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Packing Tips for Soccer Tournaments

Packing for any trip can be quite a task.  Making sure you have all the things you need for a soccer tournament can drive you crazy if you aren’t organized.  Of course you have to pack the clothes, medicines, and essential items for each person going based on where you are headed, what the weather will be, and how long you will be gone.  That part is just like packing to go anywhere.  Some people choose to pack all the food or snacks they will need also.  My biggest problem used to be getting there with all the soccer stuff.  How do you manage to get to the tournament with all the soccer related items you will need?  Here’s what I like to do to ease the stress and help ensure we have everything we need with these packing tips for soccer tournaments.

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Packing for any trip can be quite a task. Get these packing tips for soccer tournaments to ease stress so you can enjoy the games.

Packing Tips for Soccer Tournaments

1. Find a big bag that works for your sporting needs. (I love this one and the side mesh side pockets.) It needs to be very large and fairly easy to carry.

2. Keep it packed with certain things all season or year long.  Here is what stays in my soccer bag all year:  Sunscreen, Bug Spray, 2 Umbrellas (for rain but also for sun), instant cold ice packs (someone is always going to get hurt), athletic wrap, a resistance band for tight muscles, an extra shin guard (you never know!), hand warmers, a sun hat, a big empty trash bag, several plastic grocery bags, 2 extra pairs of soccer socks, an extra pair of goalie gloves, an extra goalie shirt, some random small toys that my daughter only sees when we are at tournaments, and two beach towels.

3. Make a habit of putting all jerseys, shorts, and socks back into this bag each time they come out of the wash.  This helps you know where they are every time your kid asks even if it isn’t tournament time!

4. Train your kid to put all the equipment and shoes they take to practice and games back into (or on top of) the bag each time they return to the house.  This is probably the hardest part!

5. Check for the most important items before the bag goes into the car at tournament time, then check it again!  Our most important things and most left behind items are jerseys, shorts, socks, shin guards, cleats, and a ball.  Most of the other stuff can be bought fairly quickly if need be, but you don’t want to be the mom that forgot the red jersey making the whole team have to change colors on the field five minutes before the game starts!

6. Leave the bag and other game related items in the car when you get to the hotel.  There is nothing worse than making it all the way to the tournament with what you need and then leaving something in the hotel room.

These steps have drastically cut down on my stress and panic when it is time to load the car for a soccer tournament.  What works best for your family?  What are some things you leave in your bag all the time?

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