T-Ball coach sends out a list of equipment for the parents to purchase... $$$

[Carm]

Wally Mart has most of the gear listed. But as datbeme has written not all is needed. Especially at that age. The sternum/heart guard has not proven to help at all. My nephew is on a team and my BIL is the coach, most kids have their own gear and yes grandparents get some of it for them. Parents buy/sell trade kids sports equipment online.

[RAMd®d]

I could see the coach or sponsor of the league buying a few bats and helmets and dividing the cost among the players' parents.

As there's no pitching, are all the kids expected to wear the sternum protection at all times when playing?




Now that I think of it, individual helmet might be a health as well as a safety issue.

[WHiiP]

The kids are probably required to use the helmets for the entire game. Each kid would need one out in the field on defense.

[3d]

Buzz wrote:
Some 4 year olds are more athletically gifted than others. When they play w/ kids that aren't as skilled, it behooves all kids to wear appropriate safety gear.

THere's always that ONE hulk sized 4-year, 11-month, 26-day old kid that just barely made it into the 4 year old league cut-off age who towers over the other kids. That's when the trembling 4 year old on the field is grateful for the helmet, sternum/heart protector and cup. 4 year olds barely have the hand eye coordination to catch a softly tossed tennis ball. Forget about a well hit ball off a tee.

When Mongo gets up to bat, I'm tellin my kid to duck!

[SteveG]

don't even think about joining the swim team

Trust No One. Fear Everything.

[3d]

Asked the wife last night about what equipment to purchase and there have been updates...

2018 USA baseball approved bat
Authorized 2018 youth sized bats will be provided for the game. But seeing as the only bats we have at home now are hollow plastic wiffel ball style bats I'll get him one anyway to practice at home. 15 bucks.

9 inch glove (preferably not vinyl)
We got one from a neighbor across the street. Looks brand new. Nicely broken in too. BONUS.

Batting helmet
The hard helmet is to be worn during the whole game at bat and on the field. Every kid will have to bring their own. 25 bucks.

Cleats
I'm gonna try and get away with regular sneakers.

Athletic cup and undershorts w/pocket
He ain't gonna like it. But it's mandatory. Protect the jewels at all times. 20 bucks.

Sternum/Heart protector to wear under uniform
Saw this online. Looks like a close fitting tshirt with a glued on plastic thing on the chest. Mandatory. To be worn at all times at bat and on the field. 35 bucks.

[macphanatic]

3d wrote:
T-Ball coach sends out a list of equipment for the parents to purchase... $$$

2018 USA baseball approved bat
9 inch glove (preferably not vinyl)
Batting helmet
Cleats
Athletic cup and undershorts w/pocket
Sternum/Heart protector to wear under uniform

This is for a 4 year old T-BALL league. These kids can barely hit the ball off a tee to go 10 feet. Sheesh!!

I don't suppose anyone here has Extra-Small size hand me downs to generously donate?
I'll pass on the used cup though. That's a bit personal, even for a 4 year old.

Doesn't surprise me in the least. Every player needs a glove. The kids shouldn't share helmets - my son got lice because someone used his personal helmet.

Cup and heart guard are a no brainer. For the latter, Amazon sells a nice sleeveless shirt that has protection over the heart and on the sides (provides some protection while batting - no biggie for t-ball though). Try to avoid the one with the plastic foam blocks. My son hated it. Got the one with softer foam as it's much more flexible.

Label everything and get a semi-decent bag to carry it all. Some of the bags are too small even for t-ball gear.

If you have a Play It Again sports near by, go there first. With the exception of the bat, you might find a decent glove and bag. Avoid buying a used helmet. Do not buy a bat there this year. This is the first season using the USA Bats. The bats that were used last year can no longer be used in Little League.

Just wait until he gets older. My son has a huge rolling bag. 3 gloves, catcher's gear, cleats, helmet, multiple bats (one for school, one for Juniors, practice, etc), plus gum, sunflower seeds, gatorades, arm sleeves, thermal shirt, sunglasses. And he's only in 7th grade.

[mikebw]

3d wrote:
Cleats
I'm gonna try and get away with regular sneakers.

If the grass is wet at all you're gonna want cleats. Although if they are wearing helmets all the time maybe not.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

macphanatic wrote:
Cup and heart guard are a no brainer.

For a four-year-old T-ball player? Why not just wrap them up in bubble wrap and send them out to play?

[numbered]

Sigh.

I saw a 'on this day in history' item in the paper on Monday that said the first catcher to wear shin guards was in 1912 or something.

Now we have 4 year olds with gear. I remember coaching 5-6 year olds and only two of them on my team could catch the ball. The best kid played 'pitcher' and would pick up grounders and try to beat the runner to first because he knew the first baseman could not catch the ball. (The other kid who could catch was my daughter and the 'pitcher' used to whine at me to make her play first. She did not want to.)

A couple of the kids could not remember to run to first instead of third when they batted off the tee.

If this is happening at 4, I am thinking the lawyers won again and its no wonder kids don't want to play...

btw, the best part was that we were not supposed to keep score so that kids would not feel bad about losing. (Yeah, I know.) But the funny thing was that the boys counted the outs they got instead! 'We got six people out in the game so we won!' (An inning consisted of 3 outs OR batting around.)