FIELDING GLOVES
It is a requirement for players to own their own glove. There are no restrictions as to size or color of a player's glove.
BATS
It is not a requirement for players to own their own bat. The EP Fastpitch Association has a stock of aluminum bats in varying sizes that coaches will acquire to share among the team for use during the season. These bats have either been purchased by the association or have been donated by our fastpitch families because their daughters have outgrown them or have stopped playing softball. Consult with your coach, if you feel your daughter needs to take one of our bats home with them throughout the season to practice hitting at home (subject to availability).
If you talk to different coaches about purchasing one for yourself, you may hear varying ways to size a bat for a player. We have included a chart for ease, but that is often a 'guide' and may not be a correct fit. A bat that is too long or too heavy will be slow to swing, which may result in more strikeouts or foul balls. A bat that is too light has low power potential.
Bat Requirements
All bats must be fastpitch softball bats (no slowpitch bats, no baseball bats).
All bats must display the ASA certification mark; bats are subject to umpire inspection at any time during games or tournaments. ie- 
HELMETS
There are no restrictions on the color of a player's helmet. We just want our players' heads protected from any harm, including (but not limited to): a errant pitch, errant throw, a fall or player collision. Injuries to the head can lead to a concussion, which coaches will take very seriously. 12U players, who are in 7th grade in the fall, should consider acquiring a helmet that is solid black in color (matte finish vs glossy) in preparation for playing high school softball (HS players are required to wear black-only helmets- not 2-toned).
Helmet Requirements
All helmets must be equipped with a facemask.
Player can opt out of the chinstrap, but if they keep the chinstrap, it cannot dangle and must strapped securely on/under the chin.
DEFENSIVE FACEMASK
It is not a requirement for players to own a facemask, but it is strongly recommended for every player playing in the infield. During games (and especially during practices), a facemask will often give the newer softball player more confidence catching a thrown ball knowing that their face is protected from injury. It is in our experience that infielders with the closest proximity to a batted ball (first base, third base, pitcher) are at the highest risk of taking a ball to the face (bad bounce or line drive). It is the coach's discretion to restrict players from playing certain infield positions (especially 1B, 3B, P) if the player does not use a facemask. It is common enough for outfielders to use a facemask in case they are fielding fly balls, especially when the sun is just right and the ball misses their glove and...
The EP Fastpitch Association has a limited stock of infield facemasks that coaches will acquire to share among the team for use during the season. There are no restrictions on the color of a player's facemask.
CLEATS
It is not a requirement for players to own cleats, but its use is strongly recommended by all coaches due to the type of surface on all infields. There are no restrictions on the color choice of cleats or shoelaces.
SLIDING SHORTS or SLIDING PADS
It is not a requirement for players to own sliding shorts or sliding pads, but its use is recommended by coaches for the protection of the girls. By the use of sliding shorts, bruising/injury to the hip area can be minimized during sliding, and/or prevent the exposure of body parts or undergarments when pants are torn due to sliding. Sliding pads are worn around the calves to prevent road rash from infield gravel during a slide.
