Gear Up For Game Day

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by DOLE.

 We are a big soccer family, both my boys play competitive travel soccer.  You don’t really realize how crazy your schedule is going to be until you start sports at this level.  We are on the go every night of the week, someone either has practice or a game and there are many weekends full of tournaments that take up both days.

Trying to stay organized, remember where to be, have everyone fed on time and have all their gear isn’t always easy.  I try to have our meals planned and ready, snacks in the bags and water bottles filled so we don’t end up eating on the go.

DOLE Fruit Squish’ems is one of my little guys favorite snacks and they have partnered with two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner and mom, Brandi Chastain and the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) to help soccer families across the country gear up for game days.  They make having snacks on hand for my soccer guys easy.  I love that!

DOLE Fruit Squish’ems are a convenient snack that helps families like ours be at the top of their game for every match, whether it’s playing or on the sidelines cheering!  There are three delicious flavors: Apple, Apple Mixed berry and Apple Strawberry.  My guys love the Apple Strawberry and at $2.79 a package it’s an affordable snack.

Here are a few tips from Brandi on how to be ready for game day, I need to remember these for our next games and practice.

Brandi’s Game Day Great Tips

• Kids learn to be a good sport just as much from the sideline and stands as on the field, so teach them by example to always be respectful to everyone on the field, offer encouragement, and be gracious whether you win or lose.
• It’s important to be both physically and mentally prepared for game day. I always make sure my son has a good, nutritious meal the night before the game and encourage him to practice visualizing making great plays. When you’ve already imagined them happening, they’re that much easier to recreate on the field!
• Practice does more than pay off on the field. It teaches us the importance of going out there and earning what we get. So always try to encourage your children and be supportive when they’re putting in that extra effort to practice and improve!
• It’s easy for things to get lost in the shuffle of crazy game days so always pack extra socks and an extra pair of cleats (if you have them)!

 Dole Fruit Squish’ems is also inviting Moms and Dads across the nation to share their own game day tips through their Game Day Great Facebook contest at GameDayGreat.com for a chance to win %5,000 and a season’s supply of DOLE Fruit Squish’ems for their kids league.  How cool is that?  The players would love you when you showed up every game with snacks for everyone!  You can find more information on their Facebook page.

Disclaimer: I am part of the Mom It Forward blogger network. Mom It Forward and DOLEpartnered in support of this campaign. Dole compensated me for participation in this campaign. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.