Best Youth Softball Catcher's Gear (2026): Fastpitch Sets for 8U to 14U
Fastpitch catcher's gear is not the baseball set in different colors. The chest protector is cut for a girl's torso, the leg guards run shorter, and the helmets come in smaller shells. Here are the five fastpitch sets from the brands that actually make them, ranked by age from 7-9 through 14U, plus the mitt to pair with each and the one fit measurement that matters.
In this guide · 8 sections
Quick picks
Our top recommendations — full reviews below.
Best overall for 10U-12U: fastpitch-cut pieces, NOCSAE, hockey-style helmet
~$262 price and availability on Amazon
View on Amazon →Key takeaways
- Best overall (10U-12U): Rawlings Velo Fastpitch Catcher's Set, Youth (~$262), or the Intermediate cut (~$200) for a bigger 12-to-14-year-old. NOCSAE chest protector, fastpitch-cut pieces, hockey-style helmet.
- Best for ages 7-9: All-Star Future Star Fastpitch Kit (~$159). The only real-brand kit sized for a 7-to-9-year-old; everything else on the market is youth 9-12 at the smallest.
- Best premium youth set: Easton Jen Schro Fundamental 2.0 (~$250). Designed around a women's fit with a shorter chest protector and fastpitch leg guards; the set most 12U travel catchers ask for by name.
- Best for 13U-14U: All-Star Heiress Fastpitch Kit (~$280), the step into All-Star's catcher-brand gear for a catcher who will play high school.
- Measure the torso, not the age. Collarbone to belly button in inches is the chest-protector size; that number decides youth vs. intermediate, and a tall 11-year-old is often intermediate.
- The set does not include the mitt. Pair with the Mizuno Prospect 32.5 in (~$75) for 8U-11U or the Wilson A700 33 in (~$70) for 12U-14U.
For a 10U-to-12U softball catcher, buy the Rawlings Velo Fastpitch Catcher's Set in the Youth cut (about $262, or about $200 in the Intermediate cut for a bigger 12). For a 7-to-9-year-old, the All-Star Future Star Fastpitch Kit (about $159) is the only real-brand set actually sized for her. For a 13U-14U catcher headed to high school, step into the All-Star Heiress Fastpitch Kit (about $280). Every set here is a three-piece kit (helmet, NOCSAE chest protector, leg guards) cut for fastpitch, which means a shorter chest protector with a contoured shape, shorter leg guards, and a smaller helmet shell than the baseball equivalent.
We work with fastpitch programs from 8U up and these are the sets in their bags. We ranked on fit for the age first, protection second (every chest protector here meets the NOCSAE commotio cordis standard), price third. The mitt is sold separately on every set; we list the right one for each age below, and our best fastpitch catcher's mitts guide goes deeper.
At a glance
| Pick | Best for | Price* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rawlings Velo Fastpitch Catcher's Set, Youth (Ages 12 and Under) | Best overall for 10U-12U: fastpitch-cut pieces, NOCSAE, hockey-style helmet | ~$262 | View → |
 | Rawlings Velo Fastpitch Catcher's Set, Intermediate (Ages 12-15) | Best for a tall 12 or a 13U-14U catcher: same set, intermediate cut, cheaper right now | ~$200 | View → |
 | All-Star Future Star Fastpitch Catcher's Kit (Ages 7-9) | Best for ages 7-9: the only real-brand kit cut for an 8U catcher | ~$159 | View → |
 | Easton Jen Schro Fundamental 2.0 Fastpitch Catcher's Set | Best premium youth set: designed around a women's fit with Jen Schroeder | ~$250 | View → |
 | All-Star Heiress Fastpitch Catching Kit | Best for 13U-14U and high school: All-Star's fastpitch line | ~$280 | View → |
*Prices at time of writing — they move; check the listing.
Rawlings Velo Fastpitch Catcher's Set, Youth (Ages 12 and Under)
~$262
The Velo is Rawlings' fastpitch set and the Youth cut is the one we put on most 10U and 12U catchers. The chest protector is cut for a girl's torso with a NOCSAE-certified front, the leg guards are fastpitch length with a double knee, and the hockey-style helmet has a real chin cup and the ear-flap room for a helmet-mount pitch-calling speaker. It is sized for roughly ages 9 to 12, with adjustable straps that cover two or three seasons.
The honest knocks: helmet padding is adequate rather than plush, and at about $262 the Youth cut is oddly priced above the Intermediate in the current listings. It is still the set we would buy for a 10U or small 12U catcher who needs the shorter pieces.
- Fastpitch-cut chest protector and leg guards
- NOCSAE-certified chest protector
- Hockey-style helmet with headset room
- Adjusts across two or three seasons
- Helmet padding is adequate, not premium
- Priced above the Intermediate cut right now
- Mitt not included
Rawlings Velo Fastpitch Catcher's Set, Intermediate (Ages 12-15)
~$200
Same helmet, same NOCSAE chest protector, same double-knee fastpitch leg guards as the Youth set, cut for the 12-to-15 growth window. The chest protector is about an inch and a half longer and the leg guards reach a bigger shin. At about $200 it is the best value on this page for any catcher who measures 15 inches or more from collarbone to belly button, which is most 12-year-olds and nearly every 13U and 14U catcher.
The con is the same as the Youth cut (helmet padding) plus one more: a small 12-year-old will swim in it, and a chest protector that ends below the belt is a blocking problem, not a growth investment. Measure first.
- About $60 less than the Youth cut at time of writing
- Intermediate cut fits most 12-to-14-year-olds
- NOCSAE chest protector, fastpitch leg guards
- Too big for a small 12
- Helmet padding is adequate, not premium
All-Star Future Star Fastpitch Catcher's Kit (Ages 7-9)
~$159
Most "youth" catcher's gear starts at age 9, which leaves the 8U catcher in a chest protector that ends at her hips. All-Star's Future Star kit is the exception: a helmet, NOCSAE chest protector and leg guards sized for ages 7 to 9, from the company that makes catcher's gear and nothing else. It is the kit we recommend for 8U and for a small 10U, and it is cheap enough that outgrowing it in two seasons is not painful.
The cons are the ones that come with small gear: she will outgrow it by 10U or 11U, the helmet is a basic youth shell, and the leg guards are single-knee. For the age it fits, nothing else from a real brand comes close.
- Actually sized for ages 7-9
- NOCSAE chest protector
- All-Star catcher's-gear pedigree
- Cheapest real-brand set here
- Outgrown by 10U-11U
- Basic youth helmet
- Single-knee leg guards
Easton Jen Schro Fundamental 2.0 Fastpitch Catcher's Set
~$250
The Jen Schro line is the set most 12U travel catchers ask for by name, and the reason is fit: Easton designed it with former UCLA catcher Jen Schroeder around a women's torso, so the chest protector is shorter and contoured and the leg guards are fastpitch length rather than cut-down baseball guards. The Fundamental 2.0 is the youth-and-intermediate version; it comes in sizes, so check the chest-protector length against the measurement below before choosing.
At about $250 it costs more than the Velo Intermediate for the same level of protection. What you are paying for is the fit and the helmet, which has better padding than the Rawlings. For a catcher who has complained that her chest protector rides up, this is the set that fixes it.
- Built around a women's fit: shorter, contoured chest protector
- Better helmet padding than the Velo
- Fastpitch-length leg guards
- NOCSAE certified
- About $50 more than the Velo Intermediate
- Sizing runs in sizes, not ages; measure
All-Star Heiress Fastpitch Catching Kit
~$280
Heiress is All-Star's fastpitch line and the kit is the step a 13U or 14U catcher takes when she is going to play high-school ball. The chest protector is a fastpitch cut with NOCSAE certification, the leg guards are double-knee with a floating kneecap, and the helmet is All-Star's hockey-style shell with better coverage and padding than the youth sets above. It is sized for intermediate and adult, so it is the right buy for the catcher who is done growing out of gear every two seasons.
Cons: it is about $280 and too much gear for a 10U; the fit runs intermediate-and-up, so a small 13-year-old should measure first. For the catcher it fits, this is a kit that lasts through high school.
- Fastpitch cut, NOCSAE, double-knee leg guards
- Best helmet of the sets here
- Lasts through high school
- About $280
- Intermediate-and-up sizing; too big for 10U
Youth softball catcher's gear size chart
Measure from the notch of the collarbone to the belly button. That number in inches is the chest-protector size, and it decides everything else. Ages are a starting point; a tall 11-year-old is intermediate and a small 13-year-old is youth.
| Age | Chest protector (collarbone to navel) | Leg guards | Set size | Picks above |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-9 (8U) | 11-12.5 in | 11-12 in | Ages 7-9 | All-Star Future Star |
| 9-12 (10U-12U) | 13-14.5 in | 13-14 in | Youth | Velo Youth, Jen Schro small |
| 12-15 (12U-14U) | 15-16 in | 14.5-15.5 in | Intermediate | Velo Intermediate, Jen Schro, Heiress |
| 15+ (16U, HS) | 16.5 in + | 16 in + | Adult | Heiress |
Leg guards are measured from the center of the kneecap to the top of the foot. The helmet is sized by hat size; most 10U-12U catchers are a junior shell (6.5 to 7) and most 14U are senior. Our full catcher gear sizing chart has every piece by age.
What makes fastpitch catcher's gear different
Three things: a shorter, contoured chest protector, shorter leg guards, and smaller helmet shells. A baseball youth chest protector on a 12-year-old girl often ends below the belt and rides up on every block. Fastpitch sets fix that with a shorter cut and, on the Easton Jen Schro and All-Star Heiress lines, a contoured shape. Leg guards run an inch or two shorter for the same age. Helmets come in smaller junior shells, and the ear flaps on a hockey-style shell leave room for a helmet-mount Bluetooth speaker if your program calls pitches electronically.
What is the same: the NOCSAE commotio cordis standard for the chest protector, which most leagues now require and every set here meets. Check the label for the NOCSAE mark, not just the word "certified" in the listing.
Set vs. pieces: when to buy separately
Buy the set unless she already owns a helmet that fits. The three pieces separately from the same brand run $50 to $100 more than the set, and the set's pieces are sized to match. The exceptions are a catcher who has a helmet she loves (buy chest protector and leg guards from our chest protector and leg guard guides), or a catcher between sizes who needs a youth chest protector and intermediate leg guards. The mitt is always separate; the right one by age is in the picks above and in our fastpitch mitt guide.
The accessories that actually get used
Knee savers, a throat guard and a gear bag; skip the rest until she asks. Knee savers on the leg guards are the most-requested accessory at 10U and the Easton set fits every leg guard here. A dangling throat guard clips to any hockey-style helmet and is required in some leagues. A wheeled gear bag makes the difference between a catcher who carries her own gear and a parent who does; see best catcher's gear bags.
If your program calls pitches, the last piece is a $13 helmet-mount Bluetooth speaker velcroed inside the ear flap. It takes the spoken call from the free MAVTRAX app, rides with the helmet through every pop-up, and replaces a $2,000-plus PitchCom softball kit. Our softball pitch calling guide covers the setup.
Also worth a look
Mizuno Prospect GXS102 32.5" Fastpitch Catcher's MittThe 8U-11U fastpitch mitt to pair with the Future Star or Velo Youth~$75 · View on Amazon →
Wilson A700 FPCM 33" Fastpitch MittThe 12U-14U value mitt to pair with the Velo Intermediate~$90 · View on Amazon →
Easton Catcher's Knee SaversThe accessory every 10U parent asks about~$33 · View on Amazon →
Low-Profile IPX7 Clip SpeakerThe $13 helmet speaker that takes the pitch call~$15 · View on Amazon →
FAQ
What catcher's gear does a 10U softball player need?
A fastpitch-cut set (helmet, NOCSAE chest protector, leg guards) in Youth sizing, plus a 31.5-to-32.5-inch fastpitch catcher's mitt. The Rawlings Velo Fastpitch Youth set and the Mizuno Prospect 32.5-inch mitt are our picks. Knee savers and a throat guard are optional in most leagues.
Is there youth softball catcher's gear for a 7- or 8-year-old?
Yes, but only a few sets. The All-Star Future Star Fastpitch Kit is sized for ages 7 to 9; most other youth sets start at age 9. Measure collarbone to belly button; under 12.5 inches means the ages 7-9 kit.
Can a girl use a baseball catcher's set for softball?
She can, and many 8U and 10U players do, but the chest protector usually runs long and rides up on blocks. Fastpitch sets are cut shorter and, on the Easton Jen Schro and All-Star Heiress lines, contoured. By 12U we recommend a fastpitch-specific set.
What size catcher's gear for a 12-year-old softball player?
Measure first. Under 15 inches collarbone to belly button is Youth; 15 inches or more is Intermediate. Most 12-year-olds are Intermediate, which is also the cheaper Velo set at time of writing.
Does youth softball catcher's gear include the mitt?
No. Every set here is helmet, chest protector and leg guards. Budget $70 to $90 for the mitt: the Mizuno Prospect 32.5-inch for 8U-11U, the Wilson A700 33-inch for 12U-14U.
Is NOCSAE required for softball chest protectors?
Most high-school associations and many youth organizations now require a chest protector that meets the NOCSAE commotio cordis standard. Every set on this page does; look for the NOCSAE mark on the chest protector itself.
What is the best youth softball catcher's helmet on its own?
The helmets in the Rawlings Velo and All-Star Heiress sets are both sold separately. For a youth catcher buying only a helmet, see our best youth catcher's helmets guide; most fastpitch catchers fit a junior hockey-style shell.
We're the team behind MAVTRAX — pitch-calling software used by baseball and softball teams from 9U travel ball up. We spend our days around dugouts, gear bags and tournament weekends. Picks are chosen on specs, durability for youth-sports abuse, real-world price, and owner feedback — not on who pays the highest commission. Full criteria on how we pick.