Joining a club or organized sport is a great way to be physically active, work on athletic skills, and connect with others with similar interests. Whether you are signing up for soccer, basketball, baseball, swimming, or track, there are some essential gear and equipment to pack for each training session, workout, practice, game, or meet.
While the specific gear for different sports differs, the essential equipment remains the same for all club sports.
Here’s exactly what you need to pack in your gym bag for your sport.
Gym Bag
Athletes need a durable gym bag to store and carry all their sports gear. There are various styles of gym bags on the market. When looking for a larger option, the Nike Brasilia 9.5 is a reigning champion. It has plenty of space to store a change of workout clothes, has a separate compartment for shoes (perfect for baseball cleats, running spikes, or sports sneakers), and has an outer pocket to keep snacks or your phone handy.
Another alternative is the Sportsnew gym bag that is smaller, but has similar features and a great price point. These bigger gym bags are ideal for basketball players and other club sports that require lots of gear.
Those looking for compact, lightweight options just to store a water bottle, snack, and other essentials should look into the Adidas Sackpack. Drawstring bags are great options for lockers but can be limited in space and organization.
Other great gym bags include the Nike One Training Tote Bag, or the Lululemon Go Getter Bag 2.0. Baseball and softball players should beck out the Nike Youth Diamond Bat Pack that has slots for carrying bats, and STX Challenger Lacrosse Equipment Bag is our pick for lax players.
Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is crucial in any sport. Always have a water bottle on hand. There are various types of water bottles sold, but we recommend an insulated option to keep water iced cold.
For outdoor workouts and practice, it’s also a good idea to keep an electrolyte-based sports drink in your gym bag to prevent dehydration.
Towel and Toiletries
Having a small gym towel is a great item to pack in a gym bag this way the athlete can wipe away sweat or any dirt from being on the field at practice. Packing other toiletries like sunscreen, face wash, deodorant or perfume is beneficial for freshening up after practice.
First Aid Kit
Having a basic first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, and other essentials can be very useful. These items don’t take up a lot of space and are important to have in case there are any minor scrapes or falls.
Sports-Specific Accessories
Depending on your sport, you might need additional accessories like mouth guards (for contact sports), headbands, wristbands, or compression gear.
The following is essential gear based on specific sports:
Soccer
- Cleats
- Shin guards
- Soccer ball
- Goalkeeper gloves
Basketball
- Sneakers
- Basketball
Swimming
- Swimsuit
- Goggles
- Swim cap
- Towel
- Flip-flops
Tennis
- Tennis rackets
- Tennis shoes
- Tennis balls
Running
- Running Sneakers
- Hydration
- Running watch for tracking pace and distance
Baseball/ Softball
- Baseball glove
- Bat
- Bating hemlet
- Batting gloves
- Cleats
- Catcher’s gear: helmet, chest protector, leg guards, catcher’s mitt
Lacrosse
- Lacrosse stick
- Lacrosse ball
- Helmet
- Mouthguard
- Shoulder and elbow pads
- Athletic cup
- Goalie: goalie stik, chest protector, throat guard