Tournament softball season is upon us!  It's that time of year when you pack up your daughter (and maybe her friends) and hit the tournament circuit.  Being prepared for a long tournament drive is more than just about packing a lot of stuff into the trunk and jumping onto the nearest highway.  There's lots of preparation that needs to take place before you hit the road.

If you're anything like me, you wait until the last minute to pack for a trip and then once you're on the road you realize you left something important behind.   Whether it's your itinerary, lucky socks or your phone, leaving something behind can put a serious wrinkle into your trip.

So to bring some order to the chaotic nature of family trips & travel softball, I put together this guide to help you remember all the essentials.

At the bottom of this post you'll also find a printable checklist for your travel planning pleasure.

Pre-Trip Checklist:

• Car checkup (oil change, tune-up, tire pressure, spare tire check)
• Make sure the pets are being cared for.
• Have a friend or relative collect mail and check on the house.
• Have a backup plan in place should your GPS fail.  (ie maps or route pre-printed)
• Emergency credit card with enough available balance for vehicle repair or hotel room.
• Create a meal schedule (and stick to it) to avoid over spending on fast food and snacks.  A meal schedule can also help you create a shopping list.
• Confirm hotel reservations.
• Be sure you have enough medication to get you through the trip.
• Make sure you have a spare set of keys just in case you lose your main set.
• And don't forget your Ringor Travel Checklist!

Packing Checklist:

Equipment

• Portable Canopy - EZ Up canopies are a great choice as they're easy to put up and break down.  They can also be set at multiple heights and aren't too heavy to carry.
   
• Wheeled Cooler - You won't just love this piece of equipment, you'll depend on it.  Fill it up with snacks, lots of water, lunches and anything else that will fit.  With the cooler on wheels you can pack as much in it as it will hold and not have to worry about weight.  As an added bonus, bring a second cooler to leave behind in the car, then fill up the wheeled cooler between games and drag it back to the field.
   
• Comfortable, Fold Up Chairs - You'll be sitting for several hours in the sun, wind and possibly rain.  Make sure you have a few chairs that allow you to sit for long periods of time.  Bleachers, if available, aren't very considerate of your toosh.
   
• Large Umbrella - You never know what the weather will bring.  Good for heat waves or rain.  Keep it packed in your vehicle.
   
• Blankets - Coupled with the large, beach style umbrella this can make for a very nice, shady spot out of the sun.
   
• Wheeled Cart - This will be your lifesaver (and back saver).  You can pile all of your equipment, non wheeled coolers, softball gear and anything else into this cart.  Then that long walk from the parking lot to the tournament grounds won't be so bad.  Additionally, after a long day of cheering you'll be glad you don't have to carry everything back to your car!
   
• Softball Trailer - And of course, the Granddaddy of them all:  The Softball Trailer.  If you can afford to drag one of these behind your vehicle then you will have plenty of room for everything on this list.  You'll also have room for all of your daughter's friends (in the car; not the trailer!).
   

Entertainment -  You may have extended periods of time between games due to byes or scheduling changes so here's a few necessities to help pass the time.

• Smartphone (with charger)
• Playing Cards
• Music
• Board games
• Magazines or books
   

Emergency - You never can know what's going to happen.  The best you can do is be prepared for the worst.  Keep these things stocked up just in case another parent runs out.

• First Aid Kit including:
• Ice bags, ice packs
• Pain reliever (Motrin or Ibuprofen)
• Large band-aids (for raspberries from sliding)
• Athletic tape, pre-wrap
   

Hand Tools - Tools will almost always come in handy.  Keep a few of the common tools around in case a faceguard comes loose or a wheel falls off your wheeled cart.

• Small toolset - screwdrivers, wrenches, etc.
• Extra parts for helmet, facemask.
• Duct tape
• Multi-Tool (Leatherman, Gerber, etc) - Won't work for every job but when it does you'll be glad you have it.
   

Food & Snacks - Gotta eat, right?

• Energy food - fruits, nuts, etc.
• Lunch food - Snacks can get old really quick on a long trip so bring along some food that will pack a nutritional punch.
• Pet food - If taking pets along don't forget their food.
   

Personal Items - Items that everyone needs but anyone can forget.

• Spray bottle - For misting on hot days.
• Wet rags - Having a set of rags that you can keep damp is a great way to stay cool on a hot day.

BONUS TIP:  Some travellers even soak the rags in water, freeze them and then toss them in the cooler.

• Air fresheners! - Save your nose on the car ride home.  Especially important in a SUV that doesn't have an external trunk!  This could be a good time to make use of the new Ringor softball socks with odor control.
• Sunblock
• Extra toilet paper - Never a bad idea.
• Seat Covers - For use in those less than desirable facilities.
• Any medication that needs to be taken regularly.
• Feminine products
   

Extra Clothing - Some not-so-obvious things to pack in addition to the normal attire.

• Extra socks
• Flip flops or sandals
• Change of clothes - For the player after the game.
• Coat or wind breaker - For night games when it gets windy and cold.
• Beanie - To keep ears warm when the wind picks up.
• Swimsuit - For use at the hotel pool.
   

Softball Stuff - The most important stuff, of course!

• Extra pair of cleats - This can be useful in case a pair gets lost, the "gamers" suffer a blowout or a spike breaks off.
• Extra glove or glove repair kit
• Extra shoelaces - Just in case a lace breaks.
• The Ringor Phone Number - Keep this handy in case you need to have softball equipment overnighted to your hotel.
   

Printable Checklist:

Also included with this blog post is a companion, downloadable checklist that you can fill in prior to your trip.  Just check off the items as you get them packed up and you'll never forget things for your trip!  Click the link below to download the checklist in PDF format.

Travel Checklist (PDF)

If I have forgotten anything obvious or if you have some additional tips to provide please leave them in the comment section below.  We'd love to hear from some of the travel experts out there!