Packing for soccer can be like planning a day on the slopes or at the beach.
There’s a saying in North Carolina: “Don’t like the weather? Wait 15 minutes. It’ll change.”
Sometimes gearing up for a soccer game is like planning a day at the beach. You have lots of stuff that you might not need, but you’d rather have it just in case. And yes, you will complain all the way down to the field and you’ll feel like a pack mule.
When you face a daylong or weekend-long tournament, it is even more challenging to manage the stuff, especially when the weather can swing from freezing to 45 with rain and wind or from pleasant to 95, humid and hot.
You should always have these with you, regardless of weather:
- Chairs
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat
We can layer our clothes and wear sunscreen, but we can also take things to make the day less miserable. Remember, turf gets hot fast, and that means people do, too. If you’re player is out there on a hot day, you should have these with you:
- Umbrella
- Tent (for the parents/team)
- Ice packs
- Ice for the cooler
- Cooler with water, sports drinks, food
- Cooling towels (or towels dipped in cool water)
On those hot game days, encourage your players to relax in the shade between games. Suggest they take off their cleats, socks and shin guards and slip into slides. Have them drink an electrolyte drink, eat and rest. Reapply sunscreen before they go back on the field.
Our team had a game in March 2018. It was cold and raining. The rain quickly turned to sleet and then snow. The kids had frost on their eyelashes, but they kept playing. The parents were miserable. Our coach, who is from Scotland and has a higher tolerance for cold than North Carolinians, had the game called because the players were turning into ice cubes.
On cold game days, the players will be fine – they’re moving and staying warm. But they should wear thermals or compression gear under their kits, as well as gloves and hats. And give the coach a blanket or two for them to use. Side note: Our team destroyed my foil blanket in a game. But they’re cheap ($1.50 at the drug store) and don’t take up space or require washing.
You, however, are not moving. Wear thermals as a base layer and dress for the weather. If you get cold, add more layers or blankets. The ground is cold and you’ll be exposed to the elements.
For cold days:
- Blankets for you, kids
- Tarp for the ground, if it’s wet
- Tent
- Hand/boot warmers
- Gloves
- Scarves
- Coats
- Dry clothing for the kid
- Cocoa and coffee in insulated cups/containers
When the game is over, get to the car quickly and warm up. Allow your child time to change out of wet clothing (sweat and weather-wet) and into dry clothing.