*This post is sponsored by BODYARMOR in conjunction with Mom It Forward. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Growing up we LIVED at the soccer fields in the spring and summer. With five kids in my family, and all of us in soccer we spent three evening a week at practice and all day on Saturday at the fields. Our schedules were always packed with sports. My mom packed dinners to go for the evening and on Saturdays it was whatever we could get from The Den (the food pavilion at the fields).

Move forward 20 years and I am the mom juggling the schedule year round! When did sports go from one season to year round? Luckily I am usually (yeah, we all have our days!) ahead of the game and have the car packed on Sundays for the week ahead. I look at the schedule and get organized on the Sunday for the following week. I know if we are going from field to field (outdoors) that I am going to need lots of items to keep us comfortable, full, and ready to go. Packing all of the essentials is key to making sure the kids are not only happy but healthy as well.

7 Necessities for Summer Sport Season

Here are my top 7 items that every parent should have at the ready during sport season.

Sport Bag

This bag can be anything really. A duffel bag. A tote. A backpack. Maybe yours is actually a collapsible wagon. It really doesn’t matter as long as it is a designated item that hold all of the essentials that you might need at the fields/rink/court.

Sunscreen

Seems like a given, right? No. It is such an easy one to forget and then everyone is in pain. Just buy an extra bottle of sport sunscreen available at any grocery store and leave it in your spot bag (see above) in the car. That way you never have to think about it.

Chair/Blanket

I am not a happy ground sitter. When I know that I am going to be at the fields for any amount of time over an hour I want to bring my folding camping chair for comfort. If you don’t mind sitting on the ground or have a bunch of kids with you – grab a blanket instead. There are some great picnic and waterproof blankets now that are perfect for a day at the fields.

Snacks

Kids are always hungry – am I right? I don’t want to plop down $40 every Saturday for 4 hot dogs and chips just to have the kids hungry again in an hour. Bringing more healthy options from home that I know will fill them up while they exert energy on the field is a much better option. I keep a small lunch sized cooler in my sport bag to keep food cool and ready to eat.

  • Granola or Protein Bars – choose ones that won’t melt. You can grab a box and toss it into your bag without worrying about them getting soggy or expired.
  • Cheese Sticks – this is a family favorite. Quick and easy with no mess.
  • Fruit – old school orange slices, grapes, bananas, or cups of pre-cut fruit are perfect. I don’t even bring spoons. My kids grab a cup of fruit, tear the top off and “drink” it out of the cup.
  • Granola mix – we like to make our own. 1 cup of granola, 1 cup of dried fruit, 1 cup of chocolate chips. Done. I hate when granola skimps on the chocolate.

Extra Clothes

This one depends upon the person or the family. I know that after my 12 year old is done playing sand volleyball and we have to stay out and about for 4 more hours while her siblings plays soccer she is much more comfortable getting out of her uniform and putting on comfy clean clothes. This could apply to any child if it is extremely cold/hot, they get extra sweaty, or if the field was muddy from a storm the night before.

Cash

A little cash goes a long way at the ball field. Teams doing a fundraiser for camp, the ice cream man (sometimes a Popsicle just hits the spot) or maybe your kid decides to go to the movies with a teammate after their game (this is where clean clothes come in handy – see above). You never know when you will need a little cash – and so many of us don’t carry any cash anymore. I throw a $20 in the inside zipper pocket of the sports bag before I put it in the back of the car on Sunday – just in case.

Hydration

BODYARMOR Summer

Staying hydrated during the summer is so important when it comes to an active kid – on and off the field. Children are much more likely to become dehydrated than adults, because they can lose relatively more fluid quickly. Do you know the symptoms of dehydration?

  • Thirst
  • Dry or sticky mouth
  • Not peeing very much
  • Dark yellow pee
  • Dry, cool skin
  • Headache
  • Muscle cramps

Keeping kids hydrated, while playing sports and during the hot summer months, is extremely important.

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BODYARMOR Summer

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Next time you head to the fields or the pool for practice this summer what will you be packing?

BODYARMOR Summer