An Outdoor Survial Guide for Children's Tournaments
by: JamesHarrington |
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Word Count: 485 | Print View
All parents need to be commended when they give up their time and energies to sit through their children's sports tournaments. I had good reason to think about this earlier this month when my daughter's softball team had a tournament. The temperatures sored near 90 and the dust rolled in (hadn't had any rain in awhile). I reflected back a how good natured my own parents were when sitting through sports tournaments that my brother and I participated in.
At the kick off of all these tournaments, the kids are totally excited and there is almost a 'fair' attitude. And why should it be otherwise? Brightly colored t-shirts or sometimes full uniforms dot the landscape. And while it may drain your wallet, the cash you put out for hot dogs and soda pop seems to be part of the experience.
If you want to save some of that cash, bring a cooler. That's my second tip. Always bring a full cooler and a koozie or two. Fresh fruit, cheese sticks and nuts make great snacks for athletes and their fans. Even if you think your team will not survive to the finals, take along enough drinks and snacks to last the entire day. If your team is eliminated early in the day, you still have enough supplies to have a little party. It's OK to celebrate finishing in fifth place.
With food and drink issues addressed let's talk about the ultimate 'wild card' - the weather. Unless you live in one of the few areas of this nation that very predictable weather, you need to plan ahead. Some things to think about bringing include a big umbrella which can shield you from the sun or the rain and provide enough shade to actually better watch the game as you end up squinting less. I also pack sunscreen, some wipes and even a couple of t-shirts for quick changes should anything get spilled in a moment of excitement.
Of course the next tip (we are up to tip 4 - if you've lost track) is the downtime and boredom issues. The first pertains to the time between games that always seems to last longer than it should. The second has to do with keeping my younger kids amused all day long. The remedies are both modern and traditional. We bring along handheld games, MP3 players, magazines, and good old fashioned cards.
And most importantly plan for the end of the day. You'll be hot, dirty and tired. So plan out a bathing schedule that gets the kids cleaned quickly and plan and easy dinner (we often pick up some fried chicken on the way home). Then plan your time - a long soak in a luxurious bath with your favorite bath salts will wash away both grime and stress.
About the Author
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