Tackle your back to school and fall sport shopping with these 5-Star tips
This article is sponsored by Academy Sports + Outdoors. All opinions are my own.
It’s here, it’s here!! My favorite time of year!
No, I’m not just talking about sending the kids back to school – well, yes, that’s a great bonus – but what I’m really talking about is the fall sports season! If you are the parent of a young athlete then you know that the back to school season also means the start of fall sports.
The start of fall sports is a magical time where all the kids get together again over a long summer, excited to be a part of the team again. They hit the field together, work hard, and much to their mamas enjoyment are out of the house, burning off energy!
The back to school season is so much more than getting the backpacks ready…
We are hunting down cleats, water jugs to and more with these 5-star shopping tips to make sure our athletes are ready to have a successful fall sports season.
When do fall sports begin?
Our fall sports begin even before the first day of school when our football player takes the field. This means I have to have all of my school shopping and sports gear shopping done at once. Making sure our kids have everything they need to go from the classroom to the field is essential.
With four kids that play multiple sports, back to school shopping can be a challenge to find everything we need and purchase it all at a price that this mama can handle. This is where Academy comes in to save the day.
What kind of gear does my child need to play fall sports?
While the back to school shopping might be a little bit easier to figure out – most schools provide you with a list of supplies – fall sports gear can be a little tricky. Each sport will require different equipment and finding what is right for your child is key.
(Athletic Wear Shown: BCG Boys’ Dazzle Basketball Short, BCG Boys’ Solid Turbo Training Tank, Nike Mens’ Alpha Menace Shark Football Cleats)
You can ask your child’s coach for gear recommendations and also find out what the school or athletic league will provide, if any. Since each sports requires different equipment it is always a good idea to ask the coach what you need or visit a knowledgeable sporting goods store, like Academy Sports + Outdoors to find the right sports gear for your child.
List of Gear by Fall Sport
My children play multiple sports and over the years I’ve collected my fair share of sports gear. As kids grow, though, we’ve found that one thing is true – they’re going to need new fall sports gear, especially new shoes or cleats, every back to school season. Academy is the perfect place to shop for the list below. Their wide assortment of budget-friendly prices help parents stock up on your kid’s favorite brands for every fall sport.
Football
- Football Cleats
- Mouthguard
- Practice pants/jersey
- Helmet (may be provided by school/league)
- Pads (may be provided by school/league)
- Socks
Volleyball
- Athletic wear/practice clothes
- Knee pads
- Approved gym shoes
Baseball
- Baseball Cleats
- Baseball Pants
- Practice Jersey
- Socks
- Batting Helmet (may be provided by school/league)
- Bat (check your league rules for size/weight before purchasing)
Swimming
- Practice Suit
- Cap
- Goggles
- Kick Board
- Fins
- Pull Buoy
- Paddles
- Mesh Gear Bag
Cross Country
- Appropriate running clothes/athletic wear
- Good pair of running shoes
Cheerleading
- Appropriate Athletic clothes
- Cheer Shoes
Soccer
- Soccer Cleates
- Shin Guards
- Socks
- Appropriate athletic clothes
Fall sports gear for school – What to buy
What I love about having athletic and active kids is that so much of their back to school shopping IS shopping for the fall sports gear. They like to be comfortable during the day and ready to go straight to practice in the afternoon – this makes their back to school shopping easy and we are able to complete our list in one location!
We purchase athletic wear like dry fit shirts and shorts and a good pair of running shoes that look great but also keep them cool and comfortable during the day making sure they’re always ready to head straight to practice after school.
A good water bottle is also a must! Those young athletes need to stay hydrated and that starts before practice. I always make sure my kids have a water bottle that they can take with them to school and refill throughout the day and keep with them for practice in the afternoon.
Fall sports gear for moms to keep in their car
At times, the trunk of my car looks like a portable locker room on wheels.
If you are a seasoned sports mom then you already know the drill and have figured this all out – if you are new to the sports mom scene this is a list for you.
Water – I always keep extra water bottles on hand for myself, my athlete, and any siblings that may be attending practice or games with me.
Extra Balls – Soccer, baseball, football whatever sport it is keep an extra in your car! The kids will use them if they arrive early or to warm-up and once the game begins it gives the siblings something to play with too.
Practice Cones – These stay in my car but they are used mostly at home. Just about every sport can use a set of practice cones to work drills or mark places. If kept in your car they are always available for warm-ups.
Seating – the hard ground or metal bleachers are not fun to sit on for hours on end. Make sure you have some good, cushioned bleacher seats.
How can I get the best deals on Back to School shopping for fall sports gear?
Save yourself both time and money on all of your back to school shopping needs for active kids by purchasing all of their fall sports gear, shoes, cleats, even backpacks and lunch boxes in ONE place.
Academy Sports + Outdoors has everything you need to complete your back to school shopping for your young athletes all under one roof AND will get you the best prices on your fall sports gear.
At each of their more than 240 locations, Academy has a wide variety of athletic footwear and apparel, sports and recreation products along with hunting, fishing, and camping equipment, patio sets and barbecue grills all at every day low prices.
You can get your kids the 5-Star products they want at prices that will make you, and your budget, happy!
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