Youth Baseball Sliding Shorts: Models, Sizing and Cup Pockets

The right youth baseball sliding shorts should fit securely under uniform pants, place any padding where it is useful and accommodate the required protective equipment. Start with a current waist measurement and the exact youth model. A pair of ordinary compression shorts, a padded slider and shorts supplied with an athletic cup are three different purchases.

Our shortlist emphasizes documented youth sizing and identifiable models rather than a long ranking. Franklin’s youth padded shorts are a straightforward padded option; CHAMPRO Wind-Up has separate versions with and without an included cup; Under Armour Utility provides a clearly specified youth inseam and care instructions. These are research-based comparisons, not hands-on wear tests.

Quick comparison

These products share a category, not identical construction. Do not assume that every garment called a slider has the same amount of padding. Product names and selected youth sizes must match the features you actually need.

Shortlist by use

Franklin Youth Padded Sliding Shorts: an identifiable padded option

Franklin’s youth sliding-short page describes padding at the sides of the thighs and rear, an elastic waistband and a cup compartment. It explicitly places the product in both baseball and softball and says the cup is sold separately. Its 2026 baseball catalog, page 84, identifies Small as 23321, Medium as 10333 and Large as 10334.

The linked Amazon option is specifically youth Small, model 23321, in the selected White/Optic color. This is a separately identified color variant from the current manufacturer’s White/Black youth listing; it does not verify other sizes or adult models. Its product details specify machine washing; follow the received garment’s label for the full cycle and drying instructions. We did not verify a current maker inseam, so ask before buying if exact leg coverage is important.

CHAMPRO Wind-Up BPS15 and BPS15C: check the final letter

The BPS15 manufacturer page lists four-way stretch, a mesh insert, integrated sliding pads, an elastic waistband and a cup pocket. The BPS15C page explicitly adds an included cup. That suffix is more useful than a seller’s generic “compression shorts” heading when comparing what comes in the package.

Choose BPS15 when you already have an appropriate cup and can confirm its fit in the pocket, or BPS15C when the included equipment meets the player’s requirements. The maker’s size guide gives actual body measurements, but the general chart contains more sizes than a particular listing may offer. Select a youth option actually shown for the model; do not infer availability from the chart.

No precise youth inseam or detailed washing schedule was verified on these product pages. Check the label or ask CHAMPRO rather than borrowing the adult length or another brand’s dryer instructions. We link to the maker because an exact Amazon youth size/color variant was not independently confirmed.

Under Armour Utility 1375636: useful length and care detail

The Utility Boys’ Slider Shorts, style 1375636, list stretch fabric, ventilating mesh panels and a cup pocket. Under Armour describes the fit as snug without the squeeze of compression. The White/Mod Gray option shown is color 100. Do not substitute an adult Utility style or a similarly named training short.

The stated inseam is 6.5 inches for Youth Medium, with a half-inch change per size. That is a garment-length reference, not a waist measurement or a promise that every player gets identical coverage. The current feature list does not quantify separate foam padding, and this guide does not turn customer-review descriptions into a verified padding specification. Choose a documented padded model if specific pad construction is your deciding requirement.

A cup pocket is listed, but an included cup is not. Budget for the required equipment separately unless your exact offer explicitly includes it.

Youth sizing: compare actual measurements

Use the manufacturer’s measurement method. Under Armour instructs buyers to measure around the natural waist without tightening the tape; its chart also provides hip and height measurements. Measure again when replacing last season’s shorts. Age labels and a previous purchase can help locate a section, but they are not a reliable substitute for the current chart.

Sources: Franklin’s 2026 catalog, the size guide on CHAMPRO’s Wind-Up pages and the Under Armour U.S. boys’ size chart. These are body-waist ranges, not measurements across an unstretched waistband. CHAMPRO and Under Armour charts cover broader apparel ranges; the table does not claim that every shown size exists in every slider style. Plus sizes on a general chart likewise do not establish a matching product option.

For example, “Youth Small” means different waist ranges across these brands. If measurements fall near a boundary, consider the complete chart and ask the manufacturer about that model’s intended fit. Do not equate youth XL with adult Small or automatically size up for growing room: a loose garment can shift while an overly tight one can restrict comfortable movement.

Padding, cup pockets and comfort checks

Sliding pads add material in selected areas. A cup pocket holds a separate piece of equipment. Neither feature establishes that the other is present. An included cup also needs an appropriate fit; its presence in a box is not enough to show that the full setup suits the player. Check the league or coach’s equipment requirements before the first game.

Try the shorts with the actual uniform pants and required protective gear while the return policy still permits a fit check. Walk, squat and move through a normal ready stance. The waistband should stay in place, the leg hems should not roll or bunch, and seams or pad edges should not create an uncomfortable pressure point. Check whether the pants feel crowded with the extra layer.

For softball, confirm the specific model’s intended use and the team’s equipment requirements instead of assuming every baseball cup arrangement is needed. Franklin explicitly describes its youth sliders for baseball and softball. A fastpitch-specific garment may have different construction and its own youth chart. Keep the decision tied to the player’s sport and fit needs.

No sliding shorts can guarantee prevention of scrapes, bruises or other injuries. Good fit and appropriate equipment do not replace coaching, correct sliding technique or the applicable rules.

Care and buying checks

For UA 1375636, the manufacturer specifies a cold machine wash with like colors, non-chlorine bleach only when needed and low-temperature tumble drying. It also says not to iron, dry-clean or use fabric softener. Those directions apply to that style, not automatically to Franklin or CHAMPRO.

For other models, read the care label before the first wash and follow the cup manufacturer’s separate cleaning instructions when applicable. Inspect padding, seams and the pocket periodically. A second correctly fitting pair can simplify laundering between practices, but do not confuse a wholesale catalog’s pack quantity with the number included in a retail offer.

Before checkout, confirm youth versus adult, model code, selected waist size, color, number of garments and whether a cup is included. Check return terms for apparel and protective equipment. The best choice is the one whose documented features match the uniform and equipment requirements, then passes a comfortable fit check.