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You want your kid to play t-ball/baseball/softball/coach pitch but have no idea how to make that happen. This mama rode horses – I had zero clue how the baseball life worked. But I figured it out and you will too!
Know What You’re Getting Into
Fair warning, mama. You are making a legit time commitment. Every practice, game, drive to and from events adds up. And if you’re working on top of everything else, go ahead and be prepared to buy dinner from the concession stand (crying is involved when the field is too small to have one) or a fast food restaurant on ball nights.
So that’s money for meals out and gas money so far, now on to ball. Set aside funds for ball pictures, registration fees, uniform, cleats, and baseball gear. Talk to the coach at the first practice to find out exactly what gear is a must-have and what the league provides for them.
Know that, in our house at least, all non-essentials come to a grinding halt during baseball season. We live at the ballfield now. The younger sibling does her outside play on the field’s bleachers while brother is out there practicing. Pretty sure she’ll be more in to baseball than he is eventually (mine son has straight-up told me he just likes baseball to hang out with people) but, for now, snackage during games is all she cares about.
Sign That Kid Up
Absolutely check out your local recreation team first. Try the next county over if yours doesn’t have teams or if you happen to live way closer to their fields than your own. Trust me on this one, mama. Your kid won’t care where they play and you will have less stress – win, win! Sure, there are bigger league and travel options but, if this is your first rodeo with baseball, hold off on spending the big bucks until you’re sure your kiddo is gonna stick with it.
Be super involved at the very beginning as much as you are able – this is when coaches are setting up the practice schedule and deciding times. If that’s not a consideration for you, great. If it is, get in there and be heard and honest. They may not be able to cater the whole schedule around your working hours but they will be aware and make it work when necessary.
Gear For Your Kid
Unless your little star is going big-league right out of the gate, hold off on breaking the bank with baseball gear. It gets pricey fast and kids grow out of it even faster.
Again, check with your coach. Many rec leagues will have helmets and bats for the kiddos to use already. Your biggest concern for actually gear will be cleats and a glove. Jerseys and hats are typically included in the registration fee so socks and pants will be your uniform buys. Shop sales for affordable options that don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Go on your personal social media and send an all-call out to your friends. Let them know you’re in the market for used baseball gear and what size(s) you need. I’ve managed to find a ton just by word-of-mouth. Online marketplaces are also great places to check. And never underestimate the power of yard sales and secondhand stores – tons of stuff that kiddos quickly outgrew and is practically new.
Attire for Your Kid’s Biggest Fans
Don’t forget your own gear, mama! You can absolutely be a legit baseball mom for not a lot of money. And, if you don’t want to spend anything at all, just where team colors every game and it’s a win!
This is my personal favorite baseball mom shirt. It’s comfy, oversized and works for any team. Pro-tip: don’t personalize shirts and gear with your kiddo’s name or number so you can use it for more than one season and/or child.
Cute baseball earrings? Check! This set has a dressy pair and a more laid-back pair. Done and done. Grab a hat, it’s going to be hot out there. If you don’t already have one, grab a baseball mom approved one!
And don’t forget the younger siblings! They may not know the ins and outs of baseball yet but they want in on the family fun too! This shirt was such a hit at the field last season – everyone loved it. And here’s a cute one for all the little brothers out there!
Ball Park Survival Pack
Yeah, we’re not done yet. You can absolutely skimp on this part and just use the bleachers if you want – but these were worth the investment for me. Plus, I use it all on our family adventures days too so it was well-worth it.
Grab a good folding chair. I had a toddler at the time who wanted to live on my lap (until she wanted down, of course…) so this one with the extra room was perfect. Bonus, I could toss our snack trash in the pouch on the back of the chair until time to go.
Snackage. Grab the non-melty granola bars (sorry, mama – chocolate chips are a nightmare here), meat sticks, and non-dairy pouches. My other favorite – FRUIT. Load up on the fruit – it’s not just feeding your babies, it’s keeping them hydrated too! Throw some water bottles in there too and you’ll all survive the heat!
Not necessary but it makes like sooo much easier – a wagon to carry it all (plus the toddler…). This wagon has gone – and continues to go – everywhere with us. I can move mountains with this thing.
Now do what you do best, mama. Cheer for that baby. Love them and support them no matter how many times they miss or play in the dirt while fielding (look at me using a baseball term!!). Cheer for every attempt, cheer for the effort, and cheer when their happy. Just support them whether or not they end up liking it or sticking with it. And never forget, mama – you’ve got this!