4 Essentials for Sports Teams Youth Travel Trips

Youth sports offer students and chaperones travel opportunities that expand cultural understanding, challenge physical abilities, and create an incomparable sense of camaraderie between teammates.

Use these four tips while planning your next youth sports trip to ensure all of your fellow travelers have fun, stay safe, and come home victorious, no matter what happens on the court.

Don’t Be Shy with Chaperones

Even the most well-behaved group of sports enthusiasts can give the adults in charge a tough time. Make sure you have enough chaperones to keep an eye on active youngsters set loose in strange surroundings. For youth under the age of 12, you should plan on having one adult for every four students. For older kids, plan on needing one parent for every six. Where can group organizers find chaperones?

• Parents
• Older siblings
• Teachers or school officials

Charter a Bus

Even for short trips, a charter bus makes the job of getting a group of athletes between locations easier than alternative travel methods. What are the advantages of charter bus travel?

• All students arrive together. No more last-minute nail-biting hoping that your star player’s parents get them to the venue on time.
• Use the extra travel time to review plays, rules, or simply pump up the players’ spirits.
• Charter bus rentals include the services of a professional coach operator. That means you won’t have to worry about questionable directions or routing issues.

Many buses are equipped with amenities that make it even easier on chaperones escorting younger players. Bathrooms, DVD/TV combinations, and built-in speaker systems are some of the more popular features for teams while they’re on the road.

Stay Connected

Keep your fellow travelers connected while on the road to ensure everyone is always accounted for.

• Make sure every traveler has the organizer’s cell phone number.
• Have everyone trade phone numbers with at least two other travelers.
• Consider walkie-talkies for chaperones to protect against cellular services issues in case of emergencies.

Prepare for Disaster

Good planning and vigilance drastically reduce the likelihood of accidents. However, it’s best to be prepared in case an issue occurs.

• Keep up-to-date medical information on every traveler. Include things like medications they take, recent surgeries, or chronic medical issues. Digital files are easier to carry and access.
• Make sure to bring a fully stocked first aid kit.
• Pack snacks and beverages for the road. If your party becomes trapped during travel, these provisions could make long waits for help a lot more comfortable.

Youth sports is a unique privilege in the lives of young ones. Give your team’s spirit a little bit of boost by using these tips to plan the travel portion of their next away game.

Include these 4 tips in your youth sports team group travel planning sessions to keep everyone safe, happy, and satisfied.