Team Snack Etiquette, Oh No She Didn’t!
Why I’ll always be prepared for games
My youngest was on the soccer field playing his heart out, his little chest heaved in and out. I walked over to the parent that was in charge of snacks for that week and asked for a drink for my son. The parent hesitated. She unzipped her thermal then slowly gave me a Gatorade. I thanked her and quickly opened the drink and gave it to my son. He guzzled most of it. As I walked away she said that the drinks were for halftime only.
Oh no she didn’t! No parent ever made a “for half time only” announcement about drinks. It was a given that snacks were provided after the game and drinks were throughout. Maybe she’s on a budget I said to myself. I looked at the kids on the team grabbing their individual drinks from their parents. I made a huge mistake. I assumed.
Never, ever assume, especially when it comes to the responsibilities of the snack captain.
It was my responsibility to keep my son hydrated, during the game, duh. The reason why I didn’t bring a personal drink for my son is because the previous snack captain supplied drinks throughout the game. Again, don’t assume. When you assume your feelings can get hurt. Every snack captain is different.
Every team has a different set of standards when it comes to the snack policy. Some snack captains feed and hydrate the whole team and siblings. Other snack captains keep it simple — one snack, per kid, keep it moving! Snack etiquette at games truly depend on the parents of the players. Some parents are simply strapped for cash that a snack policy isn’t even mentioned. It’s always best to establish a snack policy with other parents ASAP.
My son drank that Gatorade and wanted more towards the end of the game. He was out of luck. I felt horrible. There’s nothing worse than being that unprepared parent at games. To prevent other parents from experiencing what I experienced I put together a pre-game preparation list;
- Always bring your own snacks and drinks for you and your child.
- If you bring additional children to games they are not entitled to team snacks. Bring snacks and drinks for them.
- Scope out the venue before the first game. Will you need folding chairs? Do they have restrooms? Is there a concession stand?
- Be prepared for weather changes; Blankets, jackets, umbrellas, sunscreen, hats, bug spray are a must (I keep these items in my trunk).
- The noses of children get really nasty on the field always have tissues, wet wipes, and a small plastic bag for trash.
- Portable first aid kit, or a DIY first aid kit which includes a small Ziploc full of bandages, antiseptic spray/ointment. Bring an additional Ziploc in case you need to make an ice-pack for injuries.
- A nice size cooler or thermal full of drinks.
- Make sure your phone is charged for video & pictures.
It’s better to be prepared than be that parent that’s looking around an empty field with no place to sit, no snacks to purchase, pacing back and forth just waiting for the practice or game to be over.
I’m sure I’m not the only parent that learned the hard way about the snack policies and preparation. What did I leave off the list? What tips do you have for parents?
