Peanut butter and jelly. Chocolate chip cookies and milk. FOOTBALL AND FOOD! Some things just belong together.

Because of that fact, my husband-coach and I host team tailgates following the last practice before every home game. We like to do these to encourage team bonding, for both players and parents. It also rewards everyone or a job well done during the week. Not to mention it eliminates the always dreaded question from the kids, "what’s for dinner?” Ugh.

Here are my tips for throwing an awesome tailgate:
 

• Plan ahead. This is probably my biggest tip. Don't wait until the day before. That's a sure way to end up running around like a chicken with your head cut off. About a week before, begin to plan out the menu, the location, check the weather, etc.
• Have a well-rounded, kid-friendly meal. I always start the menu planning with the "main course" in mind. Some of my favorites are hot dogs, chili, tacos and pulled BBQ sandwiches. To accompany that, I make sure we have fruit, chips, dessert and drinks.
• Make a list and have other parents to bring items. This is a must! You don't want all the work (and cost) to fall on you. The easiest way I've found to organize this is by creating a sign-up sheet. Remember to include items you may not think about like condiments, plates and napkins, utensils and trash bags! I’d also suggest sending a text or email to all volunteers a couple days ahead as a reminder.
• Look for volunteers on the day of. I contemplated grouping this tip with the previous tip, but I believe that it belongs on its own. The type of help I'm referring to here is physical help – setting the tables, serving food, picking up empty dishes, cleaning after dinner, etc. There’s no “I” in team.
• Invite everyone to be involved. I am always sure that we’ll have enough food all parties to be included, especially if everyone brings something! Remember to go beyond just players – invite their parents and siblings, the coaching staff, commissioners. Bring everyone together – the more the merrier!
• Have fun! Kick back, relax, and enjoy the time together as a football community. Listen to the team tell funny stories, watch the little siblings chase one another around, share a parent-only drink with one of your football mom besties.

This is football. Football is family.

I hope you find these tips helpful and even use some of them when throwing your next tailgate. Go team!

Vanessa Mejia is the mother of three football-playing boys, ages 15, 13 and 10, and lives in northern Virginia. Her boys play basketball, soccer and track and field. Her husband coaches football in the Fairfax County Youth Football League. She shares Team Mom ideas, tips and tricks along with other facets of her family’s life away from the football field. Read more of her work at https://confessionsofasportsmama.blogspot.com and also be sure to join her and hundreds of other football loving moms in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!