Organizing Team Gear: How To Keep Group Uniforms, Pom Poms, And Accessories Tidy
Being part of a team is an important part of healthy development for kids. Studies show that participating in groups such as cheerleading, competitive sports, and clubs helps kids learn to better interact with peers, experience both wins and losses, work out differences, and more. But these fun and healthy activities present some fairly serious organizational challenges for parents and coaches who keep team gear at home.
Between items such as uniforms, shoes, hair and makeup accessories, and cheer poms, it’s important to get a handle on it so things don’t — literally — start piling up! When you learn to successfully corral everything, you’ll be able to happily take advantage of extra gear and cheer uniforms for sale without worrying about where you’ll store it all once you get home.
Start With a Defined Drop Zone
Choose one space in the house where all team gear will live. That might be a spot near the entryway, a corner of a bedroom, or a section of the laundry room. Keep it small and clearly defined. Use a basket for each child, a set of labeled hooks, or even a cube organizer with bins. Once that zone is in place, it becomes the go-to spot for uniforms, practice clothes, and accessories — no more gear drifting across every room.
Use Clear Storage and Simple Labels
Uniforms and cheer gear tend to include small parts that are easy to lose: bows, socks, hair ties, safety pins. Use clear plastic bins or drawers so you can see what’s inside without digging. Create broad categories such as “Uniform Pieces,” “Shoes,” or “Extras,” and label each one. The goal is quick access and low effort, especially for those many times when you’re heading out the door and don’t have time to hunt for the right socks.
Make Hanging Space Work Harder
Uniforms stay in better shape, and less wrinkly, when hung up, and that also keeps them out of piles. If you’re tight on closet space, consider a hanging rack behind a door or a tension rod in an unused nook. Assign a hanger for each event type (practice, competition, or game day) and keep those outfits laundered, rotated, and ready.
Make a “Go Bag”
Scrambling should take place on the sports field, not in the kitchen. Get your team player their own large “go bag” and stock it with event-day essentials. This would be all the things that your busy child goes looking for at the last minute. Think extra hair ties, safety pins, snacks, and backup uniforms, cheer poms, socks, mouth guards, etc. For extra points, take it a step further and print a checklist and tuck it inside the bag’s front pocket. After each event, restock what’s missing. This small step prevents last-minute rushing.
Reset Weekly to Avoid Pileups
At the end of each week, take 10 minutes to reset the system. Toss dirty items in the wash, put everything back in its labeled place, and clear out any items that snuck into the wrong bin. A weekly reset is more manageable than waiting for the clutter to take over. If kids are old enough, involve them in the process. They’ll be more likely to stick with the system if they help maintain it.
Rotate Seasonally
Once the season wraps up, pack away the gear in a labeled bin. Include everything from uniforms to bows so you’re not digging through offseason items when the next activity starts. Store the bin somewhere accessible, like a closet shelf or under a bed. When the next season begins, you’ll know exactly where to find what you need and what still fits.
A Little Structure Saves a Lot of Stress
Organizing team gear doesn’t require fancy containers or a full closet makeover. It just needs a simple structure that everyone in the household can follow. When uniforms have a place, accessories are easy to grab, and bags are prepped in advance, daily routines run smoother and faster, relieving stress and the need to try and save time getting there in the car or racing onto the field.
Not only will your home feel more organized, but your child will feel more confident heading into practices and events knowing exactly where everything is and that they have all their essentials on hand. And that’s a win for your team!
AUTHOR BIO: Jennifer Cronin is Vice President of Cheerleading Company, Inc., a Dallas-based manufacturer and retailer of custom cheerleading and dance uniforms, apparel, and accessories. With more than 25 years of tenure, Cronin oversees all facets of the company with a customer-centric approach.
Sources:
https://www.varsity.com/news/benefits-of-cheer/
