Survival Tips for Summer Youth Sports
School is out for summer! And so begins the circus that is summer activities for my family. My middle two kiddos are playing two sports at the same time. I mean what is baseball and softball season without a little soccer and hockey thrown into the mix? Not to be left out, my oldest is on a competitive team that has us chomping on sunflower seeds and lathering up with sunscreen every weekend for the next two months.
And I love it!
That being said, I still look for advice when it comes to making youth sports and life easier. Here are some valuable tidbits I have collected along the way as a mother of four.
Get Organized
Organized is the new cool when you are a youth sports parent. I remember telling my son’s wrestling coach this past winter that if the event does not make it on my phone calendar then it doesn’t exist. And I mean it.
Every game and practice goes on my phone’s Google Calendar. Then I am extra sweet and send an invite to my husband and my 13-year-old. They accept and we are all one step closer to being on the same page in life.
Four kids, means I also color code practices and games so they correspond with a specific child. My daughters are yellow and red and my sons are green and blue. It is twenty seconds of tedious color assigning for a lifetime of organized happiness.
What Field Are We On?
The other organizational game changer for youth sports is to note the field or court or pool or whatever in the smartphone. No joke, this is awesome. A person will look like the smartest parent on the planet when a fellow mom or dad asks “Which field are we on?” and he or she can look at their screen and be crowned keeper of important knowledge.
Plugging this data into one’s phone may even get a person out of having to bring treats or keep score at an event. Being counted on to direct traffic to the correct ball field or bleacher sets earns a lot of brownie points with fellow fans.
Snacks, Snacks, Snacks
When packing for an all day tourney, bring a lot of snacks. Then double that amount. Plus throw in an extra backpack cooler for the minivan. Long breaks or early wake-up calls may mean a balanced meal can’t happen during those crazy double or triple headers.
I am the boring mom who brings healthy treats. Yet, I also keep an emergency stash of lollipops close. Which makes me kind of cool, I think?
Some easy edibles that make their way into our family’s snack cooler include:
- Fresh Fruit
- It is not fancy, but if you bring it they will eat it. Cutie oranges, smaller-sized apples, and even bananas evaporate during long days at the ball field when sweat and grime make little leaguers crave clean eating.
- Wonderful Pistachios
- I have been buying these in the No Shell Variety Pack from Sam’s Club. They come in the perfect snack pouch size. I get the following flavors: Roasted Salted, Honey Roasted, and (my fave) Chili Roasted.
- Blue Diamond Almonds
- Spicy lovers, go for the flavor of Wasabi & Soy Sauce or Sriracha. If a person can’t handle the heat, opt for Toasted Coconut or Smokehouse.
- Bumblebee Snack on the Run Chicken Salad Kit
- My kids do well with crackers and mayo-infused salads. I also enjoy them and choose to ignore the sodium content. Throwing these little boxes into a backpack is easy. Tuna Salad options are also available.
Hot and Cold Weather
Chilly morning games can lead to hot afternoon matches. So I wear layers and try not to think about how silly I look. Last Sunday, I wore ski pants at 8:00 a.m. and capris at 3:00 p.m. Life in the Midwest is all about extremes. A fellow mom and I often look ready to climb Mount Everest until mid-morning, but then switch to beach attire for afternoons on the sidelines.
If a person commits and wears the layers then he or she is never too cold or too hot. There is also no forgetting of extra jackets, hats, or gloves.
Protection From the Sun
Sunscreen is a must for my epidermis and my pale offspring. The spray kind lasts like two seconds, but it is worth it if you have children. For some reason getting hosed down by SPF spray is met by minimal whines, while rubbing down with protective lotion turns my younger two into hyenas.
Grass Stains
Wearing white happens in youth sports because who cares about that Labor Day fashion rule? White pants and white jerseys look sharp, am I right? Too bad that dust, dirt, mud, and green grass stains did not get the same memo.
To quote my mom, “Biz, soak, scrub.” It is the only way to get those white ball pants back to looking bright and shiny.
Hotel Stays
If you are staying with the team, I suggest going “middle of the road” rate wise. It does not have to be the Ritz, but I would avoid any place that could be described as “moist” or “sketchy”.
Hotels that offer breakfast are nice. It can be great to grab a bagel, granola bar, cup of coffee, or hard boiled egg when getting ready to start a game day.
Lodging with a pool is vital for families. Sometimes a player may have to avoid swimming to conserve strength for a long tournament (and I wholeheartedly agree with this!). But, my toddler has not yet signed his free agency deal so bring on the hot tub and floaties for mom, dad, and siblings!
Also, Don’t Forget:
- Umbrella. Even if the weekend is supposed to be 100% clear skies, bring one because weather apps lie or are wrong. Plus if there aren’t showers, chances are the sun is bright and the umbrella will provide welcomed shade.
- Outdoor spectating chair. Because no one has time for bleacher butt.
- Cell Charger. It is the life line to the color coded phone calendar.
- Water Bottles/Hydro Flasks. For everyone, the competitor plus all attending.
- Bug Spray. Lots and lots of bug spray. Because, you know, bugs…they bite.
I have written before that youth sports is a minefield. Hopefully this post is less mining and more “Field of Dreams”. Go watch kids play, compete, and cheer this summer.
And enjoy it.
The busy moments with teammates and friends will make all of the rushing worth it.