Summer tournament season is here. That means early morning drives, all-day games in the heat, questionable hotel breakfast buffets, and at least one panic moment when you realize you forgot something critical.
Whether you're traveling three hours or three states away, packing smart makes the difference between a weekend you survive and a weekend you actually enjoy. Here's what veteran tournament parents pack to keep everyone happy, healthy, and reasonably sane.
Before You Pack: Three Things to Check
Check the weather. Summer weather changes fast. Storms roll in. Heat spikes. What starts as a perfect 75-degree morning can become a 95-degree sweatfest by noon. Pack layers and be ready for anything.
Double-check your equipment. Nothing ruins a tournament like showing up and realizing your kid's cleats don't fit anymore, their stick is broken, or their goalie pads are held together with hope and duct tape. Inspect everything the night before.
Think about the extras. Wipes, hand sanitizer, pain reliever, band-aids, allergy meds. The stuff you don't think about until you desperately need it and you're in the middle of nowhere with no pharmacy in sight.
The Tournament Packing List (That Actually Works)
1. Equipment (And Backup Equipment)
Check your gear before you leave. Is everything in working order? Bring a screwdriver for lacrosse sticks, duct tape for field hockey goalie equipment, extra laces for cleats. Whatever sport you're playing, bring the tools to make emergency repairs.
Pro tip: Pack an extra stick, an extra bat, or whatever piece of equipment would ruin your kid's tournament if it broke. You won't need it until you desperately need it.
2. Portable, Healthy Snacks (That Won't Melt in Your Car)
Bring snacks that travel well and won't turn into a sticky mess by game two. Apples, oranges, grapes, peanut butter packs, jerky, trail mix, granola bars. Avoid anything chocolate or that requires refrigeration.
Your kid will be hungry between games, and concession stand options are usually overpriced hot dogs and sad nachos. Come prepared.
3. Garbage Bags (More Useful Than You Think)
Toss a couple garbage bags in your car. They're great for collecting trash, but they also work as emergency rain covers for your gear, impromptu tarps, or even makeshift ponchos if the weather turns.
Bonus: A wet, muddy uniform goes in a garbage bag instead of contaminating everything else in your car.
4. Cold Towels or Ice Packs
Summer tournaments mean heat. Bring small cold towels you can freeze and toss in your cooler. When your kid is overheating between games, put one on their wrists or the back of their neck to cool them down fast.
Ice packs work too. Just make sure they're the kind that won't leak all over your cooler when they melt.
5. Extra Socks, Sneakers, and Cleats
Wet, uncomfortable feet make for miserable athletes. Bring extra socks and an extra pair of cleats or sneakers. If it rains or your kid steps in a puddle, they can change into dry gear.
Also bring slides or flip-flops for walking around between games. Your kid's feet will thank you.
6. Rain Gear (Because Summer Storms Are Real)
Summer weather is unpredictable. Bring rain jackets, ponchos, or garbage bags (see item #3). Make sure your gear bag has something waterproof to keep uniforms and equipment dry.
Standing in the rain watching a game is one thing. Having all your kid's gear soaked before their next game is another.
7. Water and Sports Drinks (Lots of Them)
Bring more water than you think you'll need. Tournaments run out of drinks. Vending tents charge $5 for a bottle of water. And your kid will go through fluids faster than you expect in the heat.
Pack a personal water bottle like a Hydro Flask or insulated bottle to keep drinks cold all day. Refill it as needed.
8. Sunscreen (And Actually Use It)
Bring sunscreen and keep it in your bag. Apply it regularly throughout the day, not just once in the morning. Waterproof sports sunscreen works best for sweaty athletes.
Sunburns ruin tournaments. Nobody plays well when they're crispy.
9. Portable Phone Charger
Your phone will die. You'll be using it for photos, videos, coordinating with other parents, checking schedules, and entertaining yourself between games. Bring a portable charger so you're not scrambling to find an outlet.
Most tournament venues don't have charging stations, so bring your own.
10. Air Mattress or Sleeping Bag (Just in Case)
This one sounds weird until you need it. Hotels mess up reservations. You might end up with one bed for three people. Or your kid might crash in another family's room after a late game.
An air mattress or sleeping bag saves the day when accommodations don't go as planned.
11. First Aid Kit
Band-aids, athletic tape, pain reliever, antihistamines, blister pads. Pack a small first aid kit with the basics. Tournaments are notorious for minor injuries that aren't serious enough to go to urgent care but annoying enough to ruin your day if you can't address them.
12. Entertainment for Downtime
Tournaments involve a lot of waiting. Bring a book, cards, a frisbee, or something to do between games. Bored kids get cranky. Bored parents get crankier.
13. Chairs and a Canopy (If You Have Room)
Folding chairs and a pop-up canopy can be lifesavers at tournaments with limited seating or shade. If you're driving and have space, bring them. Your back and your sanity will thank you.
What You'll Forget (And How to Fix It)
Even with the best packing list, you'll forget something. Here's what parents most commonly leave behind:
Phone charger cable. Keep a spare in your car.
Hair ties or headbands. If your kid has long hair, bring extras. They disappear.
Cash. Some concession stands and parking lots don't take cards. Bring small bills.
Backup uniform. If your kid spills Gatorade all over their jersey before the first game, you'll wish you had a spare.
The Night Before Checklist
Don't pack the morning you leave. You'll forget something critical and spend the first hour of your drive stressing about it.
Pack the night before and do a final check:
- Equipment inspected and ready
- Snacks and drinks packed
- Extra clothes and rain gear in the car
- Chargers, sunscreen, first aid kit accessible
- Directions and tournament schedule confirmed
The Bottom Line
Summer tournaments are exhausting, expensive, and occasionally chaotic. But with the right preparation, they can also be fun, memorable, and a great way to watch your kid compete.
Pack smart, stay hydrated, bring backups of everything important, and remember: the goal is to make it through the weekend with everyone still speaking to each other.
Now go check your kid's cleats before you forget.
Ian Goldberg is the CEO of Signature Media and the Editor of the largest and fastest growing sports parenting newsletter. He’s been recognized as an industry expert by the National Alliance for Youth Sports, the US Olympic Committee’s Truesport, and the Aspen Institute's Project Play. Ian is also a suburban NJ sports dad of two teenage daughters and has over 2,000 hours of volunteer time coaching them (which he calls the most fun form of R&D for his newsletter content). Ian and his team provide players, coaches, parents and program directors with the articles and content they need to have a great sports season. Ian has spent most of his career in digital product development and marketing and got his start at the White House where he worked for the economic advisors to two US Presidents.
