Below you'll find a quick guide highlighting the equipment and uniform information you'll need to purchase or provided by the league. Below that, you'll find a comprehensive guide for each individual piece of equipment.

• 3rd-6th Grade In-House players and all traveling players are required to purchase plain black softball pants.
• New in 2024 - Traveling players will be provided one pair of plain scarlet red socks and one pair of white socks with red and black stripes. 
• Many players wear fielding face guards at traveling level and we recommend wearing one, especially at pitcher, 3rd and 1st base
• 3rd-6th grade in-house: required to wear fielding face guard at pitcher, 3rd and 1st base. Recommended for all other positions. Each team is provided 1 fielding face guard if there is a player at pitchers, 1st or 3rd that needs one.

Equipment

• Amazon - Bats | Gloves | Fielder's Masks | Cleats | Helmet
• Dick's Sporting Goods
• Softball Rampage
• Just Bats
• Just Ball Gloves
• Play it Again Sports
• Softball Junk

Brd-6th grade and Traveling players should  purchase their own black pants. The black pants should be plain black with no stripes or piping on the leg or pockets. They can be any brand.

There are many options available to purchase black softball pants. 

Dick's Sporting Goods,  Scheels, and Play it Again Sports often have black pants available in store. If buying online, here are our recommendations:

Champro Traditional Low Rise

• Champro Womens sizes avaialble @ Amazon
• Champro Youth sizes available @ Amazon 
• Rip-It 4 way stretch softball pants (available at Rip It- Womens and youth sizes @ Rip-It)
• Mizuno - available on Amazon
• Under Armour - available on Amazon
• Easton - available on Amazon
• Demarini - available on Amazon

Many other brands available online.

The key to finding a perfect softball bat is broken down into 3 sections:

1. The length of the bat should be based on the height and weight of the player.
2. The weight of the bat should be based on the age of the player.
3. The bat material should be based on your price range and preference.

Length of the Bat:

Using the chart below, find your player's weight on the left side and their height on the right side. Where the two meet is the bat length you should purchase.

Weight of the Bat

The weight of the bat is based on the length of the bat from above, and the player's age. Bat weights are typically labeled like "-10". "-10" means the bat is 10 less ounces than its length in inches. If the bat was 29", the weight is 19oz.

Bat Material

Fastpitch softball bats are available in both aluminum alloy and composite designs. Composite bats have become very popular at the traveling age levels as this material often offers a larger sweet spot on the bat and reduce vibration. This tends to provide players with a little more pop when making good contact. However, composite bats are typically far more expensive than similar bats that are aluminum alloy.  If they continue playing into higher levels of 10U or 12U, purchasing a composite bat becomes a matter of personal preference and affordability, but not required. The majority of players 12U+ are now using Composite bats. 50-70% of experienced 10U players.

The most common composite bats used among travel players:

• High End Models $350+
  • Louisville Meta, Louisville LXT, Louisville Xeno
  • Easton Ghost
  • Rawlings Mantra
  • Demarini Whisper, Demarini Prism, Demarini CF Zen
  • Marucci Echo Connect,
  • Mizuno CRBN2
  • Anderson RocketTech Carbon/CarbonLite
• Middle Models - $300 range
  • Axe AvengePro
  • Marucci Echo DMND
  • Mizuno CRBN1
  • Anderson RocketTech CarbonLite
  • Dudley Doom
• Value Models - Less than $300
  • Louisville Nexus 
  • Demarini  Spryte

The bat prices listed above are for current model year. It is common for last year's model to be discounted $50-100 and for models 2 years old to be discounted $100-$150. Some of the manufacturers have a one day say once per year where bats are heavily discounted to liquidate their older models.

Alloy Bats

There are many alloy bats in the $50-$150 price range that are very commonly used by all kids up through 10U.

Glove Sizing Chart

Beginner Gloves for Early In-House levels:
At the 4-8 year old levels, gloves should be soft enough where they are easy to squeeze and close.  Kids are not playing specific positions so there is no need to purchase an infielder or outfielder glove.

Gloves for 10U and up
As players get older, they may begin to play specific positions in the infield or outfield. Visit the link below for more information regarding infield gloves, outfield gloves, first baseman gloves, and catchers gloves. https://www.baseballmonkey.com/baseball-softball-glove-buying-guide

Stores carrying gloves

• Dick's Sporting Goods
• Play It Again Sports
• Tons of stores online

Helmet Size
The most important factor in purchasing a batting helmet is the fit. There is a head size chart shown below based on the measured circumference of the player's head. Use this chart as a guide when selecting and trying on a helmet.

When a helmet fits properly, the helmet should not wobble on your child's head. (No matter how cool the color is and how much she wants it, if it wobbles it is going to be a problem.) Have her run up and down the aisle in the store and check to make sure there is no wobble. A girl's head size changes very little with time, so it is very unlikey that she will "grow into it" soon.

Be aware that "one size fits all" is misleading. If you check the "one size fits all" ranges, you will see a variance: 6 5/8 to 7 5/8, 6 7/8 to 7 1/2, etc. Many of the younger girls have 6 1/2 head sizes or smaller. Note that head size does not always correlate to body size. Two girls of the same height may have very different head sizes.

7 1/8

Faceguard
ASA and NAFA rules now require players to have faceguards attached to the helmet. MHAA is subject to these same rules once girls start participating at the 10U level. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you purchase a helmet with a faceguard for the younger in-house levels as well for two reasons: 1) Players will become accustomed to having the faceguard on the helmet by the time they reach 10U; 2) There's a good chance you'll prevent yourself from having to purchase another helmet when they move up to 10U unless they grow out of it. 

If you purchase a helmet without a face guard attached, ask at the store personnel to attach it or show you exactly how to do it. It normally takes only a screw driver and patience, but be sure you see how to do it before you try.

Approved Helmet
Be sure to purchase a NOCSAE-approved helmet with a NOCSAE faceguard attached. NOCSAE-approved helmets have an embossed stamp on the back or the bill of the helmet, and the attached faceguard will also have a plate or a sticker.

Color
Parents should attempt to purchase helmets that are red, or red/white, red/gray, or red/black combination. This is not mandatory at the in-house level, but MHAA may soon be implementing requirements at the traveling levels to have specific color helmets that match MHAA Warriors Red, Gold, and Black uniforms. If you already have a helmet at the 6U/8U level that is not red or red/white or red/gray or red/black, do not feel obligated to purchase a new helmet due to color.

Stores carrying helmets

• Dick's Sporting Goods - Fastpitch Helmets
• Play It Again Sports
• Amazon - Youth Helmets
• Epic Sports
• and a million more placed online

Fielding facemasks/faceguards are not required at the in-house levels for kids 4-8 years old (PK-2nd grade).

Starting at 3rd grade where kids begin playing with a hard ball, it is common for infielders to wear masks. For traveling 10U levels, most associations require all players to wear one. We only require that 3rd base, pitcher and 1st base wear a mask at 3rd-6th grade in-house as well as 10U traveling.

Faceguards come in 2 material options:

Metal
Metal faceguards are more durable and will last longer than plastic. Younger youth players may be better off starting with plastic because they are lighter, but it will come down to comfort and fit.

Plastic
Typically slightly cheaper than the metal alternative and possibly a bit lighter. A great option for players to initially get used to the faceguard and a good option even later if it is more comfortable for the player.

Some options online

• Schutt face guard
• Rip It Fielding Mask
• Defender Sports Shield (Plastic)

Metal cleats are only allowed at the 14U, 16U, and 18U levels. 

Please purchase Rubber Molded or Plastic Molded Cleats for all other age levels.

Cleats are required at traveling levels and highly recommended for in-house levels to prevent injuries while running. The field and bases can be slippery if players are not wearing cleats.

Batting Gloves

Batting gloves are not necessary. If you are interested in them, Nike has a good sizing chart guide. https://help-en-us.nike.com/app/answer/article/size-chart-gear-gloves-baseball-batting/a_id/32263/country/us

Softball Bags

Bags come in 3-4 varieties - Duffle Bag, Roller Bag, Totes, and some other varieties. Most major sites and retailers of sporting goods will carry all options. It's a matter of preference and price point.

A customized Warriors Fastpitch bag will be made available for purchase in February each year.

Balls to use at home

Balls are provided by TRAA for practice but to make sure you're purchasing the correct softballs for use at home:

• 6U/PK-K: 10" softies - "Softies" are reduced compression balls with more squeeze in them to prevent injury.
  • Some options include Diamond RC, Rawlings Sof-Dot, 
• 8U/1st-2nd: 11" softies - "Softies" are reduced compression balls with more squeeze to prevent injury
  • Some options include Incrediball, ChampPro Safe-T Soft, Diamond RC
• 10U/3rd-6th In-Hosue: 11" - Any ASA certified ball will do, Dudley SBC 11 are the balls used in games but difficult to find at retail stores. Look for ASA certified balls with raised laces. Rawlings Dream Seam and Wilson make similar raised lace balls.
• 12U: 12" Any ASA certified balls. Dudley SBC 12 are the balls used in games but difficult to find at retail stores. Looks for ASA certified balls with raised laces. Rawlings Dream Seam and Wilson make similar raised lace balls.

Note: For indoor use in gyms, softies (reduced compression balls) are required.

Other Balls for Softball Practice/Training

• Lite Flite Balls
  • Great for tee or soft toss. These work with lite flite pitching machines as well.
• Whiffle Balls
  • Good for tees or soft toss
• Reaction Balls
  • Odd shaped balls to practice bad hops for fielding and hand eye coordination drills
• Weighted Throwing Softballs
  • Intended to strengthen arms. Please use with caution and learn about how to use them before practicing with them. Incorrect use can cause injury.
• Weighted Hitting Balls
  • Improve power and follow through on swings
  • Batting practice in tight spaces with live pitching

BACKyard training

• Bownets / Cages / Screens
  • Great for use in the backyard or garage for hitting balls into with softoss or tees
• Tees
  • Not just for toddlers. Tees are an important batting training tool throughout all age levels
• Ball Rebounders / Bounce Back
• Lite Flite Pitching machine for lite flite balls only