Receiving Gloves: Give Kids the Option

I have seen plenty of kids wear gloves, then decide they would rather play without them. Some go back and forth. That is fine with me. What I want is for a child to have the option, especially when catching a football is still unfamiliar.

For a beginner, how the catch feels matters

Some kids on our team do not play much football outside our practices. Others have not spent much time doing activities that involve throwing and catching. For those children, I have noticed that gloves can make a real difference: catching seems to feel softer on their hands.

When a child is still getting used to the ball, that comfort matters. I want them to feel willing to try the next catch. Gloves are one thing we can try while they build that familiarity.

That is why I encourage families whose kids rarely play football outside our team to bring a pair of gloves. Even if the child decides not to use them, at least they have them available.

Catching with gloves and throwing with gloves can be different

I have also noticed that a child who likes catching with gloves may want to take them off when it is time to throw. My son does this. He will catch with his gloves on, then take them off to throw, and I have seen him throw better that way.

That is not the case for every player. It is just something I have noticed a few times, and it is worth giving kids room to figure out. Liking gloves for catching does not mean they have to like them for throwing, too.

Let kids choose their own gloves

I recommend getting kids involved in choosing their gloves. Take them to a local sports store and let them try on a few pairs. Give them a say in the colors, and let them tell you which fit feels comfortable. I want them to choose something they like wearing and can comfortably open and close their hands in.

If you prefer to order online afterward, whether from Amazon or another store, you can look for the exact same gloves in the same size they tried on. Make a note of the brand, model and size so you know which pair worked for them.

For me, letting kids help choose is part of the point. They get to pick the colors they like and a fit that works for their hands, instead of having someone else make every decision for them.

Put them on before hands get sweaty

There is a practical wrinkle with taking gloves off: once kids’ hands get sweaty, I have found it gets really hard to put the gloves back on. If a child plans to wear them, I encourage them to put them on before practice or the game starts.

Once they are on, kids often want to keep them on instead of struggling to pull them back over sweaty hands. Keep that in mind when switching between catching and throwing. My son may still prefer to take his off to throw; it just helps to know that putting them back on might take a little time.

These are observations from coaching my team and watching my son. Every child has their own preference. Having gloves in the bag gives them another option as they learn what feels comfortable.

See the receiving gloves entry or the full gear guide for players and coaches for the rest of the practice packing list.