Let’s say you are or have a kid who is going to hit the road without you, go with their team for the weekend, and you or your kid has never done anything like this before, here are a few suggestions:
Uniform – pack all of your uniform in one travel bag, probably the one that says your team name. Put away and home socks, shirts, shorts, etc. in gallon zip bags, label them with a black marker. Put your number on everything that does not have a number on it. Socks and shorts often don’t have a number, put your name somewhere inside on a label, somewhere where it won’t show when wearing for games. Have two or three spare gallon bags, put dirty uniforms, shoes, etc. in there.
Bags – one for your uniform and other items, probably the one with the team name, take the one with your uniforms with you to the game. The one for your other street clothes, leave the one with your other street clothes in your room, don’t take it to the field, rink, gym, etc. when you have games.
Battery – take an external battery that can charge your phone four to six times, they are not expensive, 25 bucks or so.
Cell Phone – make certain you have a good case, two cords, two chargers, put the extra cord and charger somewhere in your non-team bag, a pocket that you rarely open.
Location – turn on your location and keep it on, have a location app going for your parents, this reduces the number of texts and calls, gives them a sense of security, they will leave you alone more if you do this.
Updates – send updates to your parents daily, more that one per day is better, even if they already know the score of the game, they have taken quite a bit of time and money for you to play this sport, it’s common courtesy to text them a few times and call them at least once per day.
Buddy System – don’t go anywhere without your teammate, the more the better, never go anywhere, hotel or otherwise, without someone from your team or a parent going with you.
Punctual – you must be on time, everything will be planned, help others to be on time.
Food – eat what is provided, no special orders at restaurants, meals will be organized as a group, go with the flow, never complain, even to your teammates. The timing of the meals has been planned around your games, eat even if you are not hungry, eat something, no time for getting food on your own later.
Roommates – for many this will be your first time staying in a room with anyone other than family, your coach often determines your roommate, make the best of it, keep your side of the room neat and clean, don’t make a mess in the bathroom, etc. Go to bed when you are told to go to bed, you will need sleep.
Cash – is king with trips, you will need enough to get a few snacks and shirt with the event name. The hotel and meals will be arranged by the team. Make certain you have enough, then add a bit more.
Schedule – get it, view it, know it, manage it, everything will be arranged, know when and where you are to be.
Apps – keep track of your apps that the team is using, generally one the kids use and one the coach uses, changes happen, keep up with it all, help your roommate and teammates to stay up with changes.
Pool – swimming will kill your performance, as your coach has told you, no pool.
Bus – riding to and from an event on a bus is much different than the family truckster, headphones are required, take a pillow, blanket, be courteous of others, lots of folks in small space, learn to sleep on a bus ride, if you can learn this skill, it makes travel much more tolerable.
Polite – everyone is watching you, travel teams are noticed, you don’t think about it, but your every move is watched, do not say, yeah, u huh, no problem, OK, whatever, or anything else similar to that, answers to questions are, yes please, no thank you, thanks, thank you, your welcome, yes sir, no sir, yes mam, no mam. Sounds silly and old fashioned, but you will be amazed at how others will love it.
Appreciate – you have a huge honor to be on a team that travels, call it club, select, state championships, etc., your team, coach, parents, family, have worked hard to get you to this level. Enjoy it, be thankful, don’t just go through the motions. The expression is ‘don’t forget to stop and smell the roses’.