Coaching Young Athletes

29 Items a Young Athlete Should Include On Their Packing List

A big part of performing well is being prepared to perform well.

To be properly prepared for a competition, a young athlete needs to make sure that they have packed everything that they need or might need.

A reliable competition packing list serves a number of obvious purposes. Most notably it becomes a part of a familiar pre-competition routine and decreases the possibility of the dreaded panic that sets in when it is realized too late that something important has been left at home.

A big part of performing well is being prepared to perform well.

Young athletes should create and regularly use their own packing list. The list can be written on a piece of paper, kept in a training diary or stored electronically. The list can be added to or updated as required. Some ideas of what to include on a packing list for an athletics (track & field) event are below.

I recommend that young athletes – under the guidance of a parent and/or coach – be made responsible for creating their packing list. Give them ownership of it. I also believe that young athletes – when old enough – should be responsible for packing their own competition bag and ensuring that all items are checked off the list.

Sample Competition Packing List

• Competition top
• Competition bottoms
• Competition socks
• Competition shoes
• Tracksuit/warm up clothes
• Warm up shoes (e.g. joggers)
• Implements for warm up (e.g. shot/discus)
• Food/snacks
• Drinks/drink bottles
• Towel for sitting on/stretching/keeping warm
• Towel for soaking in cold water on hot days
• Spray bottle for keeping cool
• Wet weather gear (e.g spray jacket)
• Change of clothes incl. spare socks
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Spare plastic bags
• Small first aid kit
• Tissues/hand wipes
• Training/performance diary
• Phone/iPod & headphones (for warm up/between events)
• Spare spikes and spike key
• Spare laces
• Medication (e.g. asthma puffer)
• Measuring tape
• Sunglasses
• Deodorant
• Insect repellent
• Umbrella (for shelter in wet weather or shade in hot weather)

What else would you include on a competition packing list for a young athlete?

Have you ever used a competition packing list? Does your child or athlete use one? Are there any items that you would add to the above list? Let me know by leaving a reply/comment or by using the below contact details.