My Messy Journey Picking Gear
So yeah, I totally thought getting into select football this year meant grabbing some cleats and showing up. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. Big time. Felt like showing up to build a shed with just a hammer. This whole checklist thing started because I nearly missed registration deadlines fumbling around. Embarrassing.
First thing I did? Panicked, basically. Realized other parents actually planned this stuff. Went home, dug through old emails and club websites – info scattered everywhere like Lego pieces underfoot. Figured I needed just the absolute basics to even start practicing. Called it my “Don’t Get Laughed At” kit.
Lesson #1: Paperwork Chaos
You wouldn’t believe the hoops! Copies of birth certificates? Check. School report cards? Check. Physical forms signed? Forgot. Had to sprint back to the doctor’s office begging for a signature two days before tryouts closed. Almost blew it. Felt like an idiot. Always get those physicals EARLY.
Lesson #2: Gear Isn’t Just Cleats
Went to the sporting goods store thinking “cleats and done.” Saw all the other parents with giant carts. Felt my wallet cry. Learned the hard way cheap shin guards bend. Saw my kid limping after one practice. Returned them next day, got some thick plastic ones. Worth every penny.
- Solid cleats? Crucial. Muddy fields happen.
- Mouthguard? Non-negotiable. Bought a gross boil-and-bite one, upgraded later.
- Water bottle that doesn’t leak? Lifesaver. Learned after the first soggy bag incident.
Lesson #3: The Hidden Costs Hit Hard
Club fees? Sticker shock, man. Budgeted for registration. Didn’t budget for tournament entry fees, extra uniforms, “voluntary” fundraising stuff. Travel costs piled up fast for away games. Gas station snacks became a major expense. Seriously underestimated that whole side of things.
End result? Took three trips back to the store, one frantic late-night online order, and my kid missed half the first tryout while I dug through papers. Not my smoothest moment. Now that “starter kit” is sorted. Learned more from messing up than anything else.
