Top 10 Things to Ensure You Survive a Las Vegas Tourney
...not in any particular order...
1... Purchase a portable navigation unit, or download Google Maps to your phone.
Sometimes the games are not in one central location and you never want to be late to a team meeting or practice.
2... Stay at or near the team.
This way if there are any changes you will hear about it. Also, if the team does any activities your kiddo will have an opportunity to bond with their teammates. One more thing, before the tourney is officially over there is usually a single-elimination championship; if you are closer to the team you will be able to find out where to be and when.
3... Stay at a place that has a complimentary breakfast.
This will save you money (pretty obvious) and time. Some of the games are held in the morning. If you have a particular kiddo that likes to eat at least two hours before a game, having breakfast at the hotel will ease having to run around a strange area looking for breakfast at 6:30am.
4... Keep in mind, and remind your kiddo, that the kids he/she is playing against are their same age and they are not Super Humans.
Don't freak out! These are kids, just like your kid. I can't tell you how many times before we went did I hear how my kid was going to play against kids like LJames and MJordan. The truth is if your kiddo wasn't remotely good enough the coach would not be taking them, Coaches don't like to lose.
Your child will not be facing Super Humans out on the hardwood. They are kids who are around the same age as your kiddo, and they come in many different sizes and strengths. And don't spend your time focusing on the star of the other team who has a full beard and crows feet, he is 15. Just ask his coach.
5... Check, check and check AGaIn to make sure you have packed the sneakers and uniform.
All other items can be replaced at the local Target or made do without.
6... Before leaving the hotel room check, check and check again that you have the sneakers/cleats.
Some of these games can be a distance from where you are staying and you might not be able to get back to the hotel and return to the game in time.
7... Don't stay on the strip.
Unless you love trudging through a huge lobby, and hiking to parking, stay off of the strip. Keep in mind that the daytime is different than the nighttime on the strip. As a matter of fact, if you choose to go on the strip invest in horse blinders to put on your kiddos heads and tell them not to read anything on the ground.
8... Plan on the expense of watching the tournament. Some of the tournaments can run around $12 a day per person who is not playing, and that can go for anyone 5 years and older.
I have mentioned this in a previous post, but every time we are down there I see someone who is surprised at the charge; and it can add up when you bring the entire family.
9... Mentally prepare yourself that the trip will be full of games, sleeping, prepping for games, sleeping, resting, eating, and games.
There are usually games throughout the entire day. This means you could have a game in the morning, have to go to a central location to pickup your t-shirt and watch a NCAA film, and then have a game that night. This doesn't leave much time to run to Tahoe or the Fashion Show Mall.
10... Enjoy every minute of it because this is such a short time and not everyone gets the chance to be part of a travel team.
I cannot tell you how electric these games are, it is something that has to be experienced. Your athlete gets an opportunity to play against other athletes from an entirely different region. There are college coaches and scouts, some from your kids favorite schools, sprinkled around the game sites watching for who they think will be the next big deal... Quite possibly it could be your kid.
