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Katya_27
28 Posts |
 Posted - 08/11/2014 : 19:04:10
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Ok. We are new to Travel Ball this year (Yay!). We are in 13U team at ECB. I keep reading posts about buying multiple bats, multiple cleats, multiple gloves...
As moms, what do you make sure your son has in his bag?
My son plays 1st (already 2mitts), and pitches. We have 1 bat. |
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rippit
667 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2014 : 21:18:45
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At 13u, one bat is good unless he wants to carry a wood bat too. Turfs and metal cleats will do. Carry an extra pair of pants always. Boys tear up stuff.
Other than making sure every uniform piece is in your car always, take a smile, a kind word, and a good attitude to every game. Have fun!!! |
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agent21
97 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2014 : 22:01:48
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| sunglasses (in a hard case), sunscreen and a healthy snack (granola bar, peanut butter between apple slices) and his own gatorade or water. snacks and drinks come in handy if there is a rain delay and/or a lengthy time between arriving for warm-ups and the start of the game. |
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Mad1
252 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2014 : 22:05:28
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Not a mom but will take a shot here. Playing 13u ball too, I would only carry in the dugout bag anything he may need to play that day. We do it with two bags. Field Bag for dugout- He catches/ pitches and plays middle infield. We have all catching gear and wrist protectors, game Mitt, 2 gloves for field, couple of balls, batting helmet, extra cleats (turf shoes for pitching at certain fields), batting/fielding gloves, bats for game use, small soft side drink cooler with 2 drinks and cooling frogg togg to cool between innings. Cooler holds two drinks and small amount of ice ,so we refill between games or as needed.
Also he has another bag in car with anything that may be needed in emergency to include:
- Extra catchers set, Mask, Bats, Glove (Can be retrieved in case of breakage during game)
- All other team uniforms in case of mis-communication or coaches change during day, extra socks too for wet tourneys.
Bats- He always carries an extra, he tinkers with different bats until he settles on one, and will carry one or two as extras, it varies from player to player, but they will break. Our team had three shatter in our last tournament this year, but only one before that all season.
Sure I Missed something, but may give ya idea. We started giving him the small cooler at his request and it keeps him focused more and not looking for drinks he left sitting around to get hot or us to get him a drink. |
Edited by - Mad1 on 08/11/2014 22:38:27 |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2014 : 16:30:17
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This is our 4th year of travel ball. You will need different things for different times of the year, but a general list for his positions are:
1. 2 legal bats, make sure they are legal and what your coach wants him swinging. I believe in 13u you can still use a drop 10, but some coaches want the kids moved up to a drop 5. Always talk to your coach about bat preferences and compositions of the bats. The reason for 2 is psychological...some kids just think Bat A has lost its "power", so it's nice to have another option.
2. Both gloves
3. Batting helmet
4. Frog Togg if it's hot
5. Black long sleeve shirt if the temperature even might be less than 75 when you arrive or play, black is the easiest color for most people to find, but any dark color will be okay, but white and some of the lighter colors are not allowed for pitchers.
6. Sun glasses in a hard case
7. An emergency rain poncho from the dollar store, it's flat and small and can be vital for those unexpected storms.
8. Slides or tennis shoes, some batting cages do NOT allow cleats, if your kid doesn't have another pair of shoes with him he will be unable to attend batting practice, or have to do it barefoot.
9. An old absorbent rag, for when it is drizzling so he can keep it at the mound to wipe his hands and or ball on.
10. Always keep your team hats in your baseball bag, you may have 3 kinds and it's best to just keep them all in one place.
11. Batting gloves...if he uses them
12. At least 2 gatorades/powerades per game, and if you won't be there make sure he has at least $5 to get two more.
Now, in your car you should also have a list of baseball must have's.
1. Several dollar store rain poncho's. These are good for the obvious reason but also to rip open and cover the bleachers on a wet day so you can sit.
2. LARGE umbrella
3. Extra pair of pants for your son, these don't necessarily need to be game pants. I keep one gray and one white, both generic brands, for the just in case scenario...sliding can be brutal and if he rips his pants in game one he will be sliding on an exposed knee for the rest of the day.
4. Cooler full of fruits, veggies, and extra drinks. Some parks don't allow you to bring in your cooler, so best to have it in the car so you don't have to spend a fortune in food.
5. Know the location of the nearest Subway Restaurant. You can get a fast semi healthy meal that won't leave his hands greasy in between games. (Although ECB has a wonderful quesadilla!!!)
6. Extra socks, both colors, once again game socks are not needed...just generic socks of the right color are fine.
Best of luck, see you around ECB! |
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baseballdandy
51 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2014 : 10:33:38
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| love this information |
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Katya_27
28 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2014 : 17:42:14
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WOW!
I thought (passed tense) I had an idea, but I was clueless. This is why these forums are so great. Thank you all for the 411 and the obvious good will.
Good luck everyone!
Btw, I was just thinking, as a parent on the stands, is there anything you always take to a game besides a butt donut? |
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BaseballMom6
233 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2014 : 22:04:13
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| I always have bug spray and sunblock, a tub of wet wipes, a towel in the car for wet days, Water for myself, the kid is always covered, don't forget about yourself. A good first aid kit. I also use a collapsible wagon. I load everything I need in it and make one trip from the car. |
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Mad1
252 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2014 : 22:54:10
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| I always put Benadryl tabs in my pocket for ant bites and insect stings. This is as much for the younger siblings running around as it is the player. You would be surprised how many times I gave some to parents looking for some this year. During winter or early spring games I have two Mr. Buddy propane heaters and for hottest of summer I have two 18 volt Ryobi fans, and Frogg Togg cooling rag for me. A lot of times these end up in dug out for kids. Canopy and chairs and collapsible wagon to haul it all in. Collapsible wagon by far the best investment. |
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Katya_27
28 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2014 : 06:44:38
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I'm just copy-n-pasting this whole thread!
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baseballdandy
51 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2014 : 09:36:13
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Loving this thread. I'm going to agree on the collapsible wagon. I LOVE mine. But, I will say, I've been asked many times if I'm moving in. =)
Keep talking people....I love this "being prepared" stuff.
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turntwo
955 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2014 : 10:13:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Mad1
I always put Benadryl tabs in my pocket for ant bites and insect stings. This is as much for the younger siblings running around as it is the player. You would be surprised how many times I gave some to parents looking for some this year. During winter or early spring games I have two Mr. Buddy propane heaters and for hottest of summer I have two 18 volt Ryobi fans, and Frogg Togg cooling rag for me. A lot of times these end up in dug out for kids. Canopy and chairs and collapsible wagon to haul it all in. Collapsible wagon by far the best investment.
Canopy/tent would be my #1 investment so far... Which mind has wheels to roll to/from car, but collapsible wagon in on my list for this coming year. Too much 'stuff' adding up to carry in hand for one trip. |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2014 : 13:40:26
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P.S.
Yes, we have a rolling cart, if you are looking on amazon you can find several options under "folding wagon". We got the black one with a sun canopy, have to say it is handy to have a bit of shade on the drinks and it protects the cart belongings while you move out of the rain.
Yes, Canopy/tents are useful because honestly sometimes the shade at these events are seriously lacking and the boys might have 2 hours to wait for their next game. We had a coach one time that purchased the canopy with team money and he dragged it to and from every location and got to keep it at the end of the year, we all agreed it was worth it. Worth bringing up at the first parent meeting.
With the canopy you need folding chairs. HIGHLY recommend chairs that come with a shade/umbrella built into the chair AND have a shoulder strap. Those chairs are bulky and not easy to carry, hence the folding wagon, which those chairs happen to fit perfectly into...coincidence, I think not!
On hot days, an empty water bottle can save your kid from overheating. Fill it up at the water fountain or concession stand and wet your child's head and neck in between innings, my son pretty much thought I was evil when I "accidentally" let some slip down his back on a particularly hot day. This is especially needed for catchers, which is what my son is.
Your first aid kit should include:
1. Activatable ice pack, the type that you break it and it's instantly cold. You would be amazed how many parks don't have ice, and it will be at that park your kid will be hit by the ball and need ice.
2. Advil/ibuprofen, because it really does help with the swelling
3. Ace Bandage, to tie the ice pack onto a particular location
4. Waterproof Sunblock
5. Benadryl AND Afterbite
6. Medical tape, useful for hurt fingers to be splinted together, to make a makeshift pad for the catchers hand/thumb when dealing with a powerful pitcher, and also useful to wrap around a bat and write your kids name on it...imagine 60 kids show up for a wooden bat tournament with nearly identical cheap $25 Louisville sluggers.
7. Band-aids (the flexible kind), neosporin and iodine or alchol wipes. You would think some hydrogen peroxide, but no, peroxide looses strength when exposed to heat and time so it's not good for hot weather.
I know all of this stuff, and my previous list, sounds like a lot. Do yourself a favor and buy a big Rubbermaid container and just throw all this stuff in it. You can also make dividers out of cardboard, or have smaller containers inside the box. When you go to a game it gets loaded next to the baseball bag, when you need your car for YOUR life it easily comes out and is ready for the next time it is needed.
Hoping for another fun-filled season!
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2014 : 15:51:28
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I'm just a dad, but I've been reading this and Wow!! That's a lot of stuff. I try to pack light. My son always had one bat, spikes and turfs, batting gloves (before he stopped wearing them), glove and helmet. He kept it in his bag and picked it up on the way to the car.
When son was younger, I would sometimes bring a chair, then I got tired of that and now just sit in the bleachers. About all I bring is a camera that does pictures and video and can fit in my pocket.
More power to you with all that stuff. My brother with two 6 year olds, has one of those wagons and about all the stuff you're talking about. I just walk in with nothing but my camera and make it thru the games.  |
Edited by - bballman on 08/14/2014 16:44:17 |
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NSTA
1 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2014 : 18:31:21
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| LOL. I've been known (in the past) to drag a rolling umpires bag around with all kinds of stuff "just in case". It was a heavy bag too mostly in part to the 20 lbs. of Double Bubble that traveled with us every weekend (team stash). I even had giant zip ties that came in handy one day because it was SO COLD AND WINDY that the coaches wrapped heavy plastic sheeting around the dugout to try and keep the players warm and had a hard time fastening it to the fencing. Bungy cords, extra belts, socks, heat gear, cold gear, 3 colors of game pants in every size, and even cleats "just in case" somebody else forgot part of their stuff. Those cleats were used three different times. We've carried the Little Buddy propane heater, extra gas canisters, rain tarps, and know how to build a complete tent city. The load has lessened a bit now that the end of high school is approaching and we aren't as nuts as we used to be, but the back of my vehicle is always "baseball ready" in some form or fashion. I am committed to splurging on a 2 door, 2 seater convertible the day baseball ends for us! ZOOM ZOOM! |
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baseballdandy
51 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2014 : 19:47:46
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quote:
Originally posted by bballman
I'm just a dad, but I've been reading this and Wow!! That's a lot of stuff. I try to pack light. My son always had one bat, spikes and turfs, batting gloves (before he stopped wearing them), glove and helmet. He kept it in his bag and picked it up on the way to the car.
When son was younger, I would sometimes bring a chair, then I got tired of that and now just sit in the bleachers. About all I bring is a camera that does pictures and video and can fit in my pocket.
More power to you with all that stuff. My brother with two 6 year olds, has one of those wagons and about all the stuff you're talking about. I just walk in with nothing but my camera and make it thru the games.
You just look one of us up if you need anything. We're sure to have what you're looking for.  |
Edited by - baseballdandy on 08/14/2014 19:53:03 |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2014 : 20:01:41
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quote:
Originally posted by baseballdandy
You just look one of us up if you need anything. We're sure to have what you're looking for.
LOL, I'll be sure to!! |
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Katya_27
28 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2014 : 22:42:01
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| I'm so glad I'm not the only one who didn't know what a collapsible wagon is. |
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Boone232
5 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2014 : 17:57:30
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| Collapsible Wagon, rolling 100 QT cooler (water, Gatorade, healthy snacks, sandwich stuff, whatever), tent, and chairs. I also bring a clear plastic tote filled with sunscreen, bug spray, wet wipes, Tylenol, advil, Benadryl, frog tog, band aids and whatever else I can think of. Never assume you will have time to run to Subway because that will be the day you can't and there you are with a hungry kid playing back to back games. I also bring blankets in my car because you never know and I get cold if it's under 68 degrees. Honestly I feel like I am moving when I prepare for a tournament. Also another tip- do not get your car detailed between February and November because you will regret it. |
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Katya_27
28 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2014 : 20:17:42
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I'm checking out colapsable wagons. Between 2 dogs and 1 boy, detailing my card is only done when VIPs are in town. What is up with boys putting hot, sweaty feet up on my dashboard?
I'm sold on cooler too, but I'm just going to pray whoever posted about tents, tarp, and chairs has signed on to our team. |
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baseballdandy
51 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2014 : 13:34:17
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Just saw the wagons on sale at both Dick's and Academy.
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momstheword
12 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2014 : 10:48:47
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| so, extra ziplock baggies for ice pack always seems to come in handy for someone. wouldn't be without my umbrella for sun and rain, and my light fleece blanket. Amazing how many times I have needed that for chilly mornings, late nights and early spring games and practices. Stadium seats are nice if there's bleachers. Pack sandwiches always. Park food isn't always best or available and sometimes its a hurry up and eat between games. beach towels in the car for muddy cleats. Ibuprophen, bandaids, gatorade. |
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Boone232
5 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2014 : 17:37:43
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| Usually there will be several people on your team that have tents so you can probably hold off on this. I would recommend camp chairs though. I have never had to use a tarp so can't comment on that. |
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Newbie Prep
