Check Your Kid’s Age and Skill Level Before Choosing Lacrosse Gloves
The right lacrosse gloves depend heavily on your child’s age and skill level on the field or in the box. For example, brand new players under 7 may do fine with basic starter gloves with some padding. However, older kids playing elite travel lacrosse need advanced protection and high-performance features to take their game to the next level.
Know the Difference Between Gloves for Attackers, Middies, and Defenders
Lacrosse gloves differ by position. Attackers and midfielders prioritize comfortable, flexible gloves that aid catching, throwing, and scooping. Defenders need heavyweight gloves with maximum padding and protection to knock down shots. Goalies have specialized gloves with extra padding and stickiness to stop point blank shots.
Size Your Kid’s Gloves Based on Careful Hand Measurements
Ill-fitting gloves hinder performance and can cause injury. When sizing youth lacrosse gloves, carefully measure hand length and circumference with a soft measuring tape. Compare those measurements to size charts from top brands like Warrior, Maverik, and STX to find the best fit.
Look for Adjustable Cinch Straps for a Secure, Customizable Fit
Youth lacrosse gloves with cinch straps across the wrist allow players to tighten or loosen the fit. This adjustable closure provides added security during intense game action. It also accommodates growth spurts and different hand sizes across seasons.
Prioritize Padding and Leather in High Wear Areas
Quality lacrosse gloves have ample padding in the palm, fingers, and thumb to absorb checks and passes. Tough leather resists rips and reinforced stitching prevents blown-out seams. Focus padding around the wrist and hands since beginners tend to check with their hands not their sticks.
Ensure Excellent Dexterity for Catching and Throwing
Stiff, bulky gloves make it hard for young players to handle the ball. Look for flexible, lightweight gloves that contour to the hand. Move the fingers around to ensure full motion for catching, scooping, passing, and shooting on goal.
Pick Youth-Specific Gloves for More Protection
Many brands now offer lacrosse gloves designed for younger players. These provide more padding across the fingers and back of hand. Youth gloves also feature softer, more flexible materials to aid development of stick skills.
Compare All the Top Glove Brands Like Warrior, Maverik, and STX
When buying the first pair of lacrosse gloves, try on different brands to find the best fit. Leading manufacturers like Warrior, Maverik, STX, Brine, and Nike all make excellent youth gloves. As kids advance, they may prefer certain brands over others.
Warrior Burn Next Gloves: Great Protection and Mobility at a Budget Price
Warrior Burn Next gloves offer outstanding value in youth lacrosse gloves. At around $50, they provide stellar protection with ample padding across the fingers and back of hand. The adjustable cuff and flexible materials also allow great dexterity for developing stick skills.
Get Proper Wrist Support to Avoid Injury
Tight cuffs with ample wrist padding keep wrists stable when cradling, passing, and shooting. This minimizes wrist sprains and slashes. Some gloves also feature thumb locks that prevent hyper-extension when checking.
Pick Fun Colors and Patterns for Visibility and Confidence
Youth lacrosse gloves come in vibrant colors and cool graphics so players look and feel like rockstars. Bold designs stand out on the field for better visibility. Matching gloves and helmets also give young athletes a unified, professional look.
Read Reviews and Ask Experienced Players for Recommendations
Before purchasing lacrosse gloves, read reviews and ask experienced youth players for input. They can provide firsthand advice on sizing, durability, and performance of different gloves. Also ask coaches – they know the gear that performs best on the field.
Shop Clearance Sales Before the Season Starts
Find the best deals on lacrosse gloves by shopping clearance sales in the off-season. Retailers like Lacrosse Monkey and Amazon deeply discount gloves in the fall and winter months. This allows you to stock up on quality gear at affordable prices before spring tryouts.
Replace Youth Gloves Annually as Your Player’s Hands Grow
Kids’ hands grow rapidly, so they will likely need new gloves every season. Properly fitted gloves improve ball control and reduce injury risk. Schedule annual glove measurements and budget for new pairs each year to keep your young athlete safe and competitive.
Know the Difference Between Gloves for Attackers, Middies, and Defenders
When selecting the perfect pair of lacrosse gloves for your young athlete, it’s crucial to consider their position on the field or in the box. Attackers and midfielders focus on stickhandling, so they need lightweight, flexible gloves with maximum dexterity. The palms and fingers have less padding to optimize feel while cradling, passing, and shooting. Meanwhile, defenders take a beating with constant checks, so their gloves prioritize maximum protection. Extra thick padding across the back of the hand, fingers, and wrist shield against bruising slashes and cross-checks. Lastly, goalies have their own specialized gloves with added padding across the palm and extended cuffs. Advanced stickiness helps them hug the ball on reaction saves at close range. So consult your player’s coach about their positional needs before choosing lacrosse gloves.
Size Your Kid’s Gloves Based on Careful Hand Measurements
One of the biggest mistakes parents make when buying youth lacrosse gloves is guessing their child’s size. Ill-fitting gloves negatively impact performance and can cause blisters or even fractures. For a perfect fit, carefully measure your kid’s dominant hand length from the tip of the middle finger to the base of the palm. Also wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of the palm to determine hand circumference. Compare these precise measurements to sizing charts from top lacrosse brands like Warrior, Maverik, and STX. This ensures you order gloves with the ideal finger length, palm width, and cuff size to maximize protection, dexterity, and comfort. Allow about a half-inch of growing room in the fingers, but avoid bulky gloves that restrict motion. Dialing in the fit based on measurements, not age or guesswork, gives your young player the tools they need to develop their skills.
Look for Adjustable Cinch Straps for a Secure, Customizable Fit
An excellent feature to look for when selecting youth lacrosse gloves is adjustable cinch straps on the wrists. These straps allow players to tighten or loosen the gloves for a truly customized fit. Snug gloves stay in place better during intense game play, preventing the annoying need to constantly re-adjust. However, they shouldn’t cut off circulation or feel uncomfortable. Cinch straps on the wrist provide the solution. Players can dial in the perfect level of compression. As kids grow and their hands and wrists change shape and size over weeks or months, the straps continue to deliver a secure contoured fit. Without cinch straps, gloves can loosen over time, putting young athletes at risk of getting hit in the fingers. Straps also allow for adjusting to swelling during physical play. Ultimately, adjustable closures lead to better performance and protection for your developing superstar.
Prioritize Padding and Leather in High Wear Areas
When evaluating lacrosse gloves for youth players, inspect the padding and materials in the areas that take the most abuse. The palm, fingers, and thumb see constant wear from scooping, catching, and passing, so ample extra padding there absorbs vibrations and impacts. Tough leather or synthetic leather in the palm resists rips and tears during play. Also check for reinforced stitching across the palms and fingers, as this prevents seam blowouts during intense games. Other high wear zones to scrutinize are the wrists and back of the hand. Beginning players tend to check with their hands instead of their sticks, so extra protection here minimizes bruising. Look for adjustable wrists with a neoprene cuff or extra padding built in. And pick gloves with sufficient foam or inserts across the back of the hand to disperse checks. Prioritizing padding and durability in the highest impact zones ensures gloves withstand the rigors of play.
Ensure Excellent Dexterity for Catching and Throwing
When trying on youth lacrosse gloves, make sure your kid has full range of motion in their fingers and hands for optimum catching and throwing. Bulky, stiff gloves restrict movement and feel. Have your young player flex their fingers, make a fist, and go through throwing motions when testing gloves. The glove palms should feel supple and conform to the natural shape of the hand, without any tight spots or binding. Walk through catching drills like scooping ground balls and receiving passes to check flexibility. Dexterous gloves allow youth athletes to cradle and control the ball better while running. They also maximize throwing velocity, accuracy, and touch on passes. The fingers and palms should not catch or tug during release. Trying out flex and dexterity before buying ensures gloves become an extension of the hand for confident, skilled play.
Pick Youth-Specific Gloves for More Protection
When shopping for your kid’s first lacrosse gloves, seriously consider purchasing a pair designed specifically for youth players rather than scaled-down men’s gloves. Many top brands now offer gloves engineered for young athletes with features that account for their still developing bodies and skills. Youth lacrosse gloves provide extra padding across the fingers, knuckles, wrists, and back of hand for maximum protection. They also utilize softer, more flexible leathers and materials so gloves move naturally with younger hands. The pre-curved shape hugs and protects the hand while allowing excellent stick feel and dexterity. Youth gloves support proper cradling, catching, passing, and shooting technique. And their lightweight feel reduces hand fatigue over long practices and games. While adult gloves work fine for some, youth-specific options optimize safety, performance, and confidence in young players.
Compare Popular Glove Brands Like Warrior, Maverik, and STX
When buying your kid their first pair of lacrosse gloves, it’s smart to try on options from the top brands to find the best fit and feel. Leading manufacturers like Warrior, Maverik, STX, Brine, and Nike all produce excellent youth gloves with slight differences in padding, materials, and styling. Warrior gloves emphasize comprehensive padding for protection while maintaining good dexterity. Maverik optimizes mobility and wrist support for developing stick skills. STX focuses on top-notch leathers and strategic padding zones to reduce sting. There is no definitively superior brand – personal preference rules. Let your young athlete test out different gloves to discover which they naturally gravitate towards based on comfort, grip, and confidence when cradling and throwing. As they improve and preferences evolve, they may switch preferred brands year-to-year. The right gloves bolster skills, so choose quality construction over flashy cosmetics.
Warrior Burn Next Gloves: Great Protection and Mobility at a Budget Price
One excellent youth glove option to consider is the Warrior Burn Next. Retailing around $50, the Burn Next gloves provide stellar protection and mobility at an affordable price point ideal for young players. The back of the hand utilizes multiple padded foam inserts to defend against checks, while ventilation holes prevent sweating. The palms utilize durable synthetic leather with ample padding in the thumb and fingertips to reduce sting during catch and pass. Warrior’s cuff design allows easy adjustability for a secure fit. Meanwhile, the flexible thumb and curved fingers enable natural stick feel and ball control. For the price, the Warrior Burn Next gloves offer outstanding quality and performance to elevate any young athlete’s game this season.
Get Proper Wrist Support to Avoid Injury
When trying youth lacrosse gloves, pay close attention to wrist support and stability. Proper closure and padding here helps avoid potentially serious injuries for young players. First, ensure a snug contoured fit around the wrist with either an adjustable cinch strap or elasticized cuff. Loose gloves shift during play, reducing protection. Next, make sure ample padding circles the wrist to dampen checks. Multi-layer foam inserts or thickened leather provide flexibility while guarding the vulnerable joint. Also look for an integrated plastic thumb lock that prevents over-extension when poking and slapping checks. If the glove’s wrist area doesn’t feel secure and supportive during testing, keep looking. Proper wrist reinforcement, especially in beginners learning correct defensive techniques, ensures gloves protect against sprains, fractures, and slashes this season.
Pick Your Preferred Color and Style for Visibility and Confidence
While protection and fit should drive glove selection, color and style preferences also matter. Youth lacrosse gloves come in vibrant shades and cool graphics so players can express their individuality. Bold colors like neon green, orange, and yellow increase on-field visibility to teammates. Matching gloves and helmets provide a unified, professional look. Interesting prints or team logos boost motivation and confidence. Considering your kid’s favorite hues or patterns makes gloves an extension of their identity. Balance style against proper fit and construction quality. But also allow young athletes to pick lacrosse gloves they find aesthetically inspiring to play their best and have fun competing.
Read Reviews and Ask Experienced Players for Recommendations
Before purchasing your young athlete’s first lacrosse gloves, tap into the wisdom of experienced players. Read online reviews of popular youth gloves to gain insight into sizing, durability, and real-world performance. Lacrosse message boards like laxallstars.com contain detailed user impressions ideal for comparison. You can also directly ask their coach or teammates what gloves they recommend and why. Experienced players understand the protection and dexterity younger kids need. They know which gloves hold up under game conditions and offer confidence boosting style. Consider reviews and recommendations as part of your due diligence, along with properly sizing gloves and assessing key features like padding and adjustability. Insights from those with first-hand knowledge helps ensure you select the right gloves for your developing player’s needs.
Shop Clearance Sales Before the Season Starts
Savvy lacrosse parents can save big on gloves by shopping off-season clearance sales. Retailers like Lacrosse Monkey, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Amazon deeply discount remaining glove stock in the late fall and winter months as they make room for new inventory. While sizing selection becomes limited, you can often grab last year’s $100 gloves for around $50 if you aren’t picky about colors. Clearance gloves are brand new – just prior year models. Setting price drop alerts and jumping on holiday sales allows you to stock up on quality gloves at budget prices before spring tryouts. You’ll have the flexibility to buy multiple pairs for growing hands while keeping more cash for other gear. Some gloves may need re-palming or stitch repair after a season or two, but the savings outweigh that cost. Beat inflation and buy ahead on clearance.
Replace Gloves Annually as Your Player’s Hands Grow
One overlooked aspect of fitting youth lacrosse gloves is anticipating growth spurts. Kids’ hands rapidly change shape and size over months and years. Gloves that fit perfectly during tryouts may become small and restrictive by season’s end. This leads to decreased performance and increased injury risk. Schedule annual glove measurements for your young athlete. Allot budget for new gloves each spring season, even if the old pair still seems durable. Proper fit supersedes maximizing glove lifespan. Prioritize replacing ill-fitting gloves over buying other accessories. An annual glove replacement policy ensures your player always has the safest, most functional pair tailored to their evolving hands and playing style. Their confidence, skills and safety will thank you.
Replace Gloves Annually as Your Player’s Hands Grow
One overlooked aspect of fitting youth lacrosse gloves is anticipating growth spurts. Kids’ hands rapidly change shape and size over months and years. Gloves that fit perfectly during tryouts may become small and restrictive by season’s end. This leads to decreased performance and increased injury risk. Schedule annual glove measurements for your young athlete. Allot budget for new gloves each spring season, even if the old pair still seems durable. Proper fit supersedes maximizing glove lifespan. Prioritize replacing ill-fitting gloves over buying other accessories. An annual glove replacement policy ensures your player always has the safest, most functional pair tailored to their evolving hands and playing style. Their confidence, skills and safety will thank you.