SELECTING A BAT

-          LIGHTER IS BETTER

-          BATS COME WITH A "MINUS" NUMBER ON THEM i.e., -8, -10, -12.5.  THE LARGER THE NUMBER, THE GREATER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LENGTH AND WEIGHT.  A 31" BAT WITH A WEIGHT OF 18.5 OUNCES HAS A RATING OF -12.5.

-          TRAINING DIVISION KIDS (7-8) SHOULD HAVE BATS AROUND 26-27 INCHES WITH A RATING OF -10 (MEANING 16 OR 17 OUNCES)  IF YOUR CHILD IS ON THE SMALLER SIDE, ERR ON THE SIDE OF A SMALLER BAT.  25" OR SMALLER IS TOO SMALL AND SHOULDN'T BE USED AT THIS LEVEL.

-          MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS SHOULD BE BETWEEN 27 AND 30 INCHES.  30" SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR A CHILD THAT IS BIGGER AND STRONGER THAN HIS PEERS.  THE WEIGHT SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN 19 OUNCES.  REMEMBER, THE HEAVIER THE BAT, THE MORE STRENGTH AND TIME IT TAKES TO GET THROUGH THE STRIKE ZONE.  IF THE PITCHING AT THE PARTICULAR LEVEL IS CHALLENGING, GO LIGHTER.  IF THE PITCHING IS OVERALL SLOWER,  GO SLIGHTLY HEAVIER BUT NOT TOO HEAVY.

-          MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS SHOULD USE BATS BETWEEN 29 AND 31 INCHES.  SAME THEORY FOR WEIGHT SELECTION AS ABOVE SHOULD APPLY.  IN TOURNAMENT PLAY, KIDS CAN BE FACING PITCHERS THROWING 65-72 MPH SO A LIGHTER BAT WILL LET THEM TO CATCH UP WITH THE BALL BETTER.  A -11 IS A SUFFICIENT REGULAR SEASON RATING.  IT'S A GOOD WEIGHT-TO-LENGTH RATIO AND CAN BE FOUND AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

-          THE COST OF A BAT WILL VARY TREMENDOUSLY.  THE HIGHER THE "MINUS RATING" THE MORE EXPENSIVE THE BAT.  BATS RATED AT -12 OR -12.5 CAN RUN BETWEEN $140 AND $250.  A -10 (26"/16 OUNCE) CAN BE FOUND FOR $25-$35.  GOOD NAME BRANDS TO LOOK FOR ARE EASTON, DEMARINI, LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, OMAHA, WORTH,  AND NIKE.

      SELECTING A GLOVE

-          IT'S BETTER TO GO SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN TO GET ONE TOO BIG.  KIDS FIND IT EASIER TO GET A FEEL FOR THE BALL WHEN THE GLOVE IS SMALLER.  IT'S ALSO QUICKER TO GET THE BALL OUT OF THE GLOVE IF IT'S SMALLER.  IF YOUR CHILD LIKES TO PLAY THE INFIELD, STAY WITH A SMALLER GLOVE.  IF THEY PLAY A LOT OF OUTFIELD, A SLIGHTLY LARGER GLOVE IS BETTER.

-          EACH GLOVE WILL LIST THE LENGTH OF THE POCKET SOMEWHERE ON THE GLOVE.  10/11.5/12.0, ETC.  THIS IS ACTUALLY THE MEASURED LENGTH FROM THE HEEL TO THE FINGERTIP.

-          A 10" GLOVE IS VERY SMALL AND WON'T LAST VERY LONG.  A 10.5" WOULD BE A GOOD START FOR A 7-8 YEAR OLD.   A MINOR LEAGUER WOULD DO WELL WITH A 11-11.25" GLOVE.  MAJOR LEAGUERS WOULD DO FINE WITH 11.25"-12".  REMEMBER, THESE ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS TO BE USED AS A REFERENCE POINT WHEN BUYING NEW EQUIPMENT.  SOME KIDS MAY FIND A GOOD GLOVE WHEN THEY'RE 8 OR 9 AND DECIDE TO STICK WITH IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.  DON'T CHANGE FOR CHANGE SAKE.  YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICAL SIZE AND ABILITY MAY VARY YOUR SELECTION.  YOUR LOCAL SPORTING GOODS STORE CAN BE VERY HELPFUL IN THIS PROCESS.  WAL-MARTS AND TARGET WILL OFFER ALMOST NO HELP.

-          GO WITH A LEATHER GLOVE.  IT WILL SOFTEN UP OVER TIME AND EVENTUALLY CREATE A NICE POCKET.  STAY AWAY FROM PLASTIC OR PLEATHER GLOVES.  IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THEM TO CLOSE PROPERLY.

-          BREAKING IN A NEW LEATHER GLOVE TAKES TIME.  MANY PEOPLE HAVE TRIED AND TRUE WAYS TO SOFTEN ONE UP.  YOU CAN PICK UP A CAN OF "HOT GLOVE" TO HELP.  IT'S SPRAYED ON THE GLOVE AND RUBBED IN, THEN THE GLOVE IS PLACED IN THE OVEN FOR 4 MINUTES.  THIS ALLOWS THE OILS TO GET INTO THE LEATHER.  (DIRECTIONS ARE ON THE CAN)  YOU MAY DO THIS PROCESS SEVERAL TIMES ON A NEW GLOVE.  "HOT GLOVE" CAN BE PURCHASED AT ANY SPORTING GOODS STORE OR WAL-MART.

-          A GOOD DOSE OF MINK OIL WILL ALSO HELP.

-          THEY BEST WAY TO BREAK IN A GLOVE IS TO USE IT.  HAVE A CATCH AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.  WHENEVER IT'S NOT BEING USED, PUT A BALL IN THE POCKET SO THE POCKET KEEPS ITS FORM. 

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, JEFF LAROSA VIA EMAIL AT JJLAROSA06@SBCGLOBAL.NET