions – Contact Christy via text at 940-445-0022.