8 year old playing catcher on Select Team

[TexasRed]

At that age , I always had my catchers use fastpitch catchers mitts. It sounds crazy but they are much lighter and thinner and easier for kids that age to use and break in. Use the shaving cream and oven method or buy a can of Hot Glove and follow the directions. It works!

[flufster]

My 9 year old started with a new one without much issue...try the mizzuno gloves cuz they seem to have softer leather and are not too bad on the pocket book....It was soft enough that he didnt have any issues opening and closing it. I just made him use it playing catch and during warm up before games and practices about 1/2 the time.

[Triple 7]

Wilson has a great "Game Ready" Catchers mitt that I bought for my son when his mit broke it the middle of a tournament. Wilson A800

[gander]

I can check at my mom's house this weekend when I go back into town, I'm pretty sure I have one laying around there from my little league days

[CMLambin]

Some of my teammates microwave there glove for a couple minutes to loosen it up

[BBD19]

If you buy a new one but the cheap Colgate shaving cream on it, stick a ball in it and rubber band around it toehold it closed. Let it sit a day or so then wipe it off. It was the best thing I found that works...

^^^ This^^^^
The shaving cream doesn't add the weight to the glove like oil or other conditioners! What your looking for is the lanolin in it!

[big_smith]

Barcelona Sports has a steam machine. They will steam a new glove and it is game ready when you walk out. I was in a bind a couple years back after my kiddo's glove disentegrated during the season. I did not have time to break one in. Barcelona hooked me up, and he played with it that night.

[Twiceshooter]

If you use shaving cream be sure to use old fashioned shaving cream not the gel. Like BBD19 said, it is the lanolin that works to make the glove break in.

[Mike]

I like the idea of the Fast Pitch Mitt, I sent one over as well as a regular mitt, I've use that trick for many years.

Funny story, I had an opposing All Star team coach "protest" my son's Louisville Fast Pitch mitt as it was not "baseball equipment" since it was labeled TPS and not TPX. They pitched a fit and we argued about it for several minutes and they even called the Area Tournament Director and he said "well, if it's a softball glove then it really isn't meant for baseball." Pansy *** Director!! I give him his other, bigger catcher's mitt and the next batter is up, foul tip, Brant spins, runs it down and snags it for the 3rd out in front of their fans. He then hands the game ball to the coach (who was complaining) that is standing right there and says, "here you go coach, your pitcher will need this, good thing I had this bigger glove, I might have missed it with my other one." Classic.