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Batting helmets
Fastpitch batting helmets come with a face mask attached, because pitches often come in low toward the face.
What to look for
- A fastpitch helmet with a face mask. Most leagues require the mask.
- The NOCSAE mark on both the helmet and the mask. NOCSAE sets the safety standard for batting helmets.
- A softball face mask, not a baseball one. Masks are tested for one ball size. A softball mask is labeled for softballs only, and a baseball mask's spacing isn't made for a softball.
- Room for a ponytail, if she wears one. Many fastpitch helmets have an opening in the back.
How to measure her head
- Use a soft tape measure, or a piece of string and a ruler.
- Wrap it around her head about one inch above her eyebrows and just above her ears, around the widest part.
- Keep it level and snug, not tight. Measure twice.
- Find her hat size in the chart below, then match it to the brand's helmet chart.
Every brand covers a slightly different range of hat sizes in each helmet size, so check the brand's chart.
How it should fit
- Do the shake test. She shakes her head side to side and nods. The helmet should move with her head, not slide around.
- It sits level, just above her eyebrows, not tipped back.
- The mask doesn't touch her face.
- A chin strap or extra padding can help a slightly loose helmet on a younger player.
Common mistakes
- Buying a helmet to grow into. Heads don't grow much after about age 10. A loose helmet moves on impact and protects less.
- Keeping a cracked helmet. Replace any helmet with a crack in the shell.
- Swapping masks between sports. Use the mask made and labeled for softball.
First-season tip: Even when a team shares helmets, having her own gives a better fit and is more hygienic. Catcher's helmets are different from batting helmets. See Catcher's gear.
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