Catcher Size Guide
A catcher's helmet needs to be very comfortable and is important to find one that will match your player's needs the best. The catcher's mask is constantly being taken off and put back on between batters and inning and on past balls, so it takes a lot of abuse. For this reason it is important to buy a helmet that can stand up to the abuse that you put it through.
Each manufacturer has a different method of sizing, but for the most part, there are two sizes; youth and adult. Some manufacturers identify them simply as small and large. For the most part, it is based on hat size and every product has their size range. The way to find your hat size is to measure around your head, right above the ears with a fabric tape measure.
If you do not know your hat size, a rough way to estimate size is that kids younger than 12 years old tend to wear the small size and kids over 13 years old tend to wear the adult size.
Chest Protector
To properly measure for your chest protector, start from the base of your neck and measure right above the waist line. It is important to take the measurement with light clothing on, a sweatshirt or jacket will cause an inaccurate measurement. This measurement does not include the groin protector. The reason you measure all the way to the waist is to cover the stomach from potential injuries. Using the measurement you took, you want to choose a manufacture size that is within a half an inch of that measurement. Most manufacturers divide their sizing into three categories; youth, intermediate, and adult. These categories can be separated roughly by age as; youth as 9-12 years old, intermediate as 12-15, adult as 16+. These are only rough estimates and you should rely on your own measurement. Watch the video above for more information.
Leg Guards
To properly measure for a catcher leg guard, use a cloth tape measure and go from the middle of the knee to the top of the ankle bone. This is a way to get a rough estimate. The next part comes when looking a manufacturer sizes. Using the measurement you took, you should choose a size within a half an inch of the measurement. Most manufacturers divide their sizing into three categories; youth, intermediate, and adult. These categories can be separated roughly by age as; youth as 9-12 years old, intermediate as 12-15, adult as 16+.
Leg guards are just as adjustable as chest protectors with the straps that hold it in place. It is important to adjust these before using them in a game for the first time. It is also important to wear baseball pants while adjusting them so that you can get a proper measurement and feel for the leg guards. Besides the straps, the knee cap is also adjustable. It is attached with Velcro and can be adjusted up and down to ensure a proper fit. Watch the video above for more information.