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Packing lists

What to pack for a tournament weekend.

Honest packing lists by sport. Start with the always-pack kit, then jump to your sport for the specifics.

9
Sports
148
Items
19
Universal

Jump to your sport

Or scroll the always-pack kit below first.

Always-pack kit

Goes in the car for every weekend regardless of sport.

Always-pack kit

  • Water bottle per kid, refilled at every stop
  • Cooler with electrolyte mix, fruit, granola bars, two sandwiches per player
  • Sunscreen (SPF 30+) and a separate stick for faces
  • Bug spray for evening games
  • Folding chairs for parents (two per family)
  • Pop-up canopy or large umbrella for shade
  • Phone power bank with two cables
  • Cash for parking, gate fees, and tournament merch tables
  • Ziploc bags for wet uniforms after the last game

Recovery + first aid

  • Athletic tape, pre-wrap, and a couple of ACE bandages
  • Instant cold packs (the snap-and-shake kind) and a small towel
  • Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Benadryl
  • Band-aids of every size + a roll of moleskin for blisters
  • Anti-chafe stick (Body Glide) for hot/humid weekends
  • Foam roller or lacrosse ball for between-game tightness

Documents + logistics

  • Player ID cards, medical release forms, birth certificates if required
  • Printed roster + game schedule (don't rely on the app)
  • Insurance card photos saved to phone
  • Hotel confirmation number + parking instructions
Packing list

Soccer

Two pairs of cleats save the weekend more than you'd think, wet morning game ruins one set, the backup is dry by afternoon.

Player kit

  • Game cleats + a backup pair (FG for grass, TF/turfs for synthetic, bring both if you're not sure)
  • Shin guards + sleeves
  • Mouthguard if required by your league (ECNL, MLS Next typically require)
  • Game jersey + backup color, shorts, socks (pack two pairs of socks per game)
  • Goalkeeper gloves if applicable, keep them in a dry bag
  • Size-5 ball (or sport-appropriate ball size) plus a pump

Weather adaptations

  • Cold: base layer (long-sleeve compression top + leggings under shorts), gloves, beanie, hand warmers
  • Hot: extra jersey for halftime swap, cooling towel, electrolyte tabs
  • Rain: poncho, plastic bag for changing socks, microfiber towel

Sideline + parent kit

  • Sideline chair (low-back camp chair travels best)
  • Foam pad if bleachers, soccer fields rarely have them, but bring just in case
  • Notebook or app to track the kid's minutes/positions across games
Packing list

Baseball

Tournaments here run heat-or-rain weekends and 4-game Saturdays. Pack for both extremes, and bring a second hat.

Player kit

  • Metal or composite bat per league rules (USSSA stamp, USA stamp, check the sanction)
  • Helmet with face guard if required, batting gloves
  • Glove + backup glove (and an outfield glove if your kid bounces positions)
  • Cleats (metal for older divisions where allowed, molded otherwise) + a turf shoe for between-game wear
  • Two pants, two belt colors if the team uses different bottoms for home/away
  • Cup for boys 12U+, sliding shorts
  • Hat + a backup hat that doesn't smell
  • Catchers: full gear bag, chest protector, mask, leg guards, knee saver, second mitt

Weather + tournament-specific

  • Eye black, sunflower seeds or gum
  • Pop-up dugout fan + battery pack for Florida/Texas summer events
  • Long-sleeve compression top for cold morning games
  • Hand warmers for catchers in October-November tournaments

Cooler kit

  • Bag of ice + a second towel just for icing arms post-pitching
  • Pickle juice or salt tabs for cramp prevention on doubleheader days
  • Protein bars / PB&J / bananas, pitchers eat between innings
Packing list

Basketball

Indoor courts. Climate is consistent, but you'll play 4 games in 2 days and floor burns are real.

Player kit

  • Court shoes broken in, never debut new shoes at a tournament
  • Backup pair of court shoes if your kid eats through outsoles
  • Mouthguard, ankle braces (or kinesio tape if that's the routine)
  • Knee pads / knee sleeves if your kid plays the paint
  • Reversible jersey + shorts in both colors (most tournaments hand out only one)
  • Headband / hair ties, two of each
  • Water bottle big enough to last between TV timeouts

Recovery

  • Ankle ice cup or wrap ice pack, sprains happen on day 2
  • Voltaren or topical anti-inflammatory
  • Compression sleeves for legs (helps with floor-burn-style soreness)

Bag essentials

  • Quiet snacks for between games on the same court (no crinkly wrappers)
  • A book or downloaded tablet, bench time on a multi-court schedule is long
  • Cash for the gym snack bar (most don't take cards)
Packing list

Lacrosse

Most-gear-per-kid of any sport on this list. Build a checklist and hand it to your kid, losing a glove on a tournament Saturday is brutal.

Player kit

  • Helmet + chinstrap that actually fits, bring the spare hardware kit
  • Shoulder pads + rib pads if your kid wears them
  • Arm pads / elbow pads
  • Gloves + backup gloves if you have them
  • Mouthguard with strap (one stays attached, one for the bag)
  • Stick(s), two minimum, three if your kid switches between attack/defense lengths
  • Spare mesh / stringing kit if a pocket lets go mid-tournament
  • Cleats (molded), turf shoe for walking between fields
  • Cup (boys), short-sleeve compression top under the jersey

Goalies

  • Chest protector, throat guard, padded pants
  • Goalie stick + backup head/shaft if anything fails
  • Goalie-specific gloves (more padding than field gloves)

Sideline

  • Hydration vest if your kid prefers to wear water instead of bottle-and-cooler
  • Mesh laundry bag for the soaking-wet gear that's coming home
  • Stick-stringing 101 cheat sheet on your phone, repairs are common
Packing list

Volleyball

Knee pads, ankle braces, contrasting libero jersey. The convention-center weekends are long, bring an extra everything.

Player kit

  • Court shoes, gum-soled volleyball shoes specifically, not generic sneakers
  • Knee pads (the thick kind, generic athletic ones don't cut it for hard floors)
  • Ankle braces, even if 'optional' on the team list
  • Spandex shorts (two pairs), jersey + libero contrast jersey if applicable
  • Mouthguard if required
  • Hair ties / pre-wrap headbands, two extras minimum

Recovery + sideline

  • Foam roller or trigger-point ball for shoulders/forearms
  • Kinesio tape for shoulders or finger jams
  • Athletic tape, finger tape goes fast
  • Extra pair of socks per match (yes, per match)

Convention-center weekends

  • Compact folding chair, gyms rarely have enough seating
  • Earplugs (six courts going at once is loud)
  • Cooler for outside food, concession lines eat 45 minutes
  • Long sleeves: convention centers run cold even in summer
Packing list

Hockey

The bag's the bag, you know what's in it. But tournament weekends add laundry, sharpening, and rink chill.

Player kit (the bag, in order)

  • Skates, sharpened the day before you leave
  • Helmet with cage / visor / mouthguard attached
  • Shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves
  • Shin guards, hockey socks (two pairs), garters or velcro straps
  • Breezers / hockey pants
  • Two jerseys (home + away), two practice jerseys
  • Two pairs of base layer (top + bottom)
  • Cup, jock shorts
  • Stick + backup stick + extra tape (white and black)

Rink-day extras

  • Skate guards for walking between locker room and ice
  • Towel for the bench, hand warmers in cold rinks
  • Skate sharpener punch card or contact for the rink pro shop
  • Drying rack or hangers for the hotel room, gear dries faster spread out

Goalies

  • Goalie pads, blocker, catcher, chest protector
  • Mask + backup mask if you have one
  • Two goalie sticks
  • Extra jock + jill, padded shorts
  • More towels than you think you need
Packing list

Softball

Heat, dust, and 90-foot bases mean specialty gear soccer parents don't think about.

Player kit

  • Bat per sanction, USSSA, ASA, or USA stamp depending on the tournament
  • Helmet with face mask (most leagues require for batters at 12U+)
  • Glove + backup, batting gloves
  • Cleats (molded), turf shoes for between-game wear
  • Pants + sliding shorts, belt in team color
  • Hair ribbon / bow in team color (yes, it matters in this culture)
  • Catchers: chest protector, mask with throat guard, leg guards, knee saver

Pitchers

  • Pitching insert / lane (if home, you brought it)
  • Wrist support or finger tape
  • Extra socks, pivot foot blows through them

Sideline

  • Dugout fan + battery pack for southern tournaments
  • Eye black, pine tar
  • Two team-color tops for parents, dressing in colors is a softball thing
Packing list

Football

Pads, helmet, mouthguard, and a much bigger laundry plan than other sports.

Player kit

  • Helmet + chinstrap, mouthguard with strap
  • Shoulder pads, rib pads if your kid wears them
  • Game pants with pad set (5- or 7-piece), girdle
  • Two jerseys (home + away)
  • Cleats, molded or detachable depending on age division
  • Cup, jock shorts
  • Towel for hands (especially in QB-heavy formats)

Hot-weather tournaments

  • Two extra base layers, kids change them at halftime
  • Cooling towel + ice bag
  • Pickle juice / salt tabs for cramp prevention
  • Backup chinstrap (sweat destroys the foam over 4 games)

Cleaning kit

  • Disinfectant wipes for the helmet padding
  • Mesh laundry bag for tournament-end gear
  • Two black sharpies, eye black + jersey numbers come off
Packing list

Cheer

Matching everything. Backup of every piece. And the bow, always bring a spare bow.

Uniform + appearance

  • Full uniform (top, skirt or shorts, briefs) + spare set if your gym requires
  • Backup bow in team color
  • Cheer shoes, broken in, never new at a tournament
  • Performance makeup kit (your gym's specific look)
  • Hairspray (a lot), gel, bobby pins, hair ties, at least 20 of each
  • Lipstick / lip color in approved shade

Performance day

  • Warmup jacket + pants
  • Pre-warmup outfit + after-performance clothes
  • Knee pads if your routine has tumbling on hard floor
  • Throat lozenges + water for vocals
  • Towels for sweat between rounds

Bag basics

  • Two extra pairs of socks/tights
  • Roll of athletic tape
  • Mints / floss / dry shampoo for between rounds
  • Phone power bank + charger, videos drain batteries fast

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