We know the term “soccer mom” has come to epitomise a certain type of mom usually middle-class, with school-age children, who spends time transporting them between sporting activities but if you’re the mother of a sporty child, we think we’ve found the best thing ever for sideline time!

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We love it! Imagine how cosy you’d be! And you could get all the parents to get one!

These pop up sports tents are available to buy on Amazon.co.uk (price from £89.99 at time of writing.)

15 More Handy Essentials for the Sidelines

1. Pocket handwarmers
2. Flask with warm drink (no whisky though as you’re driving!)
3. Raincoat with extra long hood to stop drips
4. Big umbrella (but not for windy days)
5. Smartphone gloves
6. Your kindle in case you don’t want to talk to other parents :)
7. A notepad and pen so you can be writing your shopping list/to do list for next week
8. Latest favourite podcast downloaded on your phone so you can listen + earbuds
9. Mobile phone battery pack to keep your mobile charged
10. Change of clothes for yourself (never mind your child!)
11. Good walking shoes or runners so you can do laps while your kids play their sport.
12. Extra water, as you can bet your kids have forgotten their drinks bottles or need an extra top up
13. Snacks x 10 or 15 as if you give something to your own child the rest of the team will be looking on hungrily!
14. Sunglasses and insect repellent for warmer days
15. A folding stool or camping chair

and 16 Reasons You Know You’re Mum to a Sporty Child

1. You spend your days ferrying them around to matches
2. You spend your evenings and weekend in cold and freezing weather on the sideline
3. You spend any spare money on footballs, boots, equipment…
4. You know the rules of the game or sport inside out, in fact you could write a book on them
5. Your car constantly smells of wet grass, wet clothes, wet wet
6. You have visited parts of the country that you never even knew existed for matches
7. Your weekend going-out outfits are no longer dresses and heels, but macs and galoshes!
8. You find yourself making 300 sandwiches after a match
9. You’re up at 4am regularly (and it’s not because you’re coming in from the disco…) to take your child to a gala or competition or match
10. You can explain what “offside” or “on the full” or “Square ball” means in 20 words or less
11. You are a regular visitor now to A&E with suspected strains, breaks, broken noses…
12. You now have a healthy stockpile of thermal underwear
13. You find yourself shouting at the referee (* blush *) as your kids look like they want to sink into the ground with embarrassment
14. You now spend more time in your car than you do in your own house
15. Your phone calendar/wall calendar/diary has more match or car pool dates than social dates
16. Your washing machine is on full time duty washing team strips / sports gear