Preparing for a Soccer Tournament

Parents whose children play the beautiful game need their own game plan when preparing for a tournament. Thinking ahead will make the weekend more enjoyable for you and successful for your child, and can save you money to boot.

Tournaments are expensive. In addition to the team registration fees, there can be hotel bills and restaurant expenses. And don't forget water, energy drinks, and snacks. But you can keep expenses in check and optimize your child's performance by planning ahead.

First off, prepare for injury. While tournament sponsors usually have people to deal with serious injuries, keep a small first aid kit for minor problems.

Include bandages, tape, gauze and a small pair of scissors, blister bandages (they provide more cushioning and stay in place on sweaty feet,) antiseptic, and locking plastic bags (to fill with ice if you need an ice pack.) It doesn't hurt to keep a chemical ice pack in your kit as well. Another possible item is an emergency tooth saving kit. (Teeth that have been knocked out can also be kept in milk while the child is taken to an emergency facility.)

Staying hydrated at a soccer tournament

Dehydration is a common problem at tournaments, especially those held on hot days. Hydration begins before you leave the house. Your child should drink plenty the day before the tournament so they start the weekend well hydrated.

You can always pick up water or energy drinks at the tournament, but it will cost you. I freeze large blocks of ice in plastic containers and put them in an insulated 1-2 gallon jug that I then fill with water. The ice keeps the water cold for a couple of days, particularly if I keep it out of the hot car during the day. Take a smaller insulated jug for your child to drink from, and refill it from the large jug between games.

While bottled water seems like the easy solution, the players will grab a new bottle every time they come out of the game because they won't remember which one is theirs. A team can easily go through two or more cases of water per game on a hot day, so the expense can add up.

Be wary of refilling your water jug at the hotel. The water and ice may have an off flavor. If you run out of water, buy a gallon at a grocery and refill your jug with that. Your child might need an energy drink if they are playing a couple of games in a day, so take a few bottles of those as well.

Food is the key to tournament performance

Food can be very hard to control during a tournament if you don't plan ahead. While it seems easiest to pick up a hot dog at the snack stand or a hamburger at a local fast food restaurant, foods like that can negatively affect a player's performance.

You want your child to eat foods that are mostly carbohydrates because carbs quickly convert to energy. Foods that contain a lot of protein or fat, like hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza, are digested more slowly and may make a player sluggish in an afternoon game. Even foods eaten for dinner can impact performance in games the following day, so take that into consideration when choosing a restaurant and entrée for dinner. Soda is another item you'll want to limit during the weekend.

Games may be scheduled with only an hour or two in between, but the players will be starving after the first game. Bring foods that are easily and quickly digested. Energy bars are one choice, but certainly not the only one. Bagels, granola bars, hard pretzels, cold cereal, juice in a box, raw vegetables, carrot sticks, yogurt, and applesauce are all good choices.

Fruits such as apples, raisins, grapes, watermelon, clementines, pineapple, and oranges will also provide quick energy. Take bananas because the potassium in them helps prevent cramps.

PB&J is quickly digested and filling, so if there isn't much time between games, take jars of peanut butter and jelly and a loaf of bread. Don't forget a couple of plastic knives to make a quick sandwich.

In addition to large and small water jugs, bring a cooler for food. Freeze more large blocks of ice in plastic containers to keep the cooler cold for a couple of days, and fill it with fruit, yogurt, and snacks.

Other tournament preparations

Not all tournaments are played on a pleasant spring day. I've been at tournaments where the weather has been seventeen degrees and windy, and others where the temperature is in the triple digits. Be prepared for bad weather. If it's wet and the uniform gets crusted in mud on the first day, your child will be glad to have a clean uniform to put on for day two, so consider purchasing a second uniform kit. At a minimum you'll want a second pair of socks.

Other suggestions for hot weather are to keep a frozen wet washcloth or frozen gel packs in the cooler so that overheated players can place them on the back of their neck to cool down. A squirt bottle filled with water (with or without a fan) is also a good idea for hot days. And remember waterproof sunscreen.

For the opposite problem-tournaments in the bitter cold-make sure your child has a long-sleeved shirt, sweatshirt, player gloves, a headband, and sock liners. They may also want long tights under their shorts. A couple of blankets (for both you and the players) are a good addition. And while you're digging through the cold-weather clothes, make sure you find gloves and a hat for yourself.

Of course, while we're talking about you, make sure to include a soccer chair and an umbrella to use in both rain and sun.

Most of all, have fun!