Equipment
To help make everyone’s Little League experience enjoyable, we’ve prepared the following guideline information:
1. MBLL provides: jerseys, hats, and basic equipment for each team (i.e., helmets, bats, and catching equipment).
2. Parents provide: (1) gloves; (2) protective 'cup' for the boys; (3) cleats (no metal spikes until Jrs Division); and (4) pants, socks, and belt.
a. Pants, socks, and belt: We strongly recommend you hold-off buying the pants, socks, and belt until the team colors are selected – your coach will let you know what to purchase.
b. Gloves: Leather gloves are essential – please stay away from vinyl imitations. The correct glove size depends largely on your child’s hand size, and strength. You may be tempted to get your child a really big glove (11” or 12”+), but be careful … your child needs to be able to move the glove around quickly, and to get the ball out of the glove quickly. Often, a smaller glove is better. Derek Jeter (short-stop for the NY Yankees) reportedly uses a size 11” glove.
3. Bats: The league provides bats, but many kids bring their own. Tips for purchasing a bat:
WARNING! Little League is changing the rules regarding bats with 'composite barrels' (e.g., carbon fiber barrels) - these bats are outlawed in the upper divisions (Jrs and up), and may be outlawed soon in the lower divisions. Bats with 'composite handles and aluminum barrels' are OK.
a For Majors, Minors, Farm, and TBall, The bat MUST be 2-1/4 inch diameter AND have "BPF 1.15" marked on it!!!!
b IMPORTANT: The barrel size must be 2-1/4 inch diameter for use in Little League. “Big barrel” bats (2-5/8 inch diameter) can ONLY be used in Juniors (age 13-15) division.
c Length and weight depend on each child … have your child swing a few bats to find the one that works best for him/her. Here are a few 'rough guidelines' to get you started (i.e., feel free to adjust the length and weight to fit your child): ·
Tee-Ball: these bats are typically labeled “Tee-Ball” ·
Farm (6-7 yr olds): 27”, -11 (weight approx. 16oz. ) ·
Minors (8-10 yr olds): 28”, -11 (weight approx. 17oz.) ·
Majors (11-12 yr olds): 29”, -11 (weight approx. 18 oz.)
Where, bat weight (oz.) = bat length (inches) – factor on bat.
4. Helmets: The league provides helmets, but many kids bring their own. Wilson and Rawlings are common helmets found at almost any sporting goods store.
