Who funds catchers equipment

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Jan 24, 2009
617
18
Unsure whether to post in catcher or coaches section, so I'll start here.

'Just curious as to how other teams/coaches have handled the purchase of catchers gear. Do you make the catchers parents foot the bill, ie the catcher position is like playing the tuba in band---it costs you more than just playing the triangle.

Or, is this a team equipment purchase? Is the equipment 'shared' by more than one catcher if it is team property?

What if one girl gets a majority of innings with a back-up or two doing just that? I'm talking 12u if that matters.
Discuss...
VW


_
 
Jul 21, 2009
127
0
Is this a travel team? A rec league? A school team?

Any of the above I feel the team/league should provide a set of gear. Take it out of the registration fees. Anyone on the team is entitled to use that set. Someone who WANTS to be a catcher will invest in their own gear. They would be the only ones allowed to use their gear without permission.

You can say the same about other equipment too... bats and balls at least.
 
Jan 15, 2009
585
0
When I was involved in community ball we always supplied each team with two sets of gear (large and small) but some of the catchers had their own gear anyway. Being involved with a club program the catchers all have their own gear, but we also have a set of team gear for times when we might ask a non-catcher to catch either to warm up a pitcher or to relieve our regular catchers in case of injuries or fatigue.
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
If she is a real catcher, she will have her equipment. In the rec leagues I coached at we got whatever equipment the boys no longer needed. :)
 
Jan 6, 2009
165
0
Texas
If she is a real catcher, she will have her equipment. :)

Exactly. I bought a nice set for the team out of the team account as well but my serious catchers had their own and brought their own. But I had a couple of utilities kids that could catch, play ss, change the oil, and bring in the cows - and the team equipment was what they used. It was good equipment too.
 
Jun 6, 2009
240
0
Exactly. I bought a nice set for the team out of the team account as well but my serious catchers had their own and brought their own. But I had a couple of utilities kids that could catch, play ss, change the oil, and bring in the cows - and the team equipment was what they used. It was good equipment too.



Excellant qualities in utes. You have done well. :D
 
May 7, 2008
172
0
Hudson, NH
This summer at our summer camps we had 85 catchers from 24 states attend and eveyone brought their own gear except one.

Just 7 or 8 years ago we would have to loan 8-10 kids gear from our collection.

All seem to have their own now.

Coach Weaver
 

Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
Our organization supplies a set of gear to each catcher if they want it. Some get their own gear anyway, others used the gear supplied. Since it's a travel team they can keep from year to year, as long as it's in good condition and fits. When they're done with it we usually donate it to the ISF's program to bring softball to other countries.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
As a father/coach of a U16 travel catcher, I pose the question - "Who in their right mind would ever think of putting on catcher's gear for Game #3 after someone else had worn it for Games #1 and #2 on a hot summer day?" Teenage catcher's sweat and their gear smells - its bad enough wearing your own wet, smelly gear, let alone someone else's!

Once DD decided that catcher was her preferred position during U12 rec ball, she got her own gear for Xmas and was thrilled w/ Santa's elves. Coincidently, this was about the time she gave up the French Horn, which she only chose because the tuba wasn't offered so maybe we broke even!?

In our neck of the woods, the rec teams thru U16 and travel teams U12 or younger typically provide a set of gear for common use, but it becomes the player's responsibility once they start playing the position seriously (i.e., travel U14 or HS) and want/need gear that fits properly and is lightweight and comfortable (Easton Stealth chest/leg guards are DD's current preference).

FWIW - If, in a dire emergency, you ever have to wear borrowed catcher's gear, put it on as quickly as possibly because cold sweat feels much worse than warm sweat and the smell is the same.

Respectfully (and ignorantly) yours as a former catcher,

Greenmonsters
 
Sep 3, 2009
675
0
When my daughter was playing rec ball, the teams had a set (was usually in pretty bad shape). If it didn't fit, they could probably rummage something in another size from the league. Some catchers had their own 'tools of ignorance'. When my daughter got into comp ball at the 10u level, the catchers always had their own. Maybe if the team was real concerned about colors they might have had team equipment, but i dunno. We bought ours off the bat when my daughter decided to catch. It was needed for the lessons, and to practice with pitchers. Seemed a wise investment.

I see alot of parents buy cheapo equipment for their daughters. You've got a girl 40somefeet away blasting a fastball towards your daughters head. Think about it... ;)
 

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