Spring is in the air and the baseball season has started! Playing baseball is just one part, packing and getting there is the other. I created this list and PRINTABLE DOWNLOAD AT THE BOTTOM to help all the moms and dads who could use a little extra help remembering all the things!
Whether it’s baseball, softball, soccer, or football, this will help you remember the important (and maybe not so important but nice to have) things that can easily be forgotten. Great holiday and birthday gift ideas too!
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Uniforms for your player
I have everything in a tub and bring ALL UNIFORMS along with sweatshirts, socks, hats, thermals, leggings, sweatshirts, etc. It goes from the laundry straight to the tub.
Equipment Bag
Our boys got these gatorade bottles in their team colors for Christmas. I like the white space at the top to put their name and number. They also go with gatorade pods so you can fill your bottle with water and add a pod. You can also buy the individual powder, large canister or just use refreshing ice water. For tournaments and double headers the 64 oz. thermos is great. This one comes in a lot of different colors and also makes a great gift.
Cooler full of snacks and drinks
When your kids want to eat ALL DAY LONG concession stands can add up real fast. Pack a cooler filled with favorite snacks and drinks to get you through the day. Just watch out for foods that can stain their uniform. I added some of our favorite snacks down below if you need some ideas.
Some tournaments do not allow coolers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep them in your car. If you’re a family always on the go and don’t mind making an investment in a large quality hard cooler then you might want to invest in the Yeti with wheels or this Igloo cooler. I also like all the features of this smaller soft sided cooler or this one. We also have a backpack cooler and it comes in handy when your hands are full.
Folding Chairs or Bleacher Seats
There’s so many nice chairs, but I prefer the ones that fold up with a carrying bag like this chair so I can easily throw it over my shoulder or throw it in the wagon. You could also add a clip-on umbrella for shade. Sometimes for single games I’ll bring my bleacher seat from Play It Again Sports. You can customize it if you want and they have the standard or wide size. I got the wide one for extra space. Also, I just found out about heated chairs! Holy moly, this would be heavenly on a cold day.
Weather Related Items:
Rainy Days: raincoat, ponchos, umbrella, Mypod (see picture below)
Cold Days: coats, gloves, kleenex, stocking caps, ski mask (perfect for players on a windy day), hand-warmers, thermal undershirt, leggings, Mypod, heated chairs, wearable sleeping bag
Hot Days: cooling towel, misting fan, umbrella or sport-brella
Blankets
You can never go wrong by packing a blanket or five. Even if it seems like a nice day, ball parks can be misleading. Trust me on this one. You’ll thank me later! We were given this fleece tie blanket shown in the picture below as a gift and absolutely love it! Here’s a YouTube video on how to make your own https://youtu.be/8rQ89wbLOZ8 if you’re the crafty type.
What a lifesaver this thing is. Throw everything in the wagon and keep all your stuff in one spot.
This basic 10×10 Tent does the job or you could go a little fancier with this one.
If you need a new one, this XL waterproof tote has some cool features. I personally love one with pockets so you can easily find ALL the things below:
Staying overnight? Don’t forget these 5 things
TIPS:
As soon as I wash their uniforms I put everything back in one designated tub that stays in my room. That way I know where everything is and my children can’t loose anything. Lol! If I put it back in their closet, who knows where it’ll be on game day. This includes everything and anything baseball related. There’s nothing worse than running around the house like a crazy person trying to find something before you leave.
Double check their equipment bags before leaving home and again before leaving the ballpark. No matter how many times you remind them or ask them if they have everything, just take an extra minute and double check yourself. This little tip will save you a lot of headaches.
Keep a tub in the back of your car for muddy cleats, dirty uniforms, dusty hats and any other mess that is sure to come along.
Go to Sams or the grocery store earlier in the week, pack the car and fill up with gas the night before.
Keep a cooler in the car if it’s not allowed into the park – tailgate in between games.
Go to the dollar store and stock up on some candy since you know they’ll ask.
Bring your tennis shoes and walk around the park for some exercise in-between games.
It never hurts to read through the park rules and regulations before packing. Some ballparks don’t allow tents or other items so save yourself the trouble. Also, depending on the ballpark you may want bleacher seats instead of a folding chair since some parks have a wall half way up.
Snack Ideas:
Sunflower seeds (check the ballpark rules to see if they are allowed. If they are, Menards has a good variety).
Protein Bars
Beef jerky
Dried fruit, fruit cups, apple slices, or fresh fruit
String cheese, yogurt tubes or smoothies
Nuts or Trail mix –
Veggies
Cheese and crackers
Mini muffins
Individual bags of chips, pretzels, popcorn, etc.
Sandwiches / LaGondola Torpedo Sandwiches – ask and they will seperate the meat from the bread so you can assemble later.
What did I forget? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll add it.
Download and print the list below and keep it handy for your next tournament. I hope it helps!!
Have a SAFE and FUN baseball season!!
xoxo,
Julie
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@juliescheulerphoto