Baseball is the sports pastime in the USA, the game is as traditional to America as ‘American Pie’! It is a great team sport whether it is played at the teen high school level, or at the Major League level.

Just like all other sporting activities, baseball has its own inherent safety risks. Some high school pitchers are capable of delivering the hard baseball to the striker at speeds of 80mph, and this speed can be surpassed by professional players which can cause injury to players such

-          Cuts, bruises

-          Broken limbs, from field collisions, or the bat being thrown carelessly.

-          Concussion from head injury, from being struck by the hard ball.

The wearing of the correct baseball sports gear can go a long way to preventing injury to the players, and each junior or major baseball league has its own rules and requirements for the type if protective clothing to be worn.

Safety Gear to be used for Playing Baseball.

Batting Helmets. Batting helmets must be worn—

-          When the player is batting, waiting to bat or running from base to base.

-          The helmet should correctly fitted with the chin strap securely fastened.

-          Some baseball leagues will insist that the pitcher wears a safety helmet also.

-          The eye shield and faceguard of the helmet must be in good condition

Safety Gear for Catchers. In all baseball leagues it is mandatory for the catcher to wear the following safety items, after all, he is in the direct firing line of the hard ball, and the discarded bat of the striker!

-          Helmet and correctly fitted facemask.

-          Full length chest protector and cupped jock strap (Athletic guard).

-          Shin guards and catchers glove (mitt)

It is usual for any catcher to wear all of these safety items during warm up, practice sessions and whilst in the bullpen.

Baseball Spikes. Any spikes used should be molded plastic cleats rather than metal ones, many youth baseball leagues ban the use of metal cleats anyway.

Baseball Bats. Follow the guidelines of the local league as to which kind of bat to use, some aluminum bats are not allowed by some leagues for striking the ball too hard.

Some baseball players like to wear additional safety gear like sliding pants, which are worn underneath the uniform pants to give protection against scrapes and bruises, shin guards, batting gloves, and mouth guards are readily available and are up to the preference of the individual player.

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