Equipment Guide
New season coming up? If you’re buying gear for a Little League player for the first time, you’re not alone.
The goal is simple: get safe, legal equipment that fits your child right now (not something to “grow into”).
Use this guide to shop with confidence for Tee Ball, Softball, and Baseball.
⭐ Parents: Start Here
Your child needs 5 items to play ball:
- Glove
- Bat
- Batting Helmet
- Baseball/Softball Pants
- Cleats
Ways to Save:
- Swap Day: Held each Spring at Central Park to trade gently used, certified items.
- Dick’s Sporting Goods Weekend: Exclusive 20% off discount weekend at our West Windsor sponsor store prior to the season start.
💸 Expensive Gear is Not Required
At the Little League level, the difference between a $60 bat and a $300 bat is usually small.
Proper sizing matters far more than brand or price.
- Start with entry-level equipment
- Upgrade only if your child shows long-term interest
- Kids grow fast — many players outgrow gear in one season
Uniforms & Apparel
✅ What the League Provides
Distributed by your coach before the first game:
- Team Jersey (Button-down or athletic tee)
- Team Hat (Baseball & Tee Ball)
- Socks
- Belt
Uniform rules: Jerseys should be tucked in for games. Hats are worn bill-forward.
❄️ Cold Weather Gear:
Solid-colored, long-sleeve shirts (black, navy, grey, or red) may be worn under the jersey.
Pitchers may not wear white or optic-yellow long sleeves.
🎒 What Players Provide
Label everything: Please write your child’s name inside hats, helmets, gloves, and bags—lost equipment is very common early in the season.
Helmets & Safety Gear
⛑️ Helmet Standards
Every player must provide their own well-fitting batting helmet. Sharing helmets is discouraged for hygiene reasons.
- NOCSAE Certified: All helmets must bear the NOCSAE stamp of approval molded into the plastic.
- Softball Face Cages: Fastpitch softball players are strongly encouraged (and often required in tournament play) to have a protective wire face cage attached to their batting helmet.
- No Alterations: Do not paint the helmet or apply non-league-approved stickers; adhesives can degrade the shell.
- C-Flaps & Jaw Guards: Permitted only if factory-installed or installed using a manufacturer-approved, pre-drilled kit for that exact helmet model.
Drilling your own holes voids certification and the helmet will be removed from play.
- Chin Straps: Required for all levels of Softball, and highly recommended for Tee Ball.
Proper helmet fit:
A helmet fits correctly when it sits level (not tilted back), does not slide when your child shakes their head, and the bill sits just above the eyebrows.
If it moves when they run, it’s too large and unsafe.
🥎 Fielder's Masks
LTJBSA recommends protective fielder’s masks for all softball infielders.
Bats & Certifications
A bat that is too heavy or too long makes it difficult for children to control their swing and often leads to frustration.
Please do not buy a bat for your child to “grow into.”
Understanding "Drop Weight" (e.g., -10):
The drop is the bat's length (in inches) minus its weight (in ounces). A 28-inch bat that weighs 18 ounces is a "-10 drop".
Younger players typically need lighter bats with a larger drop (-11, -12), while older players may progress to heavier bats (-8, -5).
🛒 The 10-Second Store Test
Have your child:
- Hold the bat straight out with one arm for 10 seconds
- Take 5 controlled practice swings
If the barrel drops or their swing slows down, the bat is too heavy. Kids should be able to swing the bat fast, not just lift it.
Remember: If your child says “this feels heavy,” it’s already too heavy.
📏 Quick Bat Length Guide
This chart is intentionally simple—your coach can help fine-tune once the season begins.
🔬 Bat Materials
There are two main materials you will see when choosing a bat: wood and metal.
- Alloy (Aluminum): Ready for use right out of the wrapper (no break-in time required). Great in any temperature, tend to last longer due to durability, and can be more affordable. Note: They have a smaller sweet spot.
- Composite: Larger sweet spot and puts out less vibration to the hands (reduces stinging after poor contact). Note: More expensive and require a break-in period of about 150 to 200 hits.
- Hybrid: Typically made with composite handles (minimizes vibration) and alloy barrels (no break-in time required).
🔗 One-Piece vs. Two-Piece
The main difference between these two options is how much flex and energy transfer your stick will have.
- One-Piece: A continuous piece of metal. Upon contact, there is little flex or give, resulting in little or no energy loss. Great for a balanced, powerful swing, but mishits can cause stinging in the hands.
- Two-Piece: Constructed by fusing a barrel and handle together. This split design creates more flex and “whip” in the swing, resulting in faster bat speeds. They also withstand vibrations, making them a good option to curb that stinging feeling.
The Final Verdict: The way a bat feels in a player’s hands is always going to be more important than any material performance review. Find a safe place for some practice swings and take some cuts with bats that are the right length and weight. Whichever material feels more natural to you should be the one you choose.
⚾ Baseball & Tee Ball
- Stamp Required: USA Baseball marking.
- Barrel Maximum: 2 5/8"
- Tee Ball Notice: Approved Tee Ball bats may be used in coach pitch/machine pitch divisions only with the use of approved tee balls.
🥎 Fastpitch Softball
- Stamp Required: BPF (Bat Performance Factor) of 1.20.
- Dimensions: Maximum length of 33", maximum diameter of 2 1/4".
- Tape/Sleeve: Allowed for a distance not exceeding 16" from the small end.
- Color: Colored bats are acceptable.
⚾ Intermediate 50/70
- Stamp Required: USA Baseball marking or BBCOR marking.
- Barrel Maximum: 2 5/8"
- Drop Weight: All BBCOR baseball bats will also feature a -3 drop weight.
Gloves & Mitts
Because players rotate positions frequently at younger ages, a versatile utility glove is the best choice.
Dedicated First Base and Catcher’s mitts are generally introduced at the Minors AAA level and above.
📏 Quick Glove Sizing Guide
⚠️ Important Position Rules
- Pitcher Restrictions: Pitchers may not wear a glove that is white, light gray, or optic yellow. Gloves cannot include patterns that distract the batter.
- Catcher's Mitts: Catchers must use a catcher's mitt in all kid pitch divisions. Standard fielding gloves are unsafe behind the plate.
Catcher's Gear
The catcher position is one of the most demanding in baseball and softball. You not only need stamina, but the right equipment to protect you from foul balls, collisions, and the day-to-day grind. This guide will help you select the safest, most effective gear.
⚠️ Keep in Mind: Fit is Critical
A common mistake is buying larger gear thinking a child will "grow into it." Catcher's gear must fit correctly right now.
- Gear that is too big moves around during play, exposing areas that need protection.
- Oversized pads slow catchers down when jumping to throw or backing up plays.
- It is common to mix and match brands. You can replace only the specific gear you need as your child grows rather than buying a full new set.
Head Protection & Masks
Use a cloth measuring tape to determine head circumference (masks generally follow hat sizes).
🏒 Hockey Style
- We require Hockey Style catcher's masks, which provide protection around the face, ears, and eyes. They stay highly stable (won't move when jumping up), and provide better field vision.
Body Protection
🎽 Chest Protectors
Shields vital areas including collarbones, ribs, and the cardiac region. Sizing: Measure from the top of the sternum (just above the chest plate) to the waist to find the correct length.
- Baseball vs. Softball: Softball protectors feature a break in the chest to fit female players and do not include removable groin protectors.
- Wings/Shoulder Pads: Protects the throwing shoulder from foul tips. Modern designs are lightweight and will not restrict throwing motion. Usually detachable via Velcro or snaps.
- Groin Protectors: Required for youth leagues (male players must also wear a cup). Detachable via Velcro or snaps.
🦵 Shin Guards
Protects against scrapes and pitches in the dirt. Sizing: Measure from the middle of the knee to the anklebone. Look for a guard within a ½ inch of this measurement.
- Categories: Usually split into Youth (Ages 9-12), Intermediate (12-15), and Adult (16+).
- Fit Test: Try them on while wearing your uniform. The ankle plates must rest on the top of the cleat tongue.
- Movement: They should be snug, but not too tight. Make quick movements when trying them on to ensure they do not slip.
🧣 Throat Protectors
Required. This piece should hang off the lowest bar of the catcher's mask. It shouldn't be too tight; when the catcher looks up, the protector should dangle down to cover the neck area.
🧤 Catcher's Mitts
Catchers cannot use a regular fielding glove. Specific catcher's mitts are heavily padded to protect the hand from high velocities and are shaped to easily scoop pitches out of the dirt.
A note on pricing: Lighter pieces of gear can be more expensive due to the advanced, durable materials used to keep catchers agile. However, heavier gear can still protect you just as well! The difference often comes down to comfort, personal preference, and convenience rather than baseline safety.