Equipment

The NYSL list of mandatory player equipment (regardless of age, league or division) includes bat, glove, batting helmet with FACE CAGE and fielding mask. The NYSL does not supply these items so each player is responsible for their own equipment. Regardless of position EVERY player in NYSL is REQUIRED to wear a facemask when playing in the field. This mandatory policy assures that all players will be protected throughout the season. 

Softballs: The NYSL supplies each team with a bucket of softballs to practice with during the season as well as “new” leather balls for each home game. Most players have at least 1 or 2 softballs of their own to practice with at home. The size of a softball is the circumference of the ball given in inches. U6 and U8 use 11” softie softballs. These softballs are actually soft to the touch while still retaining a hard center. U10 players play with 11” hard softballs and U12 and up play with 12” hard softballs.

Gloves: Selecting a glove is a relatively simple process and there are many sources of information on the web. 

Bats: Although there is plenty of good information on the web regarding how to choose a softball bat, it can see seem like a daunting task. Just like a glove, a bat has to fit the individual player. Not only does the bat need to feel comfortable, but the player must also be able to swing it effectively (i.e. quick swing). First choose a bat that was designed for fast-pitch softball since it differs in shape from a slow-pitch bat. Second, make sure the bat has the ASA (American Softball Association) emblem on it. These are the only bats that are allowed in all the softball leagues the NYSL plays in and umpires will check the equipment before games.

After that, the two most important points to consider when choosing a bat is its length and weight. The length of the bat expressed in inches is printed on the main part of the bat and/or on the handle end. The weight of the bat expressed in ounces and is found in the same locations. To make matters more confusing sometimes the bat weight is not listed directly but rather you will see the term “Drop -#” or “- #” where the # sign represents a number usually somewhere around 9 or 10. In this case, in order to determine the bats weight you take the length and subtract the number represented by the # sign. As an example, a 30” bat with a “Drop -9” printed on it means that the bat weighs 21 ounces. Use the recommended guidelines for bat size and then go up or down in size or weight as necessary. It is almost impossible to buy bats with the idea that a player will grow into them. Even though you can choke up on the bat to reduce the length, it is very surprising how much an extra ounce or two can affect the players swing. 

Cleats: Cleats are required from U10 and up. Metal spikes are prohibited!

Equipment Bags: How do I carry all this stuff? There are many different options for carrying all of the players’ equipment to and from the field. While a specific equipment bag is not necessary, it does tend to make your life easier and there certainly are many different styles and options to choose from. Make sure that any bag you select can actually fit your helmet, a few softballs, a bat, and your glove together. Sometimes the bags appear large until you start putting things into them. There is nothing worse than purchasing an equipment bag only to find out it’s easier to carry the helmet rather than trying to stuff it into the bag. Keep in mind that although bags with wheels are available, the bag will most often be carted across dirt, rocks and grass which tend to negate the usefulness of the wheels.



Please contact the NYSL with any questions.