A very common question that we get is “what should a player pack for games?”.  Before you pack up for your soccer activity, consider a few things:

1. Where am I going?
2. How long am I going to be gone?
3. What is the weather going to be while I am gone?

Where you are going matters.  If we are going to an open field with no protection from wind, it could be colder.  An indoor turf field will be hot.  Near the beach could be windier.  You get the idea.

How long you are going to be out in the elements matters too.  It’s okay to be a bit cold for 20 minutes, but if you are going to be outside for 7 hours and its 30 degrees out, you better have some cold gear.

Consider the weather wear you are going.  Keep in mind that you might arrive at a field at 7 am and it could be 30 degrees and damp out, but by game time it could be 80 and dry.

Alright, enough already, what should I bring for practices?

Attire:

• Wildcats Practice T-Shirt
• Shin Guards
• Cleats
• Hair Tied Back

In Your Bag:

• #4 or #5 Ball, properly inflated
• Water (minimum 1 quart)
• Sweatshirt/Hoodie/Jacket
• Hats/Gloves
• Practice Pinney
• Goalkeeper Gloves (if applicable)
• 2 Extra Hair Ties
• Medical Supplies (epi-pen, inhaler, etc)
• Pre-Wrap/Tape/Braces
• Chapstick
• Tissues
• Hand Towel

What should I bring for games?

Attire:

• Black Shorts
• Maroon Socks
• Assigned Jersey (White or Maroon – You must bring both to every game though)
• Shin Guards
• Cleats
• Hair Tied Back

In your bag:

• Whichever jersey you are NOT wearing
• #4 or #5 Ball, properly inflated
• Water (minimum 2 quarts)
• Sweatshirt/Hoodie/Jacket
• Hats/Gloves
• Blanket
• Practice Pinney
• Goalkeeper Gloves (if applicable)
• 2 Extra Hair Ties
• Medical Supplies (epi-pen, inhaler, etc)
• Pre-Wrap/Tape/Braces
• Chapstick
• Tissues
• Hand Towel
• Thermal Base Layer
• Extra Soccer Socks
• Dry Socks / Dry T-Shirt

What about tournaments?

Tournaments are just like games except you will have multiple games to play.  This means you will need extra supplies for things that you will go through (like water).  You are also going to need supplies for the time before and between games (which can be substantial).

For tournaments, bring everything that you would bring for a game, PLUS:

• Folding Chair(s)
• Umbrellas
• Blankets
• Sunglasses
• Plenty of Food/Drinks
• Mobile phone for TeamSnap alerts and pictures
• Money for tournament swag

Great, I have all of my stuff, now what should a player pack?

You might be tempted to simply shove it all in that backpack and be done with it.  Please don’t do that.  Follow some of our pro tips below to make sure that your child is ready to go in any situation.

Pro Tip #1 – The Zip Lock Bags

Get yourself a dozen gallon size zip lock bags.  Label each bag – Jerseys, Socks, Under Armour, Shorts, Practice T’s, Hats/Gloves, etc..  Place your organized items into the zip lock bags, suck the air out of them and zip them up.  You now have space saving, weather-proof storage for all of your items.  Throw all of the zip lock bags into your soccer backpack and you are ready to go.

Why this is awesome you ask?  Three reasons.  First, it makes things easy and quick to find inside the backpack.  Second, and more importantly, this will reduce the amount of laundry you have to do.  The zip lock bags also protect clothing from picking up the wet-grass smell that they otherwise would.  Third, it protects your gear from those leaky water bottles.

Pro Tip #2 – The Garbage Bag

Put a 30 gallon garbage bag in your backpack.  If it starts to rain, you can throw your whole backpack into the garbage bag to keep it dry.  If it doesn’t rain, you could always do some community service and clean up the park.

Pro Tip #3 – Extra Socks

Get extra socks for tournaments.  After your first game, if your socks get wet you are looking at blisters if you don’t get out of them.  And guess what?  It sucks to try to put wet soccer socks back on for that second game.  They never go on right and you will get blisters.  Having a second pair of dry socks (from your zip lock bag) will be your life saver!