Choosing the Right Baseball Cleats For Your Child

Choosing the right pair of cleats for your baseball player is important to maximize performance and comfort. Cleats are designed to support the types of movements that happen in each sport and using the wrong ones could damage the field, reduce performance or even cause injury.

Baseball cleats offer traction for quick, sharp movements and provide the leverage needed for hitting. They’re typically made of thick materials to absorb impacts, and many are high- or mid-cut to support ankles during impact and quick changes in direction.

Molded cleats have durable rubber studs attached to their soles for traction. They’re flexible and lightweight but sturdy enough to offer good traction for most fields and players of all ages. They’re also safe for turf fields and generally less expensive than metal cleats.

Metal cleats have metal spikes on the bottom of the soles for increased traction and are generally only allowed for use on grass or dirt fields. They’re more expensive than molded cleats and may require maintenance to prevent rusting, so check with your league before buying them for your child.

When shopping for cleats, it’s best to try them on while wearing a pair of socks similar to those they’ll be playing in. The cleats should fit snugly but not tightly so that they’re comfortable and don’t slip or pinch. Overly tight cleats can cause blisters and cut off circulation. Ill-fitting cleats also reduce your child’s balance and agility and may lead to injuries from the repetitive pounding on their feet while playing.