The team email lists uniforms, water bottles, and the practice schedule. It doesn’t list the 18 things that will determine whether the weekend goes well or whether you’re driving to a Walmart at 9pm.
For the kid:
- Two pairs of cleats or court shoes (one inevitably gets soaked or breaks)
- Three pairs of game socks plus three pairs of regular socks
- Two pairs of compression shorts or sliders
- A second jersey (in case of mid-game blood, mud, or a uniform sweep at the field)
- An extra mouthguard
- Powdered electrolyte sticks (cheaper and lighter than bottled sports drinks)
- A clearly labeled water bottle that holds at least 24 ounces
- Sunscreen (SPF 50, sport version) and a hat for between games
- A simple emergency kit: ibuprofen, athletic tape, blister bandages, ice packs (gel or instant)
- Quiet snacks: banana, peanut butter sandwich, granola bar, watermelon, pretzels
For the family:
- A folding camp chair or two for the sideline
- A small cooler with ice
- Cash for parking, snack bar, or vending machines
- The hotel address and phone written on paper (the GPS will fail)
- The team’s hotel block code or backup booking confirmation
- Phone chargers and a backup battery pack
- Layers (early morning fields are cold, midday fields are hot)
- A book or downloaded show for the in-between hours
The night-before pack:
Pack the kid’s bag the night before, by their side, with them watching. They will know where the extra mouthguard is at 7am Saturday. Lay out the morning clothes and uniform on the dresser.
The car cooler tip:
Pre-freeze water bottles overnight; pack them in the cooler in the morning. They double as ice and become drinking water as they melt. Saves space, saves money, less waste.
The hotel rule:
Order pizza for dinner Friday so the family doesn’t burn an hour at a restaurant. Save the sit-down dinner for Saturday after the day’s games are done.
The weekend goes smoothly when the bag is full of the things you forgot last time. Build the list. Reuse it next tournament.