| A good ball glove can have a big effect on | | | | the side of the mound and bounced up to hit the |
| youth's enjoyment of playing baseball and even | | | | base umpire in the shoulder. She was hurt and lay |
| about whether baseball is a worthwhile sport for | | | | on the ground several minutes before getting up. |
| them to participate in. Kids could be playing many | | | | That highlighted well, the speed the balls are |
| other sports, and in fact, participation in basketball | | | | reaching and that the young infielder playing with |
| and soccer is growing fast in the US. There's no | | | | awkward baseball glove is going to playing with |
| better summer sport or pastime than baseball | | | | fear. Yes, some fear is good, as it keeps them |
| though. It has a rich American tradition that other | | | | sharp and makes the game exciting, but too |
| sports don't possess and that's an important part | | | | much fear and they're going to get discouraged. |
| of your own child's sports experience. | | | | Many of the kids on these teams have gloves |
| Baseball is a game that is dependent on | | | | that are too small, and overwhelmingly, you see |
| equipment though, and if the equipment is poor | | | | their reluctance to catch well-hit grounders. They |
| quality or in doesn't suit the kids using them, it can | | | | generally wave at it going by them and sigh in |
| dampen their enthusiasm for little league baseball. | | | | relief that it wasn't hit right at them. One |
| It's important to buy youth baseball gloves for | | | | youngster in the outfield ran to make a diving |
| your child, not small adult baseball gloves which will | | | | catch only to have the ball pop out of his glove. |
| discourage your youngster. | | | | They used to see that if your glove touched a |
| They had poor equipment back in the old days, | | | | ball, you should have caught it and it is an error |
| including rotted out or horribly stiff leather gloves. | | | | for you. When a ball is in your glove, it should |
| Some would actually throw the glove down and | | | | stay in there. In this kid's case, the ball was clearly |
| try to catch with their bare hands. It may not be | | | | in his glove and yet it popped out. The reason for |
| that bad today, but in visiting your local sporting | | | | that is that the glove didn't fit his hand and the |
| goods store, you've probably wondered about the | | | | web wouldn't close tightly. |
| quality of the gloves on the store shelves. Some | | | | He walked dejectedly back to centerfield, his |
| are weird shapes and feel uncomfortable and the | | | | position, and cursed at himself for dropping it. It |
| selection is many times limited. | | | | was like a scene out of a Charlie Brown episode. |
| The Good Old Days | | | | If he'd hung onto that ball, he would have been |
| Have you ever wondered whether baseball glove | | | | walking on clouds and be the pride of the team. I |
| manufacturers are producing better ball gloves | | | | don't have to tell you how important peer |
| now than in decades past? Well, if you happen to | | | | pressure is with kids these days and when kids |
| have an old baseball glove still around and | | | | never catch the ball, it can deflate the team and |
| compare it to modern youth baseball gloves, you'll | | | | even the crowd of parents watching the game. |
| notice a big difference. Those old gloves didn't | | | | Sometimes, it's downright torture to watch a ball |
| make catching and fielding easy for infielders, | | | | game if the kids can't catch or throw properly. |
| outfielders and especially catchers. You actually | | | | Young pitchers too, can have trouble throwing |
| had to have some outstanding athletic skills and | | | | strikes, and after walking batter after batter, you |
| knowledge of catching to make a catch. In those | | | | can sense disappointment. The glove on the |
| days, you used both hands to catch a ball | | | | pitcher's hand acts as a counterbalance when |
| because you had to. | | | | throwing and if it doesn't feel comfortable for him, |
| That's not to say these new gloves are suited to | | | | you may be in for a long inning. |
| the ball player that's using them. These kids range | | | | A fair number of kids come from homes that |
| in physical size greatly, and play different positions. | | | | can't afford a new glove every year and they |
| The child that has a new, well-fitted glove is going | | | | may not be able to afford baseball shoes. If |
| to catch the ball better and play with a lot more | | | | there's one piece of equipment you need to focus |
| confidence. | | | | on for youth baseball players, it has to be the |
| Young ball players with their metal bats are hitting | | | | glove. Your child is out there standing for half of |
| the ball hard, so infielders and outfielders need | | | | the game, with this glove on their hand. If it's |
| good gloves just to catch them, let alone throw | | | | uncomfortable, and doesn't fit, that has to take |
| the runner out at first. We shouldn't just assume | | | | some of the enjoyment out of it. |
| that any glove would do for our child. Each | | | | There's a mind-boggling array of youth baseball |
| youngster has their own level of coordination and | | | | brands out there to choose from Rawling, Mizuno, |
| confidence, along with their own style and | | | | Wilson, Spalding, Rawlings, Nokona, Akadema, |
| preferences, and fortunately, there are so many | | | | Kelly, Nike, Louisville, SSK and more. The problem |
| types and styles of gloves available now, that you | | | | with many of these big brand names is not only |
| should be able to find one they like. You don't see | | | | the inflated prices associated with these brands, |
| kids get hurt often but it does happen and it will | | | | it's the weight and stiffness of the gloves. The |
| happen more often with the child that feels | | | | materials and the stitching are sewn well enough. |
| uncomfortable with the baseball equipment they're | | | | They aren't designed with kids in mind who after |
| using. | | | | all, don't have time to break the glove in. Within |
| Bad Bounces | | | | one year, they will have likely outgrown the glove, |
| Last week, while watching a youth baseball game | | | | so what's the point of buying a glove like that? |
| (11 year olds) a batter hit a ball hard up the | | | | The glove ends up unused in a closet or on the |
| middle, fortunately missing the pitcher. The ball hit | | | | garage floor becoming a nuisance object. |