After 22 years of being a sports mom, I can tell you exactly what you will need to make the youth football experience more enjoyable and to help you keep your sanity.

1. A comfy bleacher chair

This is to prevent bleacher butt and back spasms. I know it’s a pain to lug to the bleachers, but you will be glad you did.

2. Extras in the car

An extra pair of socks, extra water bottles, ankle tape, even an extra pair of athletic shoes. Buy a cheap pair for those days when your child forgets/loses/rips his or her shoes before a game.

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3. Extra water

Yes, I know I already said that, but I can’t stress enough how important this is. I know it’s your children’s responsibility to bring their own water bottles, but what if one of them forgets? Are you going to let your child get dehydrated? When you get that hand signal during a timeout that your child needs water, have one already on hand, so you don’t have to make a run to the snack bar.

4. A comfy lawn chair

Just in case you prefer to sit away from the other parents in the bleachers who may or may not be spewing negativity, get yourself a comfortable lawn chair and SIT, rather than stand along the sidelines. Sitting tends to communicate to your child that you enjoy watching, rather than standing and pacing, which says, “I’m tense and I have to work out my nervous energy!”

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5. A venting person

For those days when you are frustrated, have a confidant who will let you vent without consequences and who will not repeat what you say to others. This person may be a friend or spouse, but it should not be the coach, your child, another parent, or other members of the team.

6. Team gear

Of course, you don’t have to wear a team shirt or hat to show your spirit, but it just makes the game a bit more fun for you as a proud parent. I loved wearing a sweatshirt to my son’s high school football games that had his name and number on the back.

7. Recording device

You don’t have to be a techno genius to record, live-stream, or use any number of apps that will allow you to track the game – either showing the action to people who can’t attend, or saving it to view later. It’s been four years since my kids finished playing college sports, and in that time, there’s been a ton of new apps (plus updates to Facebook) that give you so many options for saving memories. Take advantage of them!

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8. Other voices

When it comes to motivating kids, parents don’t always do the best job. It’s not that they give poor advice, it’s that kids often don’t take that advice to heart. Besides that, parents pushing their athletes can sometimes bring tension to their relationship. Enlist the help of coaches, trainers, teammates, and other adults to speak truth to your child.

9. A life

A life outside of youth football, that is. If your entire world is wrapped up in how many touchdowns or tackles your child gets, your world view is too small. Have other interests, and if those interests occasionally pull you away from a game, your child will survive. Show your child that there really is more to live that his sports.

10. An end game

Every sports parent should have an end game. When it’s all said and done, what do you want your children to get from their youth sports experience? When their glory days are over, what should stay with your children for life? Here’s a radical thought: It’s really not about the sport, it’s who your child becomes in the process.

If you can check all these items off on your list, then you’re ready for a positive youth sports season!

Janis B. Meredith is a life coach for sports parents. She provides resources to help parents give their children a positive and growing youth sports experience. Learn more about good sports parenting habits in her book 11 Habits for Happy & Positive Sports Parents, available on Amazon.