Traveling to Club Volleyball Tournaments

Club Volleyball, and almost any traveling sport, can be a ton of fun! Traveling with your whole team to another city, staying in a hotel, eating out with the team and playing your favorite sport for a whole day is very exhilarating! Sometimes the trips last all weekend, some trips are shorter- just one night. Either way, making the trip a success is not hard, with a little planning.

Gym Time

Being prepared to sit in a gym all day, with 300+ volleyball players, whistles blowing and a bunch of sweaty girls is easy! Club volleyball usually happens in the winter (in our area) so being well prepared is essential!  We have been in gyms where the air conditioning was stuck in the ‘ON’ position and some without any air at all! We have driven through snowstorms, and eighty degree days! The weather can be the biggest wildcard!

Hotel Fun

After dealing with the weather and the drive to your game location, you are at the hotel (if you choose to go the night before the game)! The hotel is full of your team and loads of excitement! So, after a fun team dinner (either out or in one of the rooms) and some time in the pool or playing board games in the lobby – it is time to get some rest. After all, the next day will be FULL of volleyball! That usually proves to be more difficult that imagined! All the new noises, different beds and the fear of your alarm not working the next morning make for a very short night (usually).

Food!

Food is fuel for your young athlete, and especially when they are playing a sport all day long! Preparing quick,

healthy snacks can keep the HANGER away from the gym! Sometimes our girls have five minutes to eat between games, and sometimes they get an hour or more. You just never know! It is best to have plenty of food on hand! And spectators get hungry too!

We usually try to have a bigger meal for lunch. Depending on where we are, and what team we are with, we may run out to a local business for some hot food (burgers, chicken, soups, etc). In the past we have also coordinated as a team and planned hot meals using a crock-pot (if the facility allows).  When we plan food as a team, we take turns bringing the meal, or each bring a specific part of the meal.

Essentials+

We have been traveling to club volleyball games for three years now! Here is a list of things that we consider essential:

• Camp Chairs (folding chairs)
• Blankets (a couple that are OK getting dirty)
• Slippers (for the player)
• Sweatpants (essential for the player)
• Jackets (type based on weather forecast)
• Bathing Suits (if staying in a hotel with a pool or hot tub)
• Extra Socks (can change if too sweaty to prevent blisters)
• Chargers (for whatever devices you are bringing)
• Tylenol, ibuprofen or similar pain reliever
• Tissues
• Contact Solution/Cases
• Feminine Products
• Deoderant
• Chapstick
• Lotion (for after hand washing)
• Extra Hair Ties (for double braids)
• Extra Water Bottles (great for when one needs filling, give the full extra one to the player)
• Handi-wipes (make it easy to clean hands and eat quickly)
• Paper towels (to clean up spills, use as a makeshift plate)
• Snacks (you can’t have too many)
  • Protein Balls
  • Fresh Fruits and Veggies
  • Crackers and Cheese
  • Apples and Peanut Butter
  • Cheese Sticks
  • Cookies
  • Sports Drinks
  • COFFEE!!

I hope you enjoy traveling with your young athlete like we do! Please leave me a comment on any things you bring along that I didn’t list here! Happy Travels!

Here are a couple of posts on some great snacks that are easy to make and haul to the volleyball competitions:  High Energy Protein Balls, Homemade Chewy Granola Bars and Healthy Snacks to GO! Are you trying to plan food for the team? Check out this post on how to make that easier!