20 Essentials to Pack for Tournaments

20 Essentials to Pack for Tournaments- Always be ready to hit the road for a travel or local sports tournament with this checklist of 20 essentials you just can’t forget to pack. Whether it’s packing for a baseball tournament, softball, football, soccer, or something else, this list will help you remember all of the important items that are easily forgotten!

When my son played rec baseball packing for games was a piece of cake. All of my game gear lived in the trunk, I just slapped some sunscreen on the fam and headed to the field.  Now that he plays on a travel team, packing for a baseball tournament is a whole new adventure. Every weekend, several days at a time, we’re in another city, and occasionally in another state. It’s not unusual to spend days at a field in a strange town, and nights in a hotel room. Sure, I pack all of the necessary basics, but I have been known to forget several important items, and having to make a stop at the local big box store isn’t exactly my idea of a fun trip. It took several tournament weekends to get my baseball packing just right.

If you’re a travel ball mom, or if your older child is playing at college showcases, you will likely be spending many days on the road this summer.

20 Essentials to Pack for Travel Tournaments

For the Games:

1. Cooler

While many tournament rules do not allow coolers on the fields, you should be able to keep one in your car. Fill it with ice and keep your drinks and snacks cool. If coolers are allowed then a good one with wheels is great.

If you’re a camping family, or spend a lot of time at tournaments, consider stepping it up and getting a Yeti cooler. The price is steep, but this isn’t your standard plastic cooler – it will last forever, and can keep food and drink cold for days (literally)! They have a wheeled Yeti cooler, but all several other options to consider with both hard and soft sides(including new colors).

2. Bug Repellant

Summers can be hot and humid and that means bugs! Protect your family with a good repellent. Choose a DEET free one that is natural, like Bug Soother.

3. Lip Balm

My son always gets chapped lips in the hot sun, having a tube of lip balm in his bat bag is a must to keep him comfortable.

4. Sunscreen

An easy to apply, high SPF spray bottle of sunscreen in your child’s bat bag, another for you.

5. Fold Up Chair

One for each person not playing. Coleman makes great camping chairs which do just fine on the sidelines, too. Bleachers are not your friends, your back will thank me later!

6. Canopy or Umbrella

This is crucial for hot days, or rainy days! Keep cool and dry under an easy to put up canopy and come back and if you have extra space, share with another family! Consider one with a single wall which helps on windy days and when the sun is low in the morning or late afternoon.

7. Cash

Parking fees, entry fees, and concessions, many of these are cash only! Take some cash to avoid a trip to the ATM.

8. Hand Wipes and Hand Sanitizer

Nowadays, hand wipes and hand sanitizer are a must. The bathrooms could be too far away, lines may be too long, they could be out of soap, or all of the above.

9. Children’s Ibuprofen

The kid’s version and some for the grown-ups too.

10. Hand Towels (Rags)

Keep several wet rags in a baggie in your cooler for the sweltering hot days. A nice, cold hand towel is a game changer for kids and parents alike. Your players, their teammates, and even the other parents will be so grateful.

11. Extra Resealable Baggies

Fill with ice from your cooler in case of injuries. Ziplock bags that have a zipper are far easier to open and close – they last longer than sandwich bags, too.

12. A Basic First Aid Kit with Band-Aids, and Antibacterial Cream

Injuries happen! We used to carry band-aids and anti-bacterial cream, but a well prepared, compact first aid kit is far more useful. Check out The Solo by MyMedic – you’ll be able to handle sprains, cuts, scrapes, stings and just about anything else the kids or Mother Nature throw at you!

13. Entertainment for Younger Siblings (iTunes )

This is not the time to enforce your electronic device ban, give them the iPad, iPod or whatever it takes to keep them busy while their big brother plays a 2 hour game.

For Traveling:

14. Laundry Detergent

Will you be gone longer than overnight? Laundry detergent made to get out the stains and smells of your little athletes is a must! Include a small bottle of detergent and stain treatment to keep those uniforms clean. If you don’t have a washer at  your hotel, liquid detergent is important to wash in the sink.

15. Wire Hangers

You may need to air dry the uniforms, typically the hangers at the hotel don’t measure up. There’s plenty of reasonably priced hangars that can do the job.

16. Slippers or Flip-Flops

Hotel room floors may or may not be the cleanest, keep your tootsies free from germs with a comfy pair of machine washable slippers!

17. Lots of Books

Magazines or books. I’ve been reading the Magnolia story. There will be down time, keep yourself busy!

18. iPad or MacBook Air with Streaming Service

Hotel T.V. can be downright bad! An iPad or MacBook Air plus a streaming service like Netflix, Prime Video or Apple TV solves all of that. All you need is WiFi and you’re a mobile entertainment center!

19. A Large Tote

It sounds like a given, but I have actually forgotten to take a baseball bag to tournaments when traveling. A nice large tote can hold your wallet, keys, sunglasses, etc., plus several water bottles, extra undershirts for your player and so much more. Our fave, which was designed with beach days in mind, has several pockets, a keychain clip, and even has a bottle opener!

20. Portable Wagon

Well where are you going to carry all of the above? A collapsible wagon is a lifesaver when packing for a baseball tournament, or any other tourney! A wagon is great in a pinch it can even hold a young whining sibling! Just kidding-sort of.

When packing for a baseball tournament or any other kind, make sure to include these essentials in your bag! What other items would you add to this list?