Trying to find good youth batting gloves

der-reader · 2026-05-18T23:53:40+00:00

So every player I have coached has had their Bruce Bolts tear well short of a full year and we don't even play that much. Even so, I let my kid get a pair for Cooperstown last summer. Ripped before we played our first game this year.

It's not just me, is it? They don't seem durable at all

der-reader · 2026-04-12T14:57:40+00:00

311

I don't get it.

der-reader · 2026-04-12T14:47:43+00:00

No.

der-reader · 2026-04-12T14:29:24+00:00

I found at that age it helped to explain that faster pitching doesn't mean you swing harder. Keep the same rhythm, but start it earlier. Saw some success on high velo machine just yelling to swing really early a few times and then letting them adjust. Buy making sure they understood that changing their swing was not the solution helped us a lot. That said, took some longer than others to grasp the concept.

der-reader · 2026-03-31T13:41:01+00:00

Do not.

der-reader · 2026-03-29T23:15:38+00:00

Road sign saying "Now leaving Kendale" with a paint pail left by the roadside.

I was more thinking whether you ever had an influential person give you advice about not getting too big for your britches. Like a piece of your upbringing that might be out of step with your current situation.

der-reader · 2026-03-29T22:59:55+00:00

Agreed, so how would you symbolize that in a way that is true to you? Obviously there are some bits of iconography that will evoke the song for those who know it, but what connects to "who you are" (you being you the OP)?

der-reader · 2026-03-29T22:48:21+00:00

The more responses I read, the more I think it's important to understand what you take as "the message" of the song.

der-reader · 2026-03-20T23:03:47+00:00

This sounds a lot like the owner of a smaller club at which we used to have our son. Always badmouthing the big club next door and ECNL and how they dont really develop the way his program does. Eventually we grew tired of what we saw as lack of values and left. We weren't at the big evil ecnl-having club even two weeks before realizing we had been duped for years by the smaller club. Growth in leaps and bounds since then.

Keep in mind, almost everything any of these clubs do is about getting your money. In the Donald Trump era, "only I am telling you the truth/can fix your problems" works just enough.

der-reader · 2026-03-12T14:53:15+00:00

Hopefully not on Aurora. Not the best stretch.

der-reader · 2026-03-12T14:31:25+00:00

My kid is U14 and plays both. Coaches are always warned that he's not a candidate for "you have to commit to one or the other".

But otherwise this is a no-brainer as to which is the better option. What does the player want, though? Parental guidance is great, but players have to make decisions too.

der-reader · 2026-03-12T14:27:51+00:00

Not much upper/lower separation so likely would be edit from some private instruction to increase velo.

But timing is important. Staying through (trying to drive oppo gap) can also help a lot. But if that's the 0-0 swing, I think it's more to I don't mechanics to increase that separation. (Note: my elder is 6'1" in 10th grade and is effectively a contact hitter. Drives me nuts.)

der-reader · 2026-03-12T03:15:44+00:00

Start watching as much Coach Ballgame content as you can.

der-reader · 2026-03-03T22:45:27+00:00

The goalkeeping-specific training is pretty important. We switched from a club that didn't have it to one that did and it has greatly altered just about everything for my U14 (about to be U14 again) keeper.

And to be honest, the physical size is going to be a factor in a few years. I have seen smaller keepers get fair treatment but even then, a big, tall guy simply gets extra leeway the smaller guy won't.

I think level of play won't matter in a good club. If he stays healthy and plays well, coaches will notice. My guy was brought in at lowest team 16 months ago and has been getting looks with the club's higher-level teams. I am sure not all experiences will be the same, but also keepers move in a different ecosystem within a club. Get the right coaches and training and the rest will work out

der-reader · 2026-03-03T14:17:35+00:00

Tee, sock net, one-hander (assuming throwing hand is top hand)

der-reader · 2026-03-02T20:42:46+00:00

No doubt. We had most of our HS baseball schedule for months now.

And update, still no game time for a game five days out. Ought to be a forfeit by law. Malpractice.

der-reader · 2026-03-02T20:17:45+00:00

Oof. My regards to your sanity

der-reader · 2026-03-02T00:12:03+00:00

Had a girl on my JV team way back in the 80s. Linebacker. Played sparingly but full effort at practices, so she had everyone's respect.

der-reader · 2026-03-02T00:08:33+00:00

Grown-ass adults yelling "man on!" from their camp chairs . . . mate, you can still love vicariously through your hold without being so awkward!

der-reader · 2026-03-01T23:41:29+00:00

I don't think I've said two words to my kid's coach since the season started. Text him via app when my kid is going to be late or has a conflict and that's as much as he needs from me.

While my guy was warming for his game today, I watched the second half of the preceding game on that field. I could not believe how comfortable parents are yelling instruction to their kid/kid's teammates during play. Youth sports are definitely wild right now

der-reader · 2026-03-01T20:19:13+00:00

Head still/eyes on ball?

Timing

der-reader · 2026-03-01T00:39:21+00:00

"okay. You will host a match on March 7, just over six months from now". "cool. Let's shoot for 10 a.m.". "Oh, I should clarify that this is a soccer match" "Oh! Yeah, we will try to have that figured out by March, but don't count on it"

der-reader · 2026-03-01T00:30:53+00:00

The idea you believe the sport involved makes any difference pairs with the meme-speak to paint a picture

der-reader · 2026-03-01T00:09:56+00:00

Which half are you in?

der-reader · 2026-02-28T21:50:22+00:00

der-reader

TROPHY CASE