What size glove does my son need?

It depends on age and position, not age alone. Most youth fielding gloves run 10 to 12 inches, middle infielders go smaller, and outfielders go larger. Catcher's mitts and first base mitts are measured differently and sized on their own scale.

The finder above gives you a size, a web type, and a pocket depth. Here is what those actually mean.

How is a baseball glove measured?

A fielding glove is measured from the heel of the glove to the top of the index finger, following the curve. That is why a 12 inch glove looks smaller than a tape measure would suggest.

Catcher's mitts are measured by circumference, around the outside of the mitt, which is why the numbers jump to the 30s. A 32 inch mitt is not bigger than a 12 inch outfield glove in any meaningful way. It is just a different measurement.

What web type does each position use?

• I-web (open). Middle infield. Dirt falls through and he can see the ball out fast on a double play turn.
• H-web. Third base and outfield. Durable, sheds dirt, holds up to hard contact.
• Closed web. Pitchers. Hides the grip so a hitter or a base coach cannot read the pitch.
• Trapeze. Outfield. Deep and forgiving on balls hit over his head.
• Single post. First base mitts. Long and flexible for scooping short hops.

Should the pocket be deep or shallow?

Shallow for middle infield, deep for outfield. That is the whole rule in one line.

A second baseman or shortstop needs the ball out of the glove fast, and a deep pocket costs him a half second on the transfer. That half second is the difference between an out and a runner safe. An outfielder has time, and what he needs is a pocket that holds a ball he caught on a dead run.

Should I buy a bigger glove so he can grow into it?

No. This is the most common and most expensive mistake parents make.

A glove he cannot close is a glove he does not catch with. Balls hit the pocket and pop straight back out, and he learns to fear the ball instead of attacking it. If he needs two hands to squeeze it shut, it is too big or too stiff, no matter how good the deal was.

Buy for the hand he has this season. He will need a new one in two years regardless.

Which hand does the glove go on?

The opposite hand from the one he throws with. A right-handed thrower wears the glove on his left hand, so he needs a glove labeled RHT or "right hand throw." A left-handed thrower needs LHT.

The labeling confuses almost everybody. The glove is named for the throwing hand, not the hand it goes on.

How do I break in a new glove?

Play catch with it. That is genuinely the best method and nothing else comes close.

A light coat of glove conditioner helps, applied sparingly. Skip the shortcuts you will read online. Microwaving a glove, baking it, or soaking it in water breaks down the leather and shortens its life considerably. A glove broken in properly over a few weeks lasts years. One cooked in an oven does not.

For a player in his first or second season, buy a glove that is already soft enough to close on day one. Break-in is a project for a player old enough to care about it.