Best Fastpitch Catcher's Gear for 14U (2026): 7 Sets for 13 and 14 Year Olds

For most 14U softball catchers, buy the Easton Jen Schro Fundamental 2.0 fastpitch set in Medium (about $230). It is designed around a female catcher, sized in Easton's intermediate range, and priced well below the premium sets. On a budget, the Champro Optimus Pro Fastpitch Kit for ages 12 and up (about $193) is the cheapest fastpitch set in the right size.

14U is where catching gets serious. Pitchers throw hard and spin the ball, the catcher blocks more pitches in the dirt, and she is a season or two from high school rules. It is also usually the last age-banded set she buys: a Medium bought at 13 often lasts into high school, and after that she moves to adult sizing. Below: 7 verified sets for 13 and 14 year olds, a measure-first size chart, the mitt to pair, the NOCSAE rule, and when to go adult. For younger catchers, see our 12U fastpitch catcher's gear guide.

An intermediate or Medium fastpitch set, with a chest protector of about 15 to 16.5 inches and leg guards of about 15 to 16 inches. Measure; 13 and 14 year olds vary more than any other age.

Leg guards: center of the kneecap to the top of the ankle, about 15 to 16 inches at 14U. Helmet: most 14U catchers wear an adult shell. The full piece-by-piece chart is in the catcher gear sizing chart.

• Chest protector: top edge at the collarbone notch, bottom edge at or just above the belt, no gap at the collarbones.
• Leg guards: knee cup centered on the kneecap in the crouch, bottom covering the top of the foot.
• Helmet: snug with no rocking, clear view in the crouch, chin cup seated.
• Block and throw test: block a ball in the dirt, then come up throwing to second. Anything that shifts, pinches or limits the throw is the wrong size.

Prices are Amazon at time of writing. Catcher's set prices move a lot.

1. Measure chest and legs and confirm Medium or intermediate.
2. Buy a fastpitch cut designed for her build.
3. Make sure the chest protector is NOCSAE-certified. This is the set she will likely take into high school.
4. Match the mitt: 33 to 34 inch fastpitch.
5. Try it on in full gear and run the block and throw test before the return window closes.

The helmet must be NOCSAE-certified in sanctioned play, and many high school associations now require a NOCSAE-certified chest protector too. NOCSAE's chest protector standard targets commotio cordis, a rare but serious heart event from a blow to the chest. Youth organizations are following the high school rule. Since a 14U set often carries into high school, buy a protector with the NOCSAE mark on it now. Check your league's and your state association's current rules.

A fastpitch catcher's mitt of about 33 to 34 inches. The Wilson A700 33 inch (about $70) is the value pick, the Mizuno MVP Prime 34 inch (about $112) is the full-size step-up, and the Rawlings R9 33 inch (about $150) is for a catcher who wants a higher-grade leather mitt. More in our fastpitch catcher's mitt guide.

Knee savers, a throat guard if your league wants one, and a real gear bag. Rawlings knee savers (about $28, youth size; check the fit on her guards) reduce strain over a long tournament weekend, and the knee savers guide covers adult sizes. A Rawlings TP4 throat guard (about $13) attaches to the helmet cage. A wheeled catcher's bag keeps a full set and two mitts together.

Where league rules allow electronic pitch calling, a helmet-mount Bluetooth headset (about $13) velcroed inside her helmet turns it into a pitch-call receiver for the free MAVTRAX app; see softball pitch calling systems for how it works.

A set is still the better buy for most 14U catchers; pieces make sense when one measurement does not match the others. A set's helmet, chest protector and leg guards are sized to match, and buying the three pieces separately usually costs more. The exception is common at this age: a tall, lean 14 year old may need intermediate leg guards and a youth-length chest protector, or the reverse, and a set forces one size across both. If her chest and leg measurements land in different size bands, buy the pieces from our chest protector and leg guard guides and keep the helmet that fits.

Another reason to buy pieces: she already owns a helmet she likes. Catcher's helmets are sized by head measurement and are shared between baseball and softball, so a well-fitting hockey-style helmet can carry over. See our catcher's helmet guide for adult shells.

Because the pitches and the blocks get harder, and a baseball-cut set fits a girl's torso worse the taller she gets. Baseball intermediate chest protectors are cut straight and long; on many 14U softball catchers they end below the belt and push up under the chin on every block. Fastpitch sets like the Jen Schro, Empress and Velo are shorter through the torso and shaped at the chest, and their leg guards are fastpitch length. By 14U she is also receiving rise balls, drop balls and changeups that bounce, so she spends more of every game dropping to block. Gear that stays in place through that motion is the whole point of buying a fastpitch set.

Move to adult (Large) when her chest measures over about 16.5 inches, the Medium protector ends above the belly button, or the leg guards stop covering the top of the foot. Many catchers make that move in their first or second high school season. If she is still small for 14U, the 12U guide covers youth and Small sets.

• Staying in youth gear too long. A short protector leaves the belly exposed on blocks.
• Jumping to adult too early. A long protector limits her throw and rides up.
• Skipping the NOCSAE check on the set she will take into high school.
• Using a youth mitt. At 14U the pitch speed calls for a full-size fastpitch mitt.
• Leaving gear wet. Dry it after every game to keep the padding and straps working.