Originally Posted by Bball34:
1) 10u Travel team scheduled more tourneys this year with an average drive of about 1-3 hours. More local when we were 9u. interested in any good tips to make the weekend more comfortable for player, his younger 5 yr old brother.
Tips for weekend (I have a 5 year old too)
1. Yes, bring a cooler and pack it with quick grab things, i.e pieces of fruit, bags of nuts, granola bars, gold fish, a box of munchkin donuts, water, sandwich makings, 2 sports drink per game...stay away from anything that would melt like chocolate, or high in sugar.
2. The 5 year old should bring a ball if there is a grassy area for them to play, or a pack of balloons that mom/dad could blow up one at a time to play with. Also a 2 wheeled scooter is always a hit, as well as a dvd player for the car in case in rains the 5 year old can go hide out in there. And of course an electronic device such as tablet or old phone is always helpful to entertain as well as sidewalk chalk and bubbles.
3. Taking the rest from another board who had this discussion last year about pre-high school baseball and what parents bring, probably WAY too much but pick out what you think is needed:
Your first aid kit should include:
1. Activatable ice pack, the type that you break it and it's instantly cold. You would be amazed how many parks don't have ice, and it will be at that park your kid will be hit by the ball and need ice.
2. Advil/ibuprofen, because it really does help with the swelling
3. Ace Bandage, to tie the ice pack onto a particular location
4. Waterproof Sunblock
5. Benadryl AND Afterbite
6. Medical tape, useful for hurt fingers to be splinted together, to make a makeshift pad for the catchers hand/thumb when dealing with a powerful pitcher, and also useful to wrap around a bat and write your kids name on it...imagine 60 kids show up for a wooden bat tournament with nearly identical cheap $25 Louisville sluggers.
7. Band-aids (the flexible kind), neosporin and iodine or alcohol wipes. You would think some hydrogen peroxide, but no, peroxide looses strength when exposed to heat and time so it's not good for hot weather.
8. Bug spray
Ball player needs:
1. 2 legal bats, make sure they are legal and what your coach wants him swinging. The reason for 2 is psychological...some kids just think Bat A has lost its "power", so it's nice to have another option.
2. Frog Togg if it's hot
3. Black long sleeve shirt if the temperature even might be less than 75 when you arrive or play, black is the easiest color for most people to find, but any dark color will be okay. Keep in mind white and some of the lighter colors are not allowed for pitchers.
4. Sun glasses in a hard case
5. An emergency rain poncho from the dollar store, it's flat and small and can be vital for those unexpected storms.
6. Slides or tennis shoes, some batting cages do NOT allow even rubber cleats, if your kid doesn't have another pair of shoes with him he will be unable to attend batting practice, or have to do it barefoot.
7. An old absorbent rag, for when it is drizzling so he can keep it at the mound to wipe his hands and or ball on.
In the parents car:
1. Several dollar store rain poncho's. These are good for the obvious reason but also to rip open and cover the bleachers on a wet day so you can sit.
2. LARGE umbrella
3. Extra pair of pants for your son, these don't necessarily need to be game pants. I keep one gray and one white, both generic brands, for the just in case scenario...sliding can be brutal and if he rips his pants in game one he will be sliding on an exposed knee for the rest of the day.
4. Collapsible Wagon
5. Canopy tent
6. Chairs
7. Wet wipes
8. Old large towel for bleacher wipe-down to get dew off
Store most of these things in a big container and just leave in back of your vehicle, if you need them they will be there.