For a baseball clinic or camp, bring your glove, your bat, a batting helmet, athletic clothes, the right footwear, a full water bottle and a small snack. Label everything with your player’s name. Beyond that, add a few items depending on the clinic: batting gloves for hitting, and a throwing warm-up routine for pitching and fielding.
Our baseball clinics near Naperville run at The Play & Thrive Club Naperville, an indoor space. That makes packing simpler, but a few details still matter. Here is the full list.
The core checklist
- Glove: broken in and the right size for the player’s position.
- Bat: the bat your player uses in games, so the work transfers.
- Batting helmet: one that fits snugly.
- Athletic clothing: something easy to move in. Layers help if you are coming in from cold weather.
- Footwear: ask ahead about what is allowed on the facility’s surface. Clean athletic shoes are a safe default indoors.
- Water bottle: full, and labeled.
- A light snack: for longer camps especially.
- A bag to carry it all: with the player’s name on it.
What to add for each clinic
Hitting Clinic
- Batting gloves, if your player uses them.
- Game bat and, if they have one, a second bat they are trying out.
- A note of what happens in their at-bats: late on fastballs, chasing, rolling over. That gives the coach a head start.
Pitching Clinic
- Glove and any arm care routine they already use.
- An honest answer about recent throwing. If your player pitched a lot this week, tell the coach.
- A phone or notebook to save cues from the video breakdown of their mechanics.
A quick safety note: follow the MLB and USA Baseball Pitch Smart guidelines, and if your player’s arm is sore, let it rest. For any pain or injury, see a doctor or athletic trainer before throwing.
Fielding Clinic
- Infield glove, broken in.
- Knowledge of the position they play or want to play, so drills can match.
Things parents often forget
- Arriving early. A few minutes to settle in means your player starts the warm-up calm instead of rushed.
- Eating beforehand. A light meal an hour or two before helps kids keep energy through 90 minutes.
- Glasses or contacts. Tracking the ball matters.
- A goal. The most useful thing to bring is not in the bag. It is one thing your player wants to improve.
Camp days need a little more
Camps usually run longer than a single clinic, so plan for a longer day. Pack an extra water bottle, a bigger snack or packed lunch if the schedule calls for it, and a spare shirt. A small towel is handy too. If medication such as an inhaler is needed, make sure the coach knows before the session starts, and keep it in an easy-to-find pocket of the bag.
Gear check the night before
Lay everything out the evening before. Check that the helmet still fits, the glove laces are tight and the bat is the one your player actually uses. Doing this together also gets your player thinking about the goal for tomorrow, which is a good habit to build.
What not to bring
Leave behind anything that distracts from training. Phones can stay in the bag until the end, when they are useful for recording a drill to practice at home. Brand-new gear that has never been used is also best saved for later; unfamiliar gloves and bats make it harder to feel real changes.
Bring the right mindset
Coach Cinz works on the mental game as much as mechanics: confidence, mindset and consistency. Players who arrive ready to try new things, and to feel a little awkward while they learn, get the most from every clinic. Mistakes are part of the process.
Want to know how the session will unfold? Read what happens at a baseball skills clinic. To make the most of the time, see our tips on getting the most out of a hitting, pitching or fielding clinic. And if you are still choosing a format, compare clinic vs camp vs private lessons.
Ready to book?
Coach Cinz runs Hitting, Pitching and Fielding Clinics, each $204 for 1.5 hours, plus seasonal camps. See upcoming Skills Clinics, or browse all our baseball camps and clinics in Naperville. Questions about gear or footwear? Text 312-493-3067 or contact us.
