My daughter has played catcher for 2 years now in the local rec league. She'll be 9 next year when the season starts. We've been using a set of gear that the coach has. It's a box store Wilson EZ baseball set. I've been waiting to buy her gear until I was sure she was really interested in the position. She is. As a matter of fact, we're still coach pitch here in 8U, and the coach is a little unhappy that she wants to stay behind the plate all the time as she is usually one of the better gloves and arms on the team, and catcher isn't all that important in coach pitch.
I've started collecting a little bundle together of odds and ends for gear. We have a used Diamond chest protector from "Play it Again," but I spotted a 13.5" Under Armour chest new for under $10 online. It's on the way. I only know 2 things about the UA. It's made by All Star, and the chest protector bends outward and could deflect balls badly. She fits well into the All Star Players Series legs(11.5"), and Academy had those on clearance for $15. I got the Wilson Pro-Shock 2 helmet while the getting was good. The wife was very agreeable to the 50% fewer concussion propaganda by Wilson and the closeout price. It's not the best setup I'm sure, but the position isn't as intense next year as it will be when she hits 10U. That being said, I'm very open to any suggestions where improvement might be made.
My next purchase will probably be the NECC streaming video, and a catcher's mitt. The league allows a regular fielding glove for coach pitch, but I think it'd be a good time to get the feel for one and get it broken in. I'm looking at the Easton Synergy, the All Star 2510, the Mizuno 90, and maybe a Louisville Slugger Xeno(The one with the purple stripe, not the $200 one they've come out with now.). I'm looking for any opinions or experiences with any of those gloves or suggestions for any upgrade. The only experience I have with catcher's mitts is an All Star 1010 that her brother has, and it has been a really good value for the money. This is something I'd like to get this year and have it to move into 10U with the next. Keep in mind that we're only currently in spring rec ball. Am I being to near sited price wise?
Oh, we live an hour and a half from Nocona, Texas, and toured the Nokona glove factory last spring break. It's really neat to see how it's all done. We'll save that brand for much later down the road though.
I've started collecting a little bundle together of odds and ends for gear. We have a used Diamond chest protector from "Play it Again," but I spotted a 13.5" Under Armour chest new for under $10 online. It's on the way. I only know 2 things about the UA. It's made by All Star, and the chest protector bends outward and could deflect balls badly. She fits well into the All Star Players Series legs(11.5"), and Academy had those on clearance for $15. I got the Wilson Pro-Shock 2 helmet while the getting was good. The wife was very agreeable to the 50% fewer concussion propaganda by Wilson and the closeout price. It's not the best setup I'm sure, but the position isn't as intense next year as it will be when she hits 10U. That being said, I'm very open to any suggestions where improvement might be made.
My next purchase will probably be the NECC streaming video, and a catcher's mitt. The league allows a regular fielding glove for coach pitch, but I think it'd be a good time to get the feel for one and get it broken in. I'm looking at the Easton Synergy, the All Star 2510, the Mizuno 90, and maybe a Louisville Slugger Xeno(The one with the purple stripe, not the $200 one they've come out with now.). I'm looking for any opinions or experiences with any of those gloves or suggestions for any upgrade. The only experience I have with catcher's mitts is an All Star 1010 that her brother has, and it has been a really good value for the money. This is something I'd like to get this year and have it to move into 10U with the next. Keep in mind that we're only currently in spring rec ball. Am I being to near sited price wise?
Oh, we live an hour and a half from Nocona, Texas, and toured the Nokona glove factory last spring break. It's really neat to see how it's all done. We'll save that brand for much later down the road though.