With the holidays right around the corner, many parents are considering sports equipment upgrades for their son or daughter. Now is also the time to inspect their current equipment to look for signs of wear that may pose a safety concern. Here are some things to look for:

Helmet

• Make sure all interior padding is secure and that the helmet still has a snug fit
• Check for any cracks or weak points in the overall structure of the helmet
• Willards requires that T-Ball and Instructional League players have a face mask on their helmet.  Check that the mask is secure.
• Little League Rules state that helmets can’t be altered, painted, or have any non-manufacturer-approved decals added.

Glove

• Verify that the glove isn’t cracked or damaged in any way
• Check that the glove laces are still intact and not extremely long
• Be sure that the glove still fits and is appropriate for the level of baseball/softball they expect to play

Bats

• Inspect that the bat does not have any dents or cracks
• Check that the end cap isn’t damaged and that the knob isn’t loose
• Ensure that the bat still fits your player – both in size and weight
• Check that the bat meets Little League’s requirements.  This is especially important if you are considering a composite bat as it must be on their list of approved bats.

Here are some additional links you may find helpful:

Little League Article – Buying a new bat
Little League bat resource page
Little League approved composite bat list