Walk into any sporting goods store, and there are entire aisles devoted to softball and baseball equipment. Add a sales staff that may or may not know the first thing about Fastpitch Softball, and a new softball parent can be easily overwhelmed. Having guided dozens of parents through their first purchases, I give the following advice.

The first thing to realize, especially for dads with baseball experience, is that Fastpitch Softball is not baseball, no matter how similar they look at first glance (a topic that I will cover in the future). Therefore, make sure to get softball equipment. If money is tight and there is a baseball glove laying around it can certainly be used in a pinch, but generally, baseball equipment belongs on a baseball field. This leads to a second point:

As told to me at an ASA clinic, “Boys need to play well to feel good about themselves. Girls need to feel good about themselves to play well.” Your daughter must like her softball equipment to be successful and this is especially true of a new player. I will usually pick out, say, four gloves in my price range (read: the cheaper brands) and let my daughters choose the one that they like from those. This approach keeps the girls happy without breaking my bank.

If only one piece of equipment can be bought, buy a leather softball glove. A player who throws with her right hand should get a glove for her left hand (and vice-versa). If not sure which hand with which she throws, have her pick up a ball and naturally throw it. The size of the glove is usually listed in “inches” along the thumb or the pinky of the glove. Use the following guideline based on age:

11 or older: 11” to 13”
9 to 10: 10” to 11.5”
8 or younger: 10.5” or smaller.

A new glove must be broken in, but while waiting for me to write that article, just start playing catch with it! That will help break it in.

Another piece of equipment that should be bought if at all possible is a batting helmet. Though the team may have batting helmets, sharing helmets is an excellent way to spread head lice. Buy a helmet that is approved for her league and buy a face cage that fits it. At the younger levels, there is more danger being hit by a teammates’ bat than by being hit by the ball. Believe me, that face cage will be an excellent investment, even if the league does not require it.

I recommend not buying a bat until your daughter has gone to a few practices. Have her try a few of the team’s or her teammates’ bats and note the length and weight (or drop) with which she feels most comfortable. If it is OK with her, her coach and/or teammate, continue using that bat for the season. If the resources for buying a new bat are available, I recommend buying a lower-end bat that she likes. I would not spend big money on a top-of-the-line bat until I was sure my daughter was hooked on the sport and she was at least 12 years-old (the age that her growth will slow). Every time she goes through a major growth spurt, she may need a new bat. Also, be advised that different organizations have lists of bats that are illegal – check with her softball league to get the latest banned bat list.

Finally, for safety reasons, she should get molded cleats (not spikes). Again, if one has to buy, buy the least expensive cleats that she likes, as she will grow out of them before they get too much wear. Hand-me-downs or cleats from other sports like soccer work just as well. My daughter used her soccer cleats for two years before she decided that softball was her sport, and then played with soccer cleats until she outgrew them.

Properly outfitted, your daughter will feel comfortable in her new sport. She will spend her time learning the sport and making new friends instead of worrying that she stands out among her teammates. Getting her to believe that she looks like a softball player is a giant step toward her actually becoming a softball player.