We at X Bats are great believers and supporters of youth sports. We believe it teaches young people great life lessons with which they can build a foundation for a lifetime of success in any of their endeavors. 

Athletes have unique skill sets developed over their entire lives starting at a very early age

• They learn to develop a strong consistent Work Ethic
• They develop Mental Toughness from training and competing
• They are Goal Oriented
• They learn to Deal with Failure
• They learn to Cope with Success
• They learn to Push Themselves to Achieve Their Goals
• They develop a Competitive Drive
• They learn to Perform Under Pressure
• They learn how to Get the Job Sone
• They learn how to Go the Extra Mile to win
• They are Used to Training, Taking Instruction, Being Coached
• They learn to Adapt to changing situations
• Etc, etc

X Bats is dedicated to promoting health and safety in young athletes to encourage them to continue to play and enjoy sports for their entire lives.

This is a theme we would like to focus on to help parents, coaches and players.

We welcome all comments and insights that will be of value to all young athletes as well as their parents and coaches.

Why Baseball Safety Is Important

Baseball is by no means a dangerous sport. But it can present a very real risk of injuries from things like wild pitches, batted balls, and collisions in the field.

At the high-school level, some pitchers can throw fastballs that reach 80-plus miles per hour, speedy enough to cause painful welts, broken bones, even concussions. Excessive pitching and improper throwing mechanics can lead to major league arm problems, and base runners and fielders frequently collide while running at top speed.

Gear Guidelines

As with all sports, wearing and using the right gear can go a long way toward preventing injuries. The amount of equipment required for baseball isn't on par with football or hockey, but it is every bit as important. Players need to be sure they always have all the gear required by their league.

Most leagues will insist on the following:

• Batting helmets must be worn whenever a player is at bat, waiting to bat, or running the bases. Some leagues may even require pitchers to wear them. Helmets should always fit properly and be worn correctly. If the helmet has a chin strap, it should be fastened, and if the helmet has an eye shield or other faceguard, this should be in good condition, securely attached to the helmet.
• A catcher should always wear a helmet, facemask, throat guard, full-length chest protector, athletic supporter with a cup, shin guards and a catcher's mitt whenever they are catching pitches, whether it's in the game, in the bullpen or during warm-ups.
• Baseball spikes should have molded plastic cleats rather than metal ones. Most youth leagues don't allow spikes with metal cleats.
• Some leagues have guidelines dictating what kind of bat a player can use. Some aluminum bats may be banned for hitting batted balls too hard. Be sure to check the league's policy before choosing a bat.
• All players should wear athletic supporters; most, particularly pitchers and infielders, should wear protective cups. Rules regarding which players must wear cups vary from league to league.
• Additional gear that some players like includes sliding pants, which are meant to go under baseball pants to protect against scrapes and cuts; batting gloves, which can keep hands from getting sore while hitting; shin and foot guards, which are designed to protect against balls fouled straight down; and mouthguards.