Advice on keeping warm, temperature warm?

For parents:

https://www.google.com/search?...oBw&ved=0CEgQsAQ

 

And also a good blanket. Dress in layers

 

Most players up north use Sleeves this time of year.

https://www.google.com/search?...biw=1920&bih=995

 

There are other brands as well. 

 

If you can find them in Georgia, the single use hand warmers are great for parents and players. Parents can slip them in their shoes or gloves. They are small so they fit just about anywhere. For players, they are great for between innings and before they bat.

 

http://www.amazon.com/HotHands...hothands+handwarmers

 

http://www.anthem-sports.com/UTWTents 

 

 A little over the top but, I was thinking about it myself. Of course we won't get to 45 until April.

I don't want to rub it in, but my son HS team had it's first game of the season yesterday.  It was balmy 65 or so at game time.  The thing is the kid is thinking about going to school in Ohio, of all places, to continue his playing career.  I'm really hoping his California options come through though.  Almost enough to turn me into a praying man. 

Do 12 and 13 year olds need to play in freezing temperatures?

No.

You can buy those hand warmers at any ACE hardware.

Caco -- I'd venture to say that 90 percent of the folks on this board know what it's like to be at 12 and 13-year-old tournaments when the temperature is brrrrrr-cold. Used to happen here in Texas every year. We sign them up to play on a team, and are at the mercy of the tournament directors.

 

I highly recommend the small heaters.

 

TPM - for me, it's 'help' like this:

 "Do  12 and 13 year olds need to play in freezing temperatures? No."

 

... that validates observations like this, from jolietboy:

 "For those of you who have had your dreams come true or seen your kids dreams come true ... be encouraging not foreboding ... Let's help and support, not tear down."

I am not tearing down, my opinion is that one can easily get hurt in colder weather (been there done that) so why subject young players to this type of weather when you don't have to.

This is the difference of trying to make parents happy who signed up for pricey travel tournament teams that make the people who run them money than "those"  rec leagues so many complain about.

Don't get me wrong, been there and done it, but we also played in situations where canceling wouldn't hurt anyone's pocketbook. 

You can play games in college/ professional ball  in freezing temps when it really is important.

JMO

I'm with TPM. There is no reason for kids to play in cold weather. Especially younger kids. That said I've done It. I live in IL and it happens up here a lot. If we have a say in playing or not our team always leaned towards not playing in very cold weather. If we where in a tourney and had no choice we would play. 

 

To the op, 45 degree games happen up here a lot early in the season. Dress in layers.  Make sure the kids are wearing a good base layer and have a jacket handy for when they are on the bench. As others said hand warmers are your friends. Kids can keep one intheir  back pockets.  That way they can warm up there hands between play. All the parents carry around a heavy blanket or sleeping bag up here to wrap up with when watching a game. 

 

BTW I'll take the 45 degree weather over the -7 we had the last two mornings. 

Go to Hobby Lobby. Buy two different pieces of fleece fabric, exactly the same size. Longer than it is wide.  In colors to match your team or use grey as the contrasting color.  Lay them one on top of the other on the floor.  Take a pair of scissors and cut 6" or so long strips, approx. 1 1/2 inches wide thru both pieces of fabric. Do one side at a time, you may find that the strips may need to be longer, etc. Then tie the strips from one piece of fabric together to the strip on the other piece of fabric. After you have tied one side, work your way around until you've done all four sides.  I'm doing this from memory watching my wife do it several times. Make it longer than you think that you will need as you will want to share the blanket with teammates' parents or your spouse or children. You will now have a warm blanket that all members of your household will use, both at the ballpark and at home.

 

Keep it from touching the portable heaters....they will burn a hole in them. But putting the portable heater under the blankets will keep several people toasty  

 

That is my sewing lesson for the day!

I don't know if this helps but for cold weather football I bring a large thermos of coffee.  I did learn that the Mr heaters are not allowed in most high school stadiums.

 

So if you had to play, you played. That's usually how it works out, isn't it?

 

Back to TPM. I don't like doing this, but for the sake of all the Caco's out there who she all-too-often makes feel like idiots for asking normal questions:

 

I am not tearing down, my opinion is that one can easier get hurt in colder weather

 

You could've shared this opinion (not sure it's accurate) originally, rather than just dismissing the OP the way you did. It may not be 'tearing down,' but it sure is condescending.

 

... (been there done that) so why subject young players when you don't have to.

 

Probably for the same reasons you did! Weather changes; cold weather tournaments happen. It's part of youth baseball.

 

This is the difference of trying to make parents happy who signed up for pricey travel tournament teams that make the people who run them money.

 

In one non sequitur, you've insulted parents AND tournament directors.

 

 

Don't get me wrong, been there and done it, but we also played in situations where canceling wouldn't hurt anyone's pocketbook.

 

So you voluntarily put your son in these same situations, and now ... what? You're passing along your wisdom? Sometimes you do. Too often you just make posters feel stupid. (You might go back and look at all the times you've typed: "Don't get me wrong" on your second posts.)

 

You can play games in college/ professional ball  in freezing temps when it really is important.

 

This is the crux. Important is subjective. TPM. Some would say nothing important ever happens in college or professional baseball. For the OP, this is important.

 

And if all she gets back is condescension, who wins?

 

OK, that's off my chest. Anything further from me will be in PMs between me and TPM. Now back to staying warm ...

A flask

I would love to be in Georgia tomorrow instead of Virginia! Anyways for parents extra layers of clothing and bring a blanket and a warm beverage. For players, it's long sleeves and keep moving around!

Heatpacks are also available at Home Depot or Lowes. Great for all who can use. Propane heater is critical, if you have two...put one in the dugout. The boys will always be at your service. Blankets as mentioned and a nice warm skully so the heat from all that baseball energy doesn't escape your cranium. Been there done that and say now....we should never play in this again. I can tell you this one guarantee.....the post mortem speech (typically took forever in youth baseball) will be super short on a cold evening. +1

All of the above. I don't know what position your son plays, but my son is a pitcher. We get toasty toes ( almost the same as the handwarmers but these have an adhesive strip.) He sticks them to the inside of the arm of his sweatshirt to keep his throwing arm warm In between innings.

My son's school was located in NYC. I used to use a product called Lava Buns (google it). You put the heating element in a microwave before the game, insert it into its cover, and it provides a warm seat to sit on. It usually last most of the game (about 2-2-1/2 hours before running out). It sure beats sitting on cold aluminum bleachers during those cold March home games.

Just saw this on KickStarter.  Might be just what you are looking for 

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/pr...?ref=category_newest

I think one of the best things you can have to save both yourself and your player from being miserable is extra pairs of shoes and socks.  There's nothing like warming up on a freezing morning on wet grass and wearing the same sopping socks around for the next two games to make a kid (or coach) want to go home and hide.  I always bring extra shoes and socks for myself if I'm going to be on the field, and my kid keeps a spare set of sock and cleats (+plus his turfs) in his bag.

That is awesome.   If they can make those sound proof, I might personally buy those for some parents. 

I bought a down coat for the first time in almost 40 years.  The first game I wore it to two weeks ago was in MISSISSIPPI, for Pete's sake.

 

I saw someone in the fall with a sleeping bag.  I am thinking a down sleeping bag with a head cover (the mummy kind) is just the ticket.  May look like a cocoon, but hey, if they are going to play in freezing weather, my -30 below down coat, or sleeping bag, may be just the ticket.

 

(RedFishFool, I made blankets for family members this Christmas.  I bought 2 1/2 yards of fleece fabric for each side, but before I sewed them, I took them to have them embroidered with "XYZ Baseball" on it in school colors.  Then I sewed all around right sided together, turned inside out, whipped up the hole, then sewed a 1" band all around.  Toasty!  No cutting an tying, but you do need a sewing machine.)

 

 

 

Another note on layering... Under Armour cold gear long sleeve compression tops are amazing.  Much thicker and more warm than regular UA but not restricting like some other thick undergarments. Players can wear without concern of lost mobility.  Great for fans looking to layer also.

In addition to many great thoughts -- hand/foot warmers, layers, under armor, socks, etc. -- watch the wind.  If you don't get enclosed dugouts, use tarps and such to keep the wind out. 

Alcohol doesn't make you warm. It only makes you oblivious to the cold.

The cold has never bothered me watching the games. It's the wind that makes it difficult. Whenever it was cold I paced the sidelines to stay warm. The couple of cold, windy days (in the 20s with windchill) I just didn't enjoy being there. 

 

I remember being at a GT @ BC game in March. When it got windy the windchill was in the 20s. Fortunately the football stadium parking lot overlooks the baseball field. With the car parked towards the baseball field, instant luxury box.

I agree with RJM.  I can handle the cold,but the wind is the killer.  The small hand warmers are a Godsend.  In addition to layering, blanket, etc, I also wrap a nice heavy scarf around my neck - keeps the cold from seeping in.  Went to our son's opening game which were it was 48 F at game time but  once the sun went down it dropped into the high 30's.  I was fine except I forgot my scarf - the cold air hitting my neck is what bothered me the most.

 

We also made it a point to sit in the sun - sitting in the shade was definitely colder.  We made it a point to stay in the sun as much as possible until the sun went down.

I never understood drinking alcohol outside when it is cold.  

Helpful tip though:  One 16 oz Guinness Stout will fit in a pringles can with some chips on top of the beer to hide it.  

Thank you for all the replies.

 

This is one of the only privately held tourneys we are participating in this year, it's a fundraiser for a local team for Cooperstown fees, hence why it won't be cancelled.  You just never know what the weather will do.  I have pictures of my kids hunting Easter Eggs over the years dressed up like Eskimos AND others where they are wearing tank tops!  The Atlanta weather is just bi-polar this time of year, it will be in the high 60's next week, yet we expect 4 inches of snow today!

 

I have ordered a Mr. Heater, a box of hand warmers, and am digging out our chairs and fleece blankets....but will seriously consider the mummy sleeping bag idea!

 

Thank you to all!

one more as you layer, silly as it may sound. I have a pair of fleece pj's pants. they are GREAT as first layer under a pair of jeans. FYI when you get back to wherever you are staying, unlayer those quick, I almost overheated about 10 minutes into being in house we stayed at

Oh, and great tip on the hand warmers, for whatever reason, never heard of them. I wil be buying those for both my family and my player. He pitched Friday night in Mississippi when it was cold (34) and raining. He said he had to look down at ball to see where his hand was on the ball because he couldn't feel the seams at all his hands were so cold.

ok, one more funny story about cold weather. In Mississippi as I said it was cold Friday evening, but on Sunday 45. cold but for a team from Ohio, not so bad. My older son after last game sent my player a picture of our back yard with 8 inches of snow, saying something like  "this is what you are coming back to".  Player fires back with a picture of Miami Florida saying "but this is where I will be by Thursday".  Oh Brothers, the ribbing never stops

Can be found in most sporting goods stores.

This thread started a few days too late for you, chef.

 

Everyone's mentioned the handwarmers, but it may not be obvious to some of the warm-weather folks that players should keep a couple in their back pocket. Around here, it seems like pitchers take a little longer getting signs while they have their throwing hand in the back pocket.

 

Also, UA socks are good, but I prefer wool. Wool socks are much warmer than cotton, particularly when wet. UA does make ColdGear skull caps that fits under a baseball hat, too.

 

Make sure that any Under Armour you buy is labelled "ColdGear".

"Make sure that any Under Armour you buy is labelled "ColdGear"."

 

I think for those of us in the north this is obvious but I'm guessing the folks in the south don't look for Cold Gear too much.  UA makes great base layer clothes as does Nike.  

If no one is sitting in the stands have a bonfire.

The wife & I did the sleeping bag thing for years but still had trouble when weather turned wet. Then we found a company called Under-The-Weather which sells one-person sized huts. These things are GREAT! They keep you dry, stop the wind & you stay 20-30 degrees warmer than the outside air. Check them out @ under-the-weather.com

Plus it keeps that score book dry

"Then we found a company called Under-The-Weather which sells one-person sized huts.

 

Any of our Colorado board members have any experience with these?  Just wonderin....

My son is a Pitcher and I used to be concerned about his throwing hand staying warm enough to grip the ball. On those very cold days you always seeing the Pitcher breathing into his hand to try and warm it up before each pitch. After one very cold day on the mound where he pitched one heck of a game with his pitches very much in command I just commented how great he looked and that I was afraid the cold would effect him. He smiled, reached into his back pocket and said "Not with this". It was a hand warmer you use for hunting to stay warm. After a 2-3 pitches he would just stick his hand in the back pocket for a moment enough to warm it up and then pitch! Ingenuity at its finest! lol 

Update...we of course survived the weekend :-)

 

Our 2 day tourney got turned into a Sunday only due to field conditions, it was a high of 45.  I purchased a box of hand warmers from Amazon and every player had one in their back pocket.  The joy of seeing 11/12 year olds being given permission to (what they referred to as) "scratch their butts" was priceless and made the whole day an unforgettable event!

 

Thank you all!