Preparing for Summer Tennis Camp – The Essential Packing List

April 21, 2023
charley
Day Camp, Featured, Summer Camp, Tennis Equipment, Tips for Parents

If you’re anything like me, packing for a trip is always a final-hour affair. This usually results in getting to my destination, and realizing I’ve forgotten 2-3 travel essentials. Most destinations have options to purchase what’s been forgotten; however, when packing for sports camp, you don’t want to have to hunt down last-minute replacement gear because you didn’t prepare properly.

Sports camp is about making friends and learning new skills — not stressing over something you forgot to bring.

Let’s Prepare
for Tennis Camp!

Packing for adidas Tennis Camps is a lot like packing for a summer vacation with a few keys differences. Let’s state the obvious first: you’re not going to find a decent selection of tennis shoes and racquets at your local Walmart.

For this reason, whether you choose to attend a day camp, extended-day camp, overnight camp, or one of our tennis tournament trainings, it’s important that you assemble your tennis gear essentials first. If you need to purchase new items, order them far enough in advance, so you can make sure items fit well and are in working order.

Tennis Gear Essentials

Tennis Racquet. New players may borrow a camp racquet if necessary.
Tennis Clothes. Opt for moisture-wicking styles for comfort and mobility.
Tennis Shoes. Make sure you have the right style for the type of court you’ll be playing on.
Hat or Visor
Sunglasses
Athletic Socks

Don’t forget to break-in new shoes prior to the start of camp!

Preparing for Tennis Camp — **Tennis Camp Essentials**

Additional Sports Camp Gear

The following are items that are not required, but are highly recommend to make your life a little more comfortable for day or overnight camp.

A refillable water bottle. Choose one that has the largest water capacity you can manage to carry around and still fit in a refill station. Make sure to customize your bottle with your name or a unique sticker, so you don’t lose it on the sidelines.
Extra sports socks. Torn up feet and heals are no fun. You’ve got a lot of sweating to do, so make sure your feet stay dry and blister-free. Calculate at least 2 pairs of good quality tennis socks for each day of camp. Look for styles with breathable, moisture-wicking technology to keep your toes from getting cheesy.
Flip-flops. We cannot stress enough the importance of taking care of your feet. After a full day on the court, you need to help your feet air out. These can be as simple as shower shoes, or a special pair reserved for post-play. Just make sure they fit well and are comfortable.
Healthy snacks. What you eat and drink directly affects your energy level and decision making on the court. Plan to burn a lot of calories, but stay away from processed snacks with a lot of sugar. These will cause you to crash after the initial burst of energy. Bananas, blueberries, mandarin oranges, nuts, pumpkin seeds, whey protein shakes, blueberries, shelf-stable hummus, beef jerky, dried fruit (without the added sugar), and nut butter packets make great snacks on and off the court.
Sunscreen & lip balm. Tennis players are used to enduring prolonged sun exposure, but the least likely to remember to apply sunscreen regularly. Relying on a base tan is not the best course of action if you want to actually enjoy your summer sports camp experience. According to US Dermatology Partners, athletes should apply a shot glass full of sunscreen every few hours. They suggest a broad-spectrum sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 30+ that offers protection for both UVA and UVB rays. Look for a sunscreen that is also rated for 80-minutes of water resistance.
Sunglasses. More than just for looking cool, sunglasses prevent radiation damage from the sun. Too much sun exposure can affect your play by causing blind spots and chronic headaches.
Glasses and contact lenses. It’s not fun to get debris in your eyes when you’re trying to line up a serve. If you wear contact lenses, keep contact solution in your day bag for those times when eyes feel dry, along with your prescription glasses to give them a rest.
Rain jacket. We can’t always promise sunny days. Just like socks, the type of jacket you choose for rainy weather is going to decide whether you have a good day, or not-so-good one. You are going to get sweat-wet on and off the court, so make sure the rain gear you select is going to keep you dry, cool, and ready to perform. Features like cinched hoods, velcro cuffs, breathable fabrics, and zippered vents can go a long way in keeping you comfortable.
An extra pair of athletic shoes. Well-fitting tennis sneakers don’t always come easy. You spend a lot of time on your feet during a tennis match, so if you have a pair of battle-tested shoes, consider purchasing backups. This is like keeping an extra set of batteries on hand for the TV remote.
A small backpack, fanny pack, or tote bag to hold your extra gear.

Tennis Camp Essential Gear — **Prepare Your Tennis Camp Packing List**

Overnight Camp Essentials

Those lucky enough to join adidas Tennis Camps for an overnight stay will need to pack some additional items for a comfortable stay. Once you register for camp, our team will send parents a packing list, but here are a few items to get you started:

Bedding. You’ll need a pillow with pillow case, twin XL sheets, and your favorite coverlet or blanket — especially if your camp dorm has air conditioning.
A stand-up fan. This is recommended for the locations without AC in the dorm rooms. This can be a window-style box fan or a medium-sized oscillating fan.
Street clothes…. because sometimes sweats and flannel PJ bottoms are the only true comfort after a long day.
Shower shoes. Look for well-fitting, waterproof flip flops.
Toiletries. Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant/anti-perspirant, lotion, face wash, toothbrush and toothpaste, brushes and combs, contact lens solution, feminine products, hand sanitizer, razor, Neosporin, bandaids or ace wraps, and cotton balls or Q-tips. Pack only the items you need to feel clean and recovered after a full day of practice and play time. Your coaches and fellow campers will thank you.
Shower caddy. Holding toiletries with wet hands is hard. Not to mention, keeping track of your special shampoo is easier when you have everything prepared in one basket. Don’t forget to write your name on your caddy to prevent mix-ups.
Bath towel, face cloth and/or robe. If you’re picky about bone-dry towels, pack more than one.
Cell phone and charger. We used to say “alarm clock,” but most campers set a wake-up alarm on their cell phone. Chargers get easily misplaced and misidentified, so make sure you put your name on this item too. Cell phone usage is limited during the day, but mobile devices are allowed in the dorms.
Prescriptions and Supplements. Staying healthy is your number one priority.
Extra Credit. Although you can expect our summer camp to be full of fun and activities, there are times when you need to decompress and be quiet. Consider bringing a book, headphones, handheld games, cards, or other travel games to share with friends.

If it’s not attached to you, PUT A NAME ON IT!

Campers have a habit of leaving things in other kids rooms, the locker room, the courts, the bathrooms, the common rooms, and the dining hall. Labels are lifesavers.

**Start planning now for an awesome summer of tennis fun.**

Still Have Questions?

Properly prepared campers are happy campers. If your child or teen is looking for a fun and challenging sports camp, register now for summer tennis camp at one of our locations across the United States.