A collection of various bits and pieces that don't seem to fit anywhere else...
Anything comfortable is fine. Shorts are not a good idea if you plan on doing a lot of sliding. Taking a change of clothing is a good idea for tournaments. Personally I find a change of socks is more important than anything else, especially when it rains !
Having a baseball cap or other hat available in your bag is a good idea, especially when the sun is low in the sky.
I like to wear a sweatband when the weather is hot so I can wipe my hands. A small towel can be a good idea for a pitcher so they can dry the ball off in wet weather - but bear in mind that you can't leave it on the playing field so you will have to tuck it in your waist band.
Batting gloves improve your grip on the bat and also help if you find the bat stings when you hit the ball. If you can't get hold of batting gloves then golf or driving gloves are very similar.
Trainers are OK when you are starting but if you play in wet weather it won't be long before you end up on your arse ! Metal and hard plastic studs must NOT be worn. Personally I like an astro-turf boot with just a partial rubber stud as I find full studs collect too much mud and sand and slow me down.
Infielders should at least think about wearing a box. Pitches in England are usually bumpy and it only takes one bad bounce to put you in hospital. When I pitch I like to wear shin pads and I've also wondered about getting a mouth guard. I don't usually bother with shin guards unless I'm pitching but they can be a good idea for other infielders, particularly those worried about bruises on their legs !
Catchers' masks are a contentious issue. Obviously the risks are nothing like as serious as in baseball or fast pitch but there is always the possibility of a foul ball just skimming the bat and coming straight back. If you play at catcher at least try playing in a mask and if you can put up with it then do.
One of the big changes in British slow pitch over the last few years has been the increasing popularity of batting helmets. Not (fairly obviously) for use whilst actually batting but for the protection they provide when running the bases. It's a personal choice but it is a good idea to wear one, especially if you are playing at a higher level where the macho urge to throw the ball as hard as possible even when the thrower has no idea where it is going is not often resisted.
It's a good idea, at tournaments particularly, to carry sun cream and insect repellent in your bag. I always like to have some Ibuprofen around as they aid recovery after a hard day in the field.
When I'm pitching I like to have rosin in my bag to keep my pitching hand dry. Always have water available, again this is more important at tournaments when you may be out in the field all day.
Umbrellas can be useful not just for rain but for keeping the sun off at tournaments. Folding chairs are also worth thinking about and some teams have used tents and gazebos - it's a question of balancing usefulness against portability.
The big problem with buying equipment in Britain is that is very rare to be able to try equipment out before buying it. For both gloves and bats it's worth trying a wide variety of types and styles before buying to find out what is right for you.
The biggest thing to think about when getting a glove is getting one that feels comfortable on your hand and which you can control. Basically you get what you pay for, artificial leather gloves are a waste of time and the better leather you get the better the glove.
The larger the glove the easier it is to catch the ball but the harder it is to get the ball back out of the glove afterwards. As a result outfielders and first basemen usually have a larger glove than middle infielders.
As a softball is bigger than a baseball most players like a slightly bigger glove, at least 12&1/2".
Again you need to find what is good for you. Whenever you get a chance to try a variety of bats do so and see what suits you. I'm a firm believer in the light bat theory. Most women should use a 26oz or lighter bat and 90% of men should be looking for something between 26 and 28ozs.
If you are looking for a bat under 26oz don't forget that it's perfectly legal to use fast pitch bats in slow pitch.
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