TeamSnap Logo
Log inFind My Team
  • Solutions
    • For Business
      For Business

      Tools for clubs, leagues, tournament organizers, and associations to run their business

      For Teams
      For Teams

      For coaches, players & fans to stay connected on our top-rated mobile app

      Promo image
      • Overview
      • Program ManagementManage all aspects of your organization
      • SponsorshipAccess our network of opportunities
      • RegistrationPayments, dues, and more
      • TournamentsBuild and manage your events
      • PaymentsA better way to manage payments
      • Website BuilderProfessional & mobile friendly sites
      • SchedulingAutomate games & practices
      • Services & SupportIndustry-leading account support
      • MessagesSimple, reliable communication
      • Get started!Chat with our team right now
  • Pricing
  • Resources
    • Community

      Our mission is to enhance the lives of kids by enabling participation in sport

        Other resources
        • Blog
        • Coaches’ Corner
        • For Business Resources
        • TeamSnap Updates
        • Help Center
        Company
        • About
        • Careers
        • Partners
    • For Brands
      • Build relationships in the moments that matter.

        Convert families into superfans with TeamSnap for brands.

          • OverviewThe #1 way to reach the Chief Household Officer
          • AudienceLearn about our audience and network
          • CapabilitiesExplore our products and measurement solutions
          • Download Media Kit

      Find My Team

      Sign upLog in
      Sign upLog in
      BlogEditorials
      • General Sports
      • Health and Safety
      • Coaching
      • for Business
      • Announcements
      Featured image: Tips for Parents on Getting Involved and Staying Productive During Tournament Time

      Dec 16, 2010 • 3 min read

      Tips for Parents on Getting Involved and Staying Productive During Tournament Time

      /images/teamsnap-badge.png
      Margaux Viola

      Posted in:
      • Editorials
      • How To

      It is tournament time again, and if you have kids playing sports, it is likely that you will be spending at least a few upcoming weekends at a rink or gymnasium. That means a whole lot of action packed competition… and a whole lot of down time. We partnered with Theresa of  the”Hockey Mom in Canada” community, who has organized an incredible and engaged network of (you guessed it) hockey moms to ask them how they pass the time and stay productive at the rink. They offered up some great ideas and we have added a few of our own to help you get the most out of your time.

      Come prepared: If you have younger children, consider putting together a backpack with games, books, crafts and other activities that will keep them occupied throughout the day. Often the snack bar and vending machines do not offer many healthy options so consider packing light snacks like fruit, carrot sticks, pretzels, or a turkey sandwich. Bring along a cooler with a variety of drinks such as water, Gatorade, and juice. And if you still have some extra room, don’t forget to throw in those pom poms and cowbells to maximize your cheering.

      Volunteer: A lot of organization goes into running a tournament so consider getting involved and offering your assistance. Carrie from Saskatchewan says, “When your son or daughter joins a team, so do the parents and that is where “teamwork” comes in. Helping out makes for more enjoyable and memorable days at the hockey rink with your children!.” If your team is hosting the tournament, offer your assistance in running the hospitality table or directing visiting teams to their locker rooms. You can also help to organize and sell tickets for the 50/50 raffle or learn how to run the time clock for games. Still not sure where to start? Ask the tournament chair what you can do to help them.

      Stay Productive: Many arenas are starting to offer free Wi-Fi so now you can bring your laptop (or smart phone) to catch up on emails. Use the time to take care of paperwork that you have been putting off, update your calendar, or make your to-do list for the upcoming week. And for the multi-athlete or multi-sport parents who can’t limit themselves to just one athletic competition in a day, Joyce from Ontario suggests pre-programming your GPS for the next arena or destination.

      Relax: Sports parents often don’t get to do this enough. If you find yourself with a few hours in between games, it is nice to spend time with the other parents. Grab a coffee, go out to lunch, or visit a local shopping mall. If it’s your first time in the area, go for a walk or explore the local activities in the tournament town. And if you really want to take it easy, bring along newspapers or the book that you have not been able to finish and spend some time reading.

      Do you have additional suggestions or ideas for other parents? Post your comments below. And don’t think that we forgot about the kids. Next week, we’ll be sharing a follow up post on tips to keep the players occupied and safe during their time off at tournaments.


      Download our app

      app-storegoogle-play

      Share this post


      Create Your Team Today!

      It’s Free and Free is Good!

      Sign Up Your Team!Free and Paid Plans Available
      Products
      Sports Organizations
      • Get a demo
      • Features
      • Pricing
      • Tournaments
      • FAQs
      Coaches or Team Managers
      • Features
      • Pricing
      • Tournaments
      • Get Started
      Parents or Athletes
      • Features
      • Pricing
      • Find My Team
      • Get Started
      Sports
      Sports Organizations
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Football
      • Ice Hockey
      • Lacrosse
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
      Teams
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Football
      • Ice Hockey
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • +100s more
      Resources
      • Blog
      • Coaches’ Corner
      • Return To Play
      • For Business Resource Library
      • Skills & Drills
      • Press Releases
      • TeamSnap Updates
      • TeamSnap Help Center
      • Community
      • Why TeamSnap?
      Company
      • About
      • CareersHiring!
      • For Brands
      • Partners
      • TeamSnap API
      • Responsible Disclosure Policy
      • Youth sports team and sports org app Apple App Store Logo
      • Youth sports team and sports org app Google Play Store Logo
      • social-media-facebook
      • social-media-twitter
      • social-pinterest
      • social-instagram
      • social-video-youtube
      • professional-network-linkedin
      • social-tiktok

      TeamSnap Footer Logo

      Copyright © 2005–2025 TeamSnap, Inc.

      • Sitemap
      • Terms
      • Privacy Policy
      • California Privacy Policy
      • Your Privacy Choices