A baseball glove is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can purchase for a Little League player. Youth baseball gloves are often made of synthetic materials and can be broken in quickly. They are designed with smaller fingers and wrist openings to help best fit small players. Youth gloves often come with over-sized pockets to help little league players learn how to catch. Proper sizing and measurement of a Little League glove can help maximize a child's experience.
1: Measure your child's hand
Place the child's hand palm-side down on a table or other solid surface. Next, Measure from the base of your child's index finger to the finger tip. Measure in inches. Add two inches to the measurement you have. This determines your child's glove size.
2: Find a glove to purchase
Now that you have measurements for your child's hand, its time to purchase. Look for baseball gloves in your local sporting goods store to match these measurements. The measurement can be found inside the glove or on the shelf.
3: Have your child try the glove on
Finally, have your child try the glove on. When your child has the glove on, measure to see if there are two inches of space between the tip of the index finger and the very end of the glove. This indicates a good fit. Your child should be able to wiggle their fingers and squeeze the glove shut.
Tip
- Youth baseball gloves generally come in sizes ranging from 9 inches to 12 inches. Dick's Sporting Goods recommends that Little League players under the age of 8 stick with a glove ranging from 9 to 11 inches. Little League players over the age of 8 to their early teens should try an 11-inch glove.
- Avoid the urge to purchase a bigger glove in hopes that a young player will grow into it. This will make it difficult for a child to catch the ball if the glove is too large.