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How to be the star (parent) of your kid's team!
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items I've been the team mom for my daughter's travel volleyball team for several years. Here are some of my favorite go-it items for the backpack I take to every game, as well as a few things I stash in the car. Everyone is always impressed by how prepare...
Sections
3
For the car
Gear
For the backpack
For the car
You never know what kind of seating you'll have at a tournament … sometimes there are bleachers, in which case these stadium seat chairs are a godsend. No more numb backside from hours of sitting on a cold metal bleacher!
VIVOHOME Portable Reclining Stadium Seat Chairs
A good cooler comes in handy for packing lunches--or ice and beer/hard seltzer if your team is fond of tailgating between matches. Don't skimp on a cooler, or you'll wind up with ruined food and warm beer.
YETI Hopper Flip 12 Portable Soft Cooler
It's always a good idea to have a couple of camp chairs in the trunk in case you're at a tournament that doesn't have bleachers or seating for the parents. It's also nice to have the option to sit while tailgating in the parking lot!
Amazon Basics Portable Folding Camping Chair
Use these in conjunction with bags of ice to cut down on ice melt in your cooler.
Kona Ice Pack for Coolers [Blue/Ice 2lb]
So soft and snuggly - great for wearing between games when reffing to stay warm, or can be worn or used as a blanket (or even folded up as a soft pillow) for the car ride home.
THE COMFY Original | Oversized Wearable Blanket
Small memory foam pillow won't take up a lot of room in the car!
Nappler Small Shredded Memory Foam Travel Pillow
Gear
Yes, technically someone at the tournament should have one of these, but you wouldn't believe the number of times this has been needed. It doesn't take up a lot of room in my backpack and has definitely come in handy more than a few times.
SPORTBIT Ball Pump with 5 Needles
No more sharing whistles (gross!) and no need for one that you have to stick in your mouth with this electric handheld whistle. It has a few different volume levels (and it's plenty loud, trust me!) and a long lanyard so it can be worn around the nec...
UNIWA 2 Pack Handheld 3 Tone Electronic Whistles
If your kid is anything like mine, she wants to be playing with a volleyball 24/7. This is great to have for the hotel room so she can do that without breaking lamps.
Tandem Sport Volleyball Pal - Serve Trainer
For the backpack
Ball to the face = bloody nose, and no one likes sitting on the bench with a big wad of non-absorbent paper towels on their face. These Nampons are easy to insert and expand to fit the nasal cavity. Definitely a must for my volleyball first-aid kit!
Nampons for Nosebleeds - 12 Nasal Plugs
These Carpe wipes are meant to be used like deodorant--before you get sweaty. You can also use them on the backs of your knees or anywhere else you get really sweaty. They also make wipes for the face!
Carpe Antiperspirant Underarm Wipes - 15 Pack
3-4 volleyball games a day and sometimes 2-3 days in a row? Or even 4 days in a row for Nationals. That's going to mean some sore muscles. This Theragun is portable and packs a major punch (in a good way).
TheraGun Prime Quiet Deep Tissue Massage Gun
Here's a more affordable massage gun option if you don't want to spring for the Theragun. Comes with a carrying case and tons of attachments, and the battery lasts a long time.
TOLOCO Deep Tissue Massage Gun, 10 Heads, Grey
I LOVE Lume's cream formulas - they all smell amazing, and they're especially great for using on your feet. Consistent use of Lume definitely helps the volleyball shoes from getting funky, so it's definitely worth it for me!
Lume Whole Body Deodorant 5 Pack Sampler Minis
It's always good to have some cold packs on hand. Yes, there are trainers at the tournaments, but it's usually a handful of people for a massive event and in my experience they're always across the convention center when we need them. You can at leas...
25 Pack - Instant Cold Packs for Injuries
Self explanatory. You'll need these during the season--for the team and probably for the parents the day after a late night at the hotel.
Amazon Basic Care Ibuprofen Tablets, 200 mg, 100 Ct
Hours of play = muscle stiffness and soreness. It's great to have a lidocaine roll-on available so they can get instant relief instead of waiting hours for a hot shower at home or the hotel.
Icy Hot Max Strength Lidocaine Pain Relief, 2.5oz
I like to get one of these first aid kits and then stash extra band-aids, Tylenol/ibuprofen, Imodium, ice packs, etc. in it. I've been able to help girls on other teams by providing band-aids when the trainers have been off on the other side of the c...
Band-Aid Travel Ready Emergency First Aid Kit, 80 pc
I would never have guessed I'd need absorbent cloths before I became a volleyball mom. If I had a dollar for the numbers of times someone's water bottle tips over by the bench and the ball has rolled in it … gross! I carry an extra Ziploc bag to put ...
MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, Pack of 12
These wipes are great for freshening up between games, or if the team is going right from a game to dinner. These have coconut milk and essential oils, so they're gentle on your skin and also smell great.
Pacifica Coconut Milk Deodorant Wipes, 30 Count
You can never have too many antibacterial wipes! 12+ people touching the same ball over and over … yuck! These have a wet-lock seal on them so they don't leak all over your bag (but you can put them in a Ziploc just in case if you're worried about it...
Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes, Fresh Scent
These are a must have, especially for multi-day volleyball tournaments when your kid is sweating in their shoes all day and then has to be back in them the following morning before they've had a chance to dry out. I bring along several pairs of these...
NotSocks Bamboo Charcoal Odor Absorbing Insoles
No wifi in the convention center means your phone battery will drain even faster. You can never have too many chargers, and this 2-pack is perfect. Make sure your phone doesn't die while you're live streaming or taking photos/videos!
AsperX 2-Pack 10000mAh USB C Portable Charger
No time to stop for coffee? Convention center coffee terrible? Have no fear - throw some of these Run Gum pouches in your bag and you won't end up with a stabbing headache from lack of caffeine.
RUN GUM Variety Pack Energy Chewing Gum, 24 Pcs