What earns a place
in the sports bag.

Name the bottle and the lid. Check the lid is back on before it goes beside the spare uniform. If there are several games or a long drive, check where drinking-water refills are available before leaving home.

A bigger bottle only helps if it is the one that makes it to the field. Choose a size that suits the child and the venue, and keep the cleaning routine manageable.

Pack around the draw: something easy to reach before the next game, lunch in its own container, and a snack for the trip home. Separate containers mean you can take out the thing you need without unpacking everybody’s food on the grass.

Cold food needs more than an insulated bag. Put it in cold, use enough ice or cold packs around it and keep the lid closed as much as possible. Plan how you will keep perishable food at 5°C or below through the day. Queensland Health’s outdoor food guide has the details.

Choose products suitable for the person using them and follow their directions. Hat, shade and your usual sun protection belong on the wider packing list too. A small pouch is easier to check and restock than a collection of things scattered across four bag pockets.

Put it somewhere an adult can reach without tipping out boots, snacks and yesterday’s socks. Those socks have already had their moment.

Before packing laundry supplies, check whether the accommodation has a machine, what it provides and where washing can dry. Keep products labelled and away from food. Follow the garment-care label and each product’s directions rather than combining products by guesswork.

Add a bag for worn gear, then keep the clean uniform for the next day together. It is much nicer to find the right socks before breakfast than beside the car at warm-up.

Different bands have different purposes and instructions. Use the directions for the exact product, inspect it before use and replace damaged equipment. Keep it out of a hot car and direct sun, as PTP’s care guidance explains. Follow suitable professional guidance for a child’s exercise or rehabilitation routine.