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As a baseball mom that has three kids in travel sports, I have spent hundreds of hours at ball fields. Admittedly, I am not the mom that has it all together, but I have learned a thing or two from the moms that do!
If you’re a travel sport parent, you are going to spend many weekends and many, many hours at a field. You will be forced to brave the elements like you are on an episode of Survivor. There will be torrential rain, unrelenting sun and humidity, hail, sleet, fog, and maybe even a little bit of snow. You, brave soul, are going to be there, cheering on your kid anyway, so you might as well do it in comfort and convenience.
The first season of travel baseball for my oldest son felt a bit overwhelming. Seeing all of these veteran sports parents with their canopies, wagons, and portable grills was a bit intimidating. I, on the other hand, came completely unprepared. No snacks, no organization, no cooler, no prep. No thought given to anything other than praying that we would make it there on time with all of the equipment and both cleats. I spent many days at ball fields either freezing or burning up, sitting on uncomfortable bleachers and starving because the concession stand was cash only (and I never have cash).
If you’re relatively new to the travel sports mom world, don’t fret. I have done the work for you. Well, not me, but I have observed the moms that seem to always find the coolest and most convenient hacks, and I’m here to share them with you!
1. Invest in a really good chair
The first rule of travel sports of any kind is INVEST IN A GOOD CHAIR. You are going to spend hours sitting, and you do not want to ruin your back sitting on hard bleachers or in a chair that doesn’t give you support. There are so many great options-from solid to luxury.
My pick: The CGI Rocker. I’ve had a lot of baseball chairs over the years, but this one is by far my favorite. It’s supportive and comfortable, easy to fold up and down, and I love the rocking feature.
2. Bring Your Own Drinks and Snacks.
You never really know what you’re getting when you arrive at a new field. Sometimes there are last minute scheduling changes. You may end up at a field with overgrown grass and no concession stand. You might forget your cash. You will save yourself so much money by bringing your own drinks and snacks. If you aren’t allowed to take them in, leave them in the car and grab them between games.
A good cooler is a must. I have tried the cheap ones and the ice always ends up melting and I’m forced to fish out soggy sandwiches or gatorade bottles floating in cold water. Get a good one from the beginning and you’ll always have a supply of cold gatorade, fresh ice for your own water bottle, and snacks that don’t get soggy. I like to have an ice pack on hand for the times that we are rushing and don’t have time to stop and grab ice. These also come in handy on hot days and for injuries. These reusable ones will do the trick.
Snackle box-A snackle box is a super convenient way to bring a variety of snacks along. You can prep them the day before and just grab and go.
3. Easy ways to transport your gear
You are going to want a good bag to carry the necessities to and from games. I love the Bogg bag because it’s waterproof, easy to clean, and roomy enough for blankets, snacks, sunscreen, and anything else you might need.
A Wagon
I used to secretly scoff at the wagons. Really? A wagon? Isn’t that a bit much? Then I realized that those wagons are absolutely game changing. You can put everything in those bad boys: your bag, your blanket, your cooler, even your chair? Heck, go ahead and throw a couple of kids in there, too. The only way these could get better is if I could hop in and drive it to my car.
Car Organization
Travel ball families spend a ton of time in the car. It doesn’t take long for your car to get trashed with wrappers, half finished water bottles, a random sock. A trunk organizer is a game changer for giving everything a place and making it easier to find what you need.
4. Basic Necessities
You’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors so you want to keep a few staples in your car or your bag. Here are a few absolute necessities!
Bug spray or even better, these bracelets.
Sunscreen-this goes without saying, but sunburns are no fun, especially when you have to go back out in the sun the next day. Don’t forget to protect your lips, too!
First aid kit I can’t count how many times a mom has been looking for a bandaid or kid’s Tylenol at the field. Someone comes through, every time, but it’s nice to have one on hand just in case!
Waterproof blanket I keep my waterproof blanket it the car and it comes in handy for rainy days when the bleachers or grass are wet. It’s also great if you have younger kids.
5. Ways To Stay Cool
If you haven’t sat through a three hour game in the blaring sun, sweat dripping down to your toes, feeling like you’re standing in the fiery pits of hell, you haven’t had the full travel ball parent experience. I have spent too many days profusely sweating and melting with no relief. If you’re kid is playing in the heat, here are a few great hacks to help you (and them) stay cool.
These cooling towels come in clutch on hot days! A few weeks ago, a catcher’s mom had enough for the whole team to use and the kids (and parents) loved them.
personal fan These personal neck fans make a huge difference when the eat is unbearable. I’d invest in enough for your whole family or you’re going to be bombarded with “can I have it now?” all day.
misting fan A few weeks ago a dad had one of these misting fans set up under the canopy and it was amazing how much relief it provided. These are rechargeable and come with a hook for hanging up on the canopy or fence.
6. Ways To Stay Warm
On the flip side, if your kid plays during the fall or early spring, you’re going to want to find some sources of heat (besides the car) to get you through. If you’re anything like me, you hate being cold and once your feet get cold, it’s all over. Here are a few of my favorite ways to stay warm when it’s freezing!
Heated chair These portable heated bleacher chairs are easy to transport (just fold and put on your back like a backpack) and will keep you warm for hours.
Hand and foot warmers I learned this trick from my sons who are also hunters. Slide these warmers in your socks, pockets, or gloves and they will keep you warm for hours. They make such a difference!
A Heated vest is another option to keep warm when it’s cold out. Charge it up, put it on, and you’re ready to go. You can wear it under a jacket or bundle up with a blanket.
7. Protection from the elements
There is an unwritten rule for outdoor sports that it will wait until you have made it into the park, and set up all of your stuff before it rains. Not enough to cancel the game, mind you. Just enough to soak you all the way through and make sure you are uncomfortably soggy for the next four hours. Here are some great ways to stay dry since apparently it would take a tornado to actually delay the game.
umbrella If you don’t want to invest in a big, bulky canopy, this umbrella canopy is the next best thing. It gives you protection from the sun, rain, and wind and is easy to transport.
weather pod The first time I saw one of these weather pods, my mind was blown. What a great idea! These are top tier because they protect you from the wind, unlike canopies and umbrellas. I’ve seen moms bring in their portable heaters when it’s cold, too.
You’re definitely going to want to grab a waterproof jacket for those days when it’s barely raining, but it’s just enough to keep the game going. Being drenched in a cotton sweatshirt is not comfortable.
If you want to be the most popular parent on the team, buy a canopy and watch all of the other, less prepared (aka me) flock to you. Canopies are great for all types of weather and some of the best bonding moments for families happen here.
7. Sibling Entertainment
Something no one really told me about before I became a travel ball parent is how much you the siblings of travel ball players are the real MVPs. If the siblings aren’t happy, nobody is happy. They spend long days in the car and at the fields and they deserve some entertainment and fun, too! Some great ideas that I’ve seen parents use are bubbles, sidewalk chalk, bracelet making kits, small bikes or scooters (just watch out for toes!), and activity books.
When I was a rookie travel ball mom, I treated it like I did school sports. Just show up as is with my purse and take my place on the bleachers for an hour or two while I cheer my kid on. I quickly learned that the travel world is completely different. It requires lots of time in the car and lots of time in the elements. We do it because we love seeing our kids learn and grow out on that field. While we are cheering them on along the way, we might as well do it from the comfort of our heated canopy.
