The Basketball Tournament Packing List
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Basketball tournaments are the easy ones.
Indoor. Climate controlled. No sunscreen, no rain plan, no shade umbrella, no checking the forecast repeatedly.
Just a lot of games, a lot of sneakers squeaking and whistles blowing, and bleachers that remind you that you’re not as young as you used to be.
🪑 THE STADIUM SEAT
If you take one thing from this list, take this one. It changes a tournament weekend more than anything else here.
Two versions, depending on who you are that day:
With armrests, if you're feeling bougie or you're bringing the grandparents. They will thank you.
Simple and padded, if you just want to spare your back and your bum. Or if, like me, you've ruined your hips running marathons.
Either one beats four hours of bare aluminum.
💳 GATE FEES
Nobody told me this when basketball was new to us. Most tournaments charge spectators to get in.
Plan on $15 to $20 a day for every member of your family, or $30 to $40 for a weekend pass. And most of them are digital payment only now, so sort that out before you are standing at the door with four people behind you.
🏀 FOR THE PLAYER
Jerseys. Home and away if the team issues both.
Basketball shoes.
A dry pair of socks for every game. My son had a coach who made them change after every game.
A dry shirt to change into.
An extra pair of dry underwear. They probably won't take the time to change. But there may come a weekend when they are very glad they had them.
Blister bandaids. A basketball bag staple.
No mouthguards, no pads, no helmet. This is the shortest gear list of the year and I never take it for granted.
🥪 FUEL
Between games is the whole problem. There is never enough time to leave and never anything good in the building.
A PB&J for between games. Every time.
Gatorade.
A giant Yeti jug, filled before you leave.
Whatever snacks you keep in rotation
🎒 IF YOU'RE BRINGING LITTLE SIBLINGS
Help them pack their own backpack. You’ll be able to enjoy the games if they are busy!
Plenty of snacks
Small cars or action figures
Markers or colored pencils and a coloring book, or this awesome doodle board
Lots of fidget toys or squishies
Or, if you have given up on parenting during sporting events, an iPad and headphones
👜 THE MOM BAG
Shorter than the outdoor version, because the building is doing most of the work for you.
Monti Socialite cooler bag for the PB&Js and the drinks (check the gym policy on this- it may have to live in the car)
My Rothy's tote as a catch all. Everything fits in it, and when I get home I can throw the whole thing in the washing machine.
Wet wipes- basketball gym floors are DIRTY
Hand sanitizer- basketball gym stands are DIRTIER
Small first aid basics
Advil and Tylenol
Hair ties
A sweatshirt. Gyms are kept cold for the players, not for the people sitting still in the bleachers.
📱 LOGISTICS
All of this lives on your phone, because who prints things anymore?
Tournament waivers
Insurance cards
Whatever app the tournament runs on, downloaded and updated before you leave
Gym addresses saved, because tournaments love to split games across three venues you've never heard of
🚫 WHAT NOT TO BRING
Basically everything the outdoor list needs.
Outside food or drinks that can’t naturally fit in your backpack or purse.
Noise makers, airhorns or electronic megaphones (yes, I’ve seen people try)
I love basketball tourney weekends because weather isn't a factor. But being in a gym for up to 5 hours a day (not enough time to leave, but plenty of time to get bored) can sometimes make you feel stuck.
My last piece of advice is to throw in something you can do for fun or productivity. Take the laptop for between games. Plan your menu and make your grocery order. Or maybe even allow yourself to sneak out to your car to take a nap.
Anything I’ve missed?
abide & flourish 🏀
