I coach my daughters 7U softball team. Most of the girls are still learning how to catch. Would introducing them to a pancake glove at such an early stage hurt more than help?
I would believe that using a pancake glove at any level would be a very good thing. Just make sure that you adjust the velocity of the ball they are learning to catch. A pancake glove will force them to field correctly. Never too early for that!
I don't see how a pancake glove would help kids that young. I coach 10U girls and 15U boys (had them since 8U) and I know it wouldn't have helped them UNLESS they had the proper fielding fundamentals down first.
I worked on their feet first and then hands.
I worked on their feet first and then hands.
We used what were called goofy gloves. They were old gloves with the web taken out. In essence it was the same thing but our coach in college wanted us to have the feeling of the glove being on our hand.
Another glove I like to use is the small glove. Mizuno, Akadema, Valle, and others make a small training glove (usually size 9.5 - 10 inch) that gives players the feel of a real glove but smaller so you really have to use the hands properly.
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