Going to a high school football game is a tradition in many Alabama towns. Cheering on the local high school kids can be so much fun! But if you aren’t prepared, your game experience can be stressful, whether you have kids sitting with you or kids on the field. It can be even more stressful when your team in the playoffs. Here are some of the tips I have picked up as a band booster mom with an elementary schooler.
Eat Before You Go
You will not have a fun time if you arrive starving. We eat a snack even if we plan to eat dinner at the game. Don’t arrive hangry! Somehow things just go badly whenever we do. Maybe it is Murphy’s Law. Maybe it is low blood sugar. I don’t know. I just know arriving hangry starts the game off on a bad note, if not a meltdown.
Know Before You Go
Check social media, Max Preps, and the website of the school you are visiting. Some schools play at a stadium that isn’t on the high school property. Leeds High School has their stadium at the middle school. The stadiums for Sylacauga High School and Prattville High School are both off-site, too. Ramsey and other Birmingham City Schools often play at Legion Field for post-season play. I have ended up at the wrong location before, and it’s a hassle.
Additionally, know the bag policy for the place you are heading. Some schools will let you carry in almost anything. Others have a clear bag or limited bag size policy. I have even seen some schools allow a stadium seat and blanket but not a backpack. It is no fun to hike back to the car with stuff you can’t carry in. My sweet husband has done it for me before.
Parking and Tickets
Some schools include parking in the ticket price. Some will require cash for parking, and $5 is the typical rate (at least with 5A schools on the east side of Birmingham). I generally keep a $20 in my car just in case. I know firsthand that it is not fun to go find an ATM in order to park.
If you have mobility issues or need to take advantage of parking close to the stadium for other reasons, you need to arrive early. I would recommend arriving around 1 hour early for handicap spots. Many of the stadiums will sell out of parking for big games, and handicap parking sells out so fast! Showing up early makes all the difference when it comes to accommodations both inside and outside of the stadium.
Some schools will allow you to pay for your ticket at the gate with cash or card. Some schools will only allow you to pre-buy your tickets online through GoFan, and post season tickets will be exclusively sold on GoFan. Also, some of the more rural stadiums have no wi-fi and poor cell phone coverage, so it is best to have a screen shot of your GoFan tickets when attending these games.
Watch ALL The Events
At most high school football games there is a lot more going on than just football. Some schools play Taps and lower the flag to honor veterans. Some schools will have other presentations that are part of their school tradition. There will be band half-time shows. There may be cheer or dance shows before or after the game. All of the students worked hard to make the evening a grand experience, and you don’t want to miss a minute of it! Also, as a band mom, it makes me happy when all of the kids who participate in game night get the respect of the crowd.
Concessions
Some schools in our region offer full dinner and snack options easily accessible to both home and away fans. A few offer a full menu for the home stands but only limited offerings for the away stands. Some schools take Venmo, Cash App and credit cards, and others are cash only. Bringing cash, just in case, is a great idea. Also, social media might give you a clue as to the food offerings.
Most concession stands (and parking lots, for that matter) are run by parent and student volunteers. They are working as hard and fast as they can. As free volunteers, they don’t need fans with bad attitudes. I have seen resource officers and local jurisdiction officers remove people who yell at or use profanity with concessions and parking workers. Don’t be that guy.
Some schools will close the concession stand during the fourth quarter. You can ask around when you get there. When we are counting on concessions, we make our purchases before the start of the fourth quarter.
Kids In Tow
If you are bringing elementary aged kids (or younger) to the game, planning ahead will mean they will have fun (and not drive you insane). First things first, give them a budget and time-frame for concessions before you walk-in. They will ask a million times for all the purchases if you don’t set their expectations. Also, do not go to the concession stand during half-time. The lines are generally the longest then, and we all know how little kids do with long lines. I find having concession time in the third quarter, after band and cheer kids have visited, to be a great way to occupy my kiddo at the end of the game.
Bring things to occupy your kids during the game. Mini poms or shakers can help a kid be engaged and cheer. Some lap activities like a sketch pad and colored pencils can be great. You can sit with other families so the kids can interact with each other. You might bring a tablet and save it for the fourth quarter. You can also sit near the band and cheerleaders; they are fun for kids to watch in addition to the game. I try to make sure my youngest can hang out with his friends and have some electronics time at the end.
One thing to bear in mind is that most stadiums will not let you leave the game and re-enter without purchasing another ticket. So, make sure to bring in everything your kid needs.
Favorite items
I generally volunteer at the games, so I find having a dedicated game night backpack to be helpful. That way I don’t have to repack and rethink each week. I just grab it and go. Here are some of my game night favorites:
- Sunglasses: Sunset glare reflecting off metal equals a migraine for me, so sunglasses are a must have.
- A Stadium Seat: My over-40 back needs a little more support than the cement stadium seats give.
- Rain Ponchos: We have been caught in some unexpected downpours. They also give me a lot more rain protection than just a rain jacket.
- Hat & Small Umbrella: You can leave these out if you aren’t expecting rain. I find that wearing a ball cap under the hood of my poncho or rain jacket really helps to keep the rain out of my face. These are also helpful for those stadiums that catch a lot of evening sun.
- Hand Warmers & a Pullover: As we get deeper into the fall, the air will get cold near the end of the game. Post season games may be cold the whole time. I can layer a pullover under a coat. I stick hand warmers in my coat pockets. I have even worn a Thermacare Heat Wrap during an extremely cold game. A friend of mine wears a heated vest that she found on Amazon.
- Travel-Size Sunscreen: Some games might be quite sunny at the start. I usually just apply this at home, but it can be handy to have on hand.
- Lip Balm: I reach for mine during so many games, both hot and cold.
- Travel Wet Wipes & Hand Sanitizer: If your family gets nachos, a juicy burger or hot dog, you won’t regret those wipes! Also, there have been a couple of times that, due to renovation or maintenance, the sinks were not operational in some of the stadium bathrooms. I have been so thankful for hand sanitizer many times.
- First Aid Kit: A kit with a few bandages, some Tylenol, and some antibiotic ointment is a good start. I have dealt with scraped knees and headaches. Some feminine products and cough drops are a nice bonus. If you have someone with you who struggles with low blood sugar, it would be good to bring some hard candy or glucose tablets. I have a chronic medical condition, so I bring my symptom control medications. If you use asthma inhalers, migraine medications, etc., you will want to have those on hand. And, generally, even the stadiums with the strictest of bag policies make medical allowances.
- Fully-Charged Electronics: I don’t like it when my phone dies before the end of the game, and my kiddo feels the same way about whatever electronic he gets to bring. You can also bring a fully-charged power bank if you’re concerned about your electronics dying.
