If you spend your afternoons and weekends going from practices to games, you know a sports mom bag can quickly become one of the most important things in the car. I don't want to carry everything we own, but there are a few things I always try to have with me because someone inevitably needs them.

Whether you're headed to baseball, soccer, football, softball, or another activity, these are five things worth keeping in your sports mom bag.

1. Snacks and Water

Someone is always hungry.

I keep a few easy, non-messy snacks in my bag that can survive being carried around, like:

• Granola bars
• Crackers
• Pretzels
• Fruit snacks
• Protein bars
• Nuts or trail mix

I also make sure we have plenty of water, especially for long practices, tournaments, and hot game days.

2. Sunscreen and Bug Spray

Even when I think we'll only be outside for an hour, practices and games have a way of lasting much longer.

Sunscreen and bug spray stay in my bag so I don't have to remember to grab them every time we leave the house. A sunscreen stick is especially convenient for quick reapplication.

3. A Mini First-Aid Kit

I don't carry an entire medicine cabinet, but I do like having a few basics nearby.

Think:

• Bandages
• Antiseptic wipes
• Gauze
• Athletic tape
• Instant cold pack

Scraped knees, blisters, and little cuts happen, and it's nice to have the basics ready when they do.

4. The Emergency Extras

This is basically my "someone forgot something" stash.

Depending on the sport and season, I like keeping things like:

• Hair ties
• Bobby pins
• Extra socks
• Hand wipes
• Tissues
• Wet wipes
• Small trash bags
• Phone charger or portable battery
• A permanent marker

The marker sounds random until you're trying to label a water bottle five minutes before a game.

5. Something for Me

The kids aren't the only ones spending hours at the field.

I always try to pack a few things that make sitting through practices and tournaments more comfortable, like sunglasses, a hat, portable fan, sweatshirt, hand warmers, or a small blanket depending on the weather.

And don't forget a portable charger. A full day at the fields can drain your phone surprisingly fast.

My Sports Mom Bag Rule

Keep the basics packed instead of rebuilding the bag before every game.

At the end of the weekend, throw away trash, replace the snacks and supplies you used, charge your portable battery, and put the bag back by the door or in the car.

It makes getting out of the house for the next practice so much easier.

Your sports mom bag doesn't need to contain everything you could possibly need. Start with snacks and water, sun protection, first-aid supplies, emergency extras, and a few things to keep yourself comfortable.

You'll figure out pretty quickly which extras make sense for your family's sport and schedule. And when someone needs a Band-Aid, hair tie, snack, or phone charger halfway through a tournament, you'll be very glad you packed it.

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