Baseball Basics

Gearing up for a game of baseball?

Is your child going to attend a youth camp or join a school team? Thinking of playing a little catch with the kids for the first time? If you or they haven't been active for a while don't be fooled by thinking they can throw and catch for an hour without feeling it. According to experts, the act of throwing creates a great amount of twisting force (called torque) into the shoulder. Many baseball injuries are to the shoulder, so be careful when starting out!

Whether you or your child are joining a recreational league, playing on a school team or starting your own team, there are many items that you need to purchase to make the game safe and comfortable, and which also enhances performance.

Items to shop for include:

Bats for Play and Practice
Shoes with Cleats
Gloves
Padded Sliding Shorts
Support Socks
Jerseys and Pants (in cold weather you need thermal outerwear)
Under-gear
Hats, Caps and Belts

Don't forget the equipment bag to carry all this gear!

If you are a catcher--don't forget that you need a catcher's helmet, mitt, and chest protector!

If you want to improve your game, try some training aides like:

Pitching machines
Batting trainers
Where ever you play, take a long a first aid kit!