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Choosing Equipment

Glove:

Small gloves for small hands. Don't buy a 'grow into it' glove.

functional used gloves are easy to find for little kids, don't spend a lot.
LTP: it will be small enough that it does not fall off in use, most children at LTP will be in 9-1/2 inch or 10 inch gloves. Few children of this age will have the hand strength to close even a small glove, so the ability to close the glove to grasp the ball is not very important at LTP.
Mites: Mites should be able to close the glove once it is broken in properly. Mites will be in 10 or 11 inch gloves
Gloves are for the non-dominant hand, i.e. right handed children will have a glove on their left hand.
the glove will have a pocket that can hold a 11" (seam length) softball. Avoid flat gloves.
Gloves should be stored with a ball in them. Each child will be supplied a ball for the season if they do not have one.

Batting Helmet:

Today, most new batting helmets are "one size fits all". That said, try a different brand or different helmet if it is uncomfortable, or loose when they shake their head. A helmet should not drop to obscure vision.

Colour: If your child moves to rep play in our league, black is required, but in house, any colour is allowed.

Cracked helmets or those without ear flaps on both sides are not acceptable.

Helmets come with cages or without. VWMSA highly recommends cages, but they are not required at LTP and can be added (that said, a new helmet without cage is roughly $15, and a helmet with a cage is roughly $25). Note that you should try to get a softball cage, which are lighter and obstruct vision less than a baseball cage. Caged baseball batting helmets are more common than softball used because so many more kids play baseball in Vancouver than softball.

Infield Masks:

Infield masks are becoming very common in Squirts or above. Infielders who do not wear an infield mask must wear a mouthguard.

Cleats:

Cleats are not required until Squirts. Since some soccer cleat styles are prohibited under softball rules, be certain to check if the ones you have or plan to buy are allowed.