General youth-softball guidance, not a league rulebook. Sizes below get you close; the best test is still the kid catching with it.
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A softball is bigger, so the glove is built differently
The gap parents miss is the ball itself: a youth softball is 11 to 12 inches around, a baseball is about 9. The pocket that suits it is rounder and deeper, and fastpitch gloves generally run about half an inch to an inch larger than a baseball glove for the same kid.
- Round and deep beats long and flat — a softball sits in a wider pocket, so a glove cut for a baseball tends to swallow it or let it roll out.
- Do not hand down a baseball glove if you can avoid it. The leather, the pocket shape, and the webbing are all cut for a smaller ball.
- Same fit rule as baseball: the smallest glove the player can close one-handed wins. Bigger is not better at any age.
- Check the league first. Some leagues set a maximum glove size or require a specific web type by division.
The youth softball glove size chart
Age gets you into the right aisle. Where the rows overlap, size down — control beats room to grow.
| Player age | Glove size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4–6 | 9" – 10" | Tee Ball / coach pitch; easy-open synthetic, sold with a soft ball |
| 7–8 | 10" – 10.5" | first real glove; ball must land in the pocket and stay |
| 9–10 | 10.5" – 11" | 10U — position starts to matter; infield smaller, outfield deeper |
| 11–12 | 11" – 11.5" | 12U fastpitch; catchers and 1B move to dedicated mitts |
| 13–14 | 11.5" – 12" | 14U; size by position more than by age now |
| 15+ | 12" – 13" | 16U and up; position decides the glove |
Ranges generalize most fastpitch glove charts and brand sizing. Always defer to your league and the player's own fit.
Measuring the kid's actual hand
A 30-second measurement beats the age on the box — two 9-year-olds can be two glove sizes apart.
How to measure
- Measure from the crease at the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger.
- Add about an inch for the fingers sitting inside the glove.
- A tighter measurement means the smaller end of that age row.
Ballpark vs hand size
- Hand under 5.5" → 9–10" glove (roughly ages 4–6).
- Hand 5.5–6.5" → 10–10.5" glove (roughly ages 7–9).
- Hand 6.5–7.5" → 10.5–11.5" glove (roughly ages 9–12).
- Over ~7.5" → go by position and league level.
When position starts deciding the glove
One all-purpose glove covers the early years. Position sizing becomes real around 10U and 12U when the infield tightens up.
- Infield — smaller, shallower pocket so the ball transfers to the throwing hand fast.
- Outfield — deeper pocket and a bit more length for one-hand grabs on the run.
- First base — a dedicated 1B mitt: longer, closed web, no fingers, built for scooping.
- Catcher — a real catcher's mitt. A fielder's glove cannot absorb a season of pitches safely.
Catcher's mitt and first-base mitt sizing
Mitts are sized by age band rather than by hand, and they are worth buying once the kid actually plays the position.
| Mitt type | Typical age | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Catcher's mitt | 8U – 10U | 12.5" – 13" |
| Catcher's mitt | 12U | 13" – 13.5" |
| Catcher's mitt | 14U+ | 13.5" – 14"+ |
| First-base mitt | 10U – 12U | 12" – 12.5" |
| First-base mitt | 14U+ | 12.5" – 13" |
Mitt sizes are manufacturer ranges, not league rules. Check whether your league requires a specific web or a maximum size by division.
The four mistakes that send a glove back
Almost every return comes down to one of these.
- Buying for next year. A glove that does not close this season does not teach catching this season.
- Buying a baseball glove for softball. The pocket is shaped for a smaller ball and will fight the player.
- Ignoring the web. Closed webs suit infielders and catchers; open webs suit outfielders who need to see the ball in the glove.
- Skip the hand test. Have the kid close it one-handed in the store. If they cannot, it is too big — every time.
Size by the chart for the aisle, by the hand for the fit, and always buy the smallest glove the player can close one-handed. Softball gloves run larger than baseball gloves because the ball is bigger, so use the softball chart — not the hand-me-down baseball one.