Baseball gloves are available in many sizes, materials and price ranges, and there are gloves made for specific positions on the field. While the material and construction can affect the quality of a glove, the most important factors for choosing a youth baseball glove are the size of the child and position she will play.
Position
Playing shortstop with a catcher's mitt, no matter how well-constructed or expensive the mitt is, will lead to botched plays and lost games. Prior to shopping for a baseball glove, talk with your child and her coach to find out where she will be playing. Gloves are made for first base, infield, pitcher, catcher and outfield. If you are not sure, an infielder's glove (also called a utility glove) might be your best choice.
Size
A glove that is too small or too big can ruin the enjoyment of the game for a child. Specific sizing charts are available to help make the right choice of glove size. Pre-teens usually require a size 8 to 12 glove. Do not buy a mitt that a child has to grown into. That will affect their play, decreasing their success and enjoyment of the game.
Material
Baseball gloves are made from leather or synthetic materials. Leather costs the most and will last the longest, but is stiffer and will take longer to break in. Treated leather is more supple, but many not last as long as a leather glover. Synthetic materials provide the best combination of comfort and durability and are the least expensive.
Budget
Your child's position and hand size will determine what type and size you'll need to buy. Based on that, you can use your budget to determine whether you'll need to buy a new or used glove. If you have more money, you might want to go with a new leather glove. If you want leather but have less to spend, look in thrift shops and on Craigslist. If your child is new to baseball, you might not want to invest in a $200 glove until you find out whether she likes the sport and wants to stick with it. Good, used gloves can be purchased for as little as $15 or $20.
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