Softball Fundraising | Youth Sports

Top 3 MUST-HAVES For Every Travel Baseball/Softball Parent – Travel Tournament Essentials

February 10, 2021

Uniform? Check. Cleats? Check. Bat Bag? Check.

Okay. On to the other kids. Chairs? Lunch?

There are so many things to consider when prepping for a big weekend tournament, especially when you’re traveling to another location and have to consider what you’ll eat, where you’ll stay, if you have everyone’s bags packed, and so on!

We’ve come up with this list of THREE essentials you need to consider for your travel baseball or softball tournament weekends.

1. Travel Bag

What is a travel bag in this context? A travel bag is a bag that has all of the essentials. Each family is a little different, but here are the contents of our families travel bag:

1. Snacks for all the kids

The cost on the road for snacks and drinks etc is ridiculous, especially for a family of 5.

2. First aid kit

If it could happen it will happen. Cuts, bangs, and bruises

3. Sunscreen & after-sun aloe

It isn’t abnormal to be on and off a ball field for 12 hours in the summer. Players, parents, little ones, fans that forgot (that was me).

4. Extra swimsuit for each kid

You never know what hotel is going to have a pool, whether it will be open, or packed. Sometimes there are little water parks and sprinkler set ups next to ball fields which can give a hot sibling or a player a nice break from the heat of the day.

5. Extra cell phone chargers with portable rechargeable battery

We definitely don’t want the little ones running out of juice for their entertainment.

6. Bluetooth speaker

We all like a little in between game picnic music to keep the players mood, and you know there is always that “dance mom” breakout move that could give great content for your FB page if someone catches it on video.

7. Yard mat or blanket

Something that will roll out and allow little ones to play without being in the grass or mud.

2. GroupMe App

Simple and easy to use to share pics and messages about the game with family and friends in real time.

We recommend only using it for that team or sports in general to keep the clutter out of the text messages.

3. Invest in a GOOD COOLER

The cost is crazy when traveling with other children. You can save a a ton of money if you always have what they will drink and eat on hand!

Check this out:

Away Games in a season – 24
Total Trips – 10
Family Size – 5
Example – Weekend Tournament

Concessions	No Cooler or snack bag	Cooler and snack bag	Total Savings
Gatorades	$20	$8	$12
Ice		$2	$2
Case of water	$24	$3	$21
Fruit and veggie snacks	$20	$6	$14
Lunch	$45+ (eating out)	$20 (Lunch meat, bread, chips, condiments and fruit)	$25
Snacks/drinks at hotel	$25	$5	$20
Dinner	Enjoy	Enjoy
			$90/day
		Savings during a 2-day tournament:	$180/weekend
		Savings during a 2-day tournament for 5 kids:	$900/weekend
		Savings during a x5 double header or travel one-gamers:	$450
		TOTAL SAVINGS (Before cooler costs)	$1350
		Minus cooler costs:	$250
		TOTAL SEASON SAVINGS:	$1100

As you can see, there is a LOT to be saved just simply by purchasing a nice cooler and getting some groceries ahead of time. Sometimes in the chaos of tournament preparation, it can be easy to slack and just decide to purchase everyone’s food at the locations if needed, but you can save a ton of money if you just add a little extra time to your planning!

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