Football Camp Checklist: Everything You Need
From your first youth football camp to your third college-level, full-pad football camp, what you’ve got in your bag can make or break your performance. The type of cleats, T-shirts, bottoms, even down to the socks you’re wearing make a difference. Creating a football camp checklist for yourself before you leave the house will help you in the long run when it comes down to business. If you’re looking to impress coaches, trainers, players, and yourself, make sure you’re prepared.
Essential Football Gear Checklist
No matter the level of football camp you’re heading to, here are some of the football gear essentials that everyone—from first-time youth players to experienced players with college aspirations—should keep at the ready.
Athletic socks (3+ pairs, depending on the length of your stay): Make sure your athletic socks are fast-drying, comfortable, and breathable. Having multiple pairs allows you to put on clean ones every workout and helps your feet stay comfortable and dry.
Moisture-wicking T-shirts: You’ll quickly realize why a moisture-wicking shirt is your best friend during your workouts. They work hard to help keep you dry, fight against odor, and reduce uncomfortable chafing. Picture yourself soaked in sweat with your shirt clinging to your gear. You don’t want that. Get yourself some moisture-wicking gear.
Compression shirts: Baselayers and football go together like PB&J. Football players train and play in a wide range of conditions, from chilly Fall nights and snow-filled Winters to two-a-day Summer practices in the tough heat. Compression football baselayers should stretch comfortably, giving you a feel that supports your every movement. They should be ventilated and built with seams that stay off high-abrasion areas to prevent chafing.
Compression shorts/underwear: Like compression shirts, compression shorts/underwear should feel like a second skin on your body. Keep them light, moisture-wicking, and ventilated so you’re comfortable under a pair of football pants.
Practice shorts: Some football camps go through periods of drills that don’t require football pants and pads. Some other camps don’t require them at all. Getting football practice shorts that not only wick sweat away and stay cool throughout the heat of drills—but are made with lightweight materials so you’re able to work in the heat—is key.
Football cleats: They’ll help you move better on the turf or grass, stay light throughout your drills and routes, and come in many different types that can be better suited depending on your position. Check with your football camp beforehand to see if they’ve got any requirements for football cleats based on the surfaces you’ll be working on.
Football gloves: Football gloves have almost become a necessity for players throughout the years. Football gloves made with lighter synthetic materials like polyester and spandex are often considered the best for skill positions, while heavier materials like leather or neoprene may be best for linemen or linebackers. Make sure they’re breathable, fit snug, and if you’re someone that might find the ball in their hands in a play, go for tacky, grippy football gloves that’ll help you bring in tough catches.
Mouthguard: Having a mouthguard helps protect against your teeth getting chipped or displaced. Ask your dentist to help with the correct fitting for your mouthguard, too, if needed. Mouthguards are essential in football.
Water bottle: Forgetting to hydrate might be common, but it’s something you really want to avoid, especially at football training camps. They’re intense. They’re hot. They’re long. Get yourself a water bottle that stays leak-resistant and is vacuum-insulated to help keep your water chilled throughout the day.
Towel: You’re going to get sweaty, that’s just a fact. Pick up a towel or two that’ll help you dry off quickly. In football especially, a lot of the game has to do with your hands, whether that’s blocking, catching passes, or throwing them. Slick hands aren’t going to help you in the slightest.
Sunscreen: Football camps pick up heat quickly, so you’re going to want to be prepared from start to finish. Apply sunscreen liberally on every part of exposed skin to help protect yourself throughout camp. Reapply any chance you get when it begins to wear off.
Small notebook and pen: Take. Your. Notes. Being at a football camp isn’t just about your performance—though that obviously plays a huge role. Coaches are going to offer tips and pointers on aspects of your game and those around you. Write it down! They’re at the camp to help you get better. From drill recommendations to advice on form and technique, processing that knowledge and having it on-hand after camp can help you better understand aspects of the game.
Change of clothes: This might be more geared to those that end up staying overnight at football camps, but bringing a comfortable change of clothes lets you rotate in fresh football gear and post-workout clothes that’ll let you wind down after a tough day on the field.
Personal hygiene items (deodorant, wipes): Bringing your own toiletries and personal items helps to keep you fresh throughout your football camp.
Essential Gear Checklist for Higher Levels
Getting into tackle football? Your go-to bag is still going to include the above essentials, of course, but it’s time to add some more gear and accessories to a more advanced football camp.
Padding (shoulders, knees, thighs): If you’re going to a more advanced football training camp, you’ve got to stay protected. Shoulder pads and other padding like the ones you’ll wear in your football pants aren’t just there for style points. They’re required at all times. Thigh pads are designed to help protect against bruising and abrasions. They’re supposed to be lightweight and help absorb blows. Shoulder pads are built to help protect the upper portions of your body like your shoulders, collar bones, and sternum. Depending on your position, your shoulder pads might differ.
Helmet & Chinstrap: There used to be a day and age in football where helmets aren’t required. Take a step back and think about that. Not good! Again, like shoulder pads, the type of helmet and facemask on your helmet might differ depending on position, but it’s always required to have one when you’re playing any kind of contact football like tackle. Don’t forget to bring your chinstrap, too. Your chinstrap helps secure your helmet to your head.
Packing Tips from Experienced Athletes
The last thing you need is to be halfway through your travel to camp and realize you’ve forgotten your shoulder pads in the garage at home. As an athlete, there’s not much worse than the feeling of your heart sinking while you tell your ride that you’ve left something behind. Here’s how you can avoid that:
Lay everything out the night before: Simplicity in your tasks can often be found as the most effective way to function. Before you head out the door, take time the night prior to create a checklist of all the gear you need for football camp. Then, lay it all out in a place where you’ll see everything before you pack it all up. Double check, maybe even triple check if you’re feeling extra cautious, before you leave.
Label key gear (e.g., helmet, pads): Put your name and retrieval information on your gear. Not only does it help you and others avoid accidentally swapping gear, but it’ll give someone a better chance at returning your gear to you if you lose it.
Pack extras (socks, undershirts, etc.): Sometimes we overpack. In the case of football training camps, overpacking might prove to be a lifesaver. Bring the extra pair(s) of socks, undershirts, underwear, whatever you may deem necessary to have a few more of when you’re out on the field or when you’re recovering post-workout.