Gear Playbook / The field guides
A plan before
the purchase.
Fit, equipment, gifts, and the questions worth asking before you buy. Start with your sport or search for the decision in front of you.
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Original editorial illustrationFirst season / Hockey
Hockey equipment checklist
The full kit, what to ask your association, and where fitting matters.
Start with the checklist
Sports gifts for kids
Choose youth sports gifts by how a child plays, what their family already owns, and which items need fitting before purchase.
Read the guideHockey gifts for kids
Find hockey gift ideas for young players, from mini hockey to familiar accessories, with fit and return checks before buying game equipment.
Read the guideHockey stocking stuffers
Build a useful hockey stocking with familiar tape and small play items, while checking age guidance, duplicates, pack contents, and final-sale terms.
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Soccer gifts for kids
Choose soccer gifts for young players by ball size, play surface, favorite team, storage needs, and which equipment requires a fitting.
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Baseball gifts for kids
Choose baseball and tee-ball gifts by the child’s stage, throwing hand, practice space, league requirements, and fit.
Read the guideBlack Friday sports gear
Plan youth sports shopping for Black Friday 2026, prioritize the right equipment, compare total prices, and check confirmed sale dates.
Read the guideBlack Friday hockey gear
Prepare a youth hockey shopping list for Black Friday 2026 with skate, stick, protective-kit, and final-sale checks before choosing an offer.
Read the guideCyber Monday sports gear
Review youth sports orders for Cyber Monday 2026: exact variants, duplicate purchases, delivered costs, shipping estimates, and gift returns.
Read the guideSoccer ball size guide
Choose a youth soccer ball using age-based size references, club requirements, playing format, and a practical shopping checklist.
Read the guideKids’ soccer cleats guide
A parent’s guide to youth soccer cleat labels, grass versus turf or indoor shoes, fitting questions, and what to confirm before buying.
Read the guideFirst-season soccer checklist
Plan a first youth soccer season with a practical kit checklist, club questions, footwear checks, and equipment to postpone.
Read the guideYouth baseball glove size guide
Use Rawlings’ youth glove ranges to narrow the options, then check throwing hand, fit, closure, and the player’s position before buying.
Read the guideFirst-season tee-ball checklist
Find out what your tee-ball league supplies, then plan a first glove, suitable footwear, team clothing, and an approved bat if needed.
Read the guideYouth baseball bat certifications
Understand youth baseball bat marks, Little League division differences, and the current versus upcoming USA BBCOR rules before buying a bat.
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Basketball ball sizes
Use USA Basketball's youth size recommendations, your league's rules, and the actual court surface to choose a basketball.
Read the guideIndoor or outdoor basketball?
Compare indoor, outdoor, and dual-surface basketball labels, then choose a practical ball and care routine for your court.
Read the guideFirst running kit
Build a small running kit around shoe fit, comfortable clothing, route conditions, storage, and optional handheld hydration.
Read the guideRunning socks and fit
Compare running sock size, cushion, height, and materials, then check the complete shoe-and-sock fit before buying multiples.
Read the guideCones and practice space
Choose cone count, visibility, and storage around a real practice space, with a practical setup and pack-away checklist.
Read the guideChoosing resistance bands
Compare mini loops, longer bands, resistance labels, material, and manufacturer instructions before choosing a resistance band set.
Read the guideHockey equipment checklist
The full kit, what to ask your association, and where fitting matters.
Read the guideYouth hockey skate size calculator
Look up a starting size from the published CCM chart.
Read the guideBeginner hockey skates
Current manufacturer options and the questions to ask at a fitting.
Read the guideBauer vs CCM youth skates
Compare the exact model and fit before choosing a brand.
Read the guidePlan your first hockey budget
An illustrative budget worksheet for a first season.
Read the guideHockey stick flex guide
Choose a weight-based starting flex, then check length and feel.
Read the guideBuying new and used hockey gear
Check condition, fit, history, and current prices before buying.
Read the guideYouth hockey starter kits
What a protective bundle includes and what to buy separately.
Read the guideHockey First Practice Planner
Sort your child’s hockey equipment into what you have, what the rink supplies and what you need to borrow or buy. Save and print your plan.
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