Stop Losing Balls, Cleats, Jerseys & Jackets Every Week

WGSC Lost & Found Survival Guide

A note from Doug Bambini, WGSC Club Director

If you’ve ever spent a Saturday morning tearing through the house asking, “Where are your cleats?” — you’re not alone! Between practices, games, and tournaments, soccer gear seems to grow legs and wander off on its own.

I see it every week — balls left on fields, jackets draped over benches, lonely shin guards hiding under bleachers. As a parent and a coach, I get it. But the good news is, a few small changes can save a lot of stress (and money).

Here are some easy, family-friendly habits to keep your soccer gear organized and accounted for all season long.

 1. Label Everything — Seriously

A name on a ball or water bottle works wonders.Use a permanent marker, label maker, or iron-on tags for jerseys, cleats, shin guards, and jackets.

Pro Tip: Include your player’s last name and team name (for example, Smith U11 Blue). When labeled gear turns up at the field, it always finds its way home faster.

Quick Fix: Keep a Sharpie in your car for last-minute labeling before practice.

2. Create a “Soccer Bag Zone” at Home

Designate one spot — a bin by the door, a hook in the garage, or a cubby — that’s only for soccer gear.

Teach your player that when they walk in the door, their bag goes right there. No wandering cleats. No missing shin guards. Just one home for everything.

Bonus: On game day, you’ll always know where the gear is (and so will your player!).

3. Do a 3-Minute Sideline Check

Before you leave the field, take three minutes to check:

• Ball

• Cleats

• Water bottle

• Jacket

Make it a post-game ritual — or let your player be the “gear checker” for the week.You’ll cut down on 90% of forgotten items right there on the sideline.

4. Stand Out with Color or Tape

Mark your player’s gear with a strip of bright tape, a colorful carabiner, or patterned laces. A neon stripe on a ball or bag tag helps your player instantly spot their stuff in the crowd. It’s fun for kids and saves a lot of confusion when everyone has the same gear.

5. Laundry Routine = Game Ready

Once jerseys and socks are washed, they go right back in the soccer bag — not into a dresser or laundry pile. This one change ends the “Where’s my jersey?” panic before every game. Keep an extra pair of backup socks or shin guards in the bag too — just in case.

6. Teach Responsibility (Without the Pressure)

It’s normal for players to lose a few things along the way. Instead of frustration, treat each “oops” moment as a lesson in responsibility. Soccer is full of life lessons — teamwork, effort, and yes, remembering your gear. Each week is another chance to help our kids build those good habits.

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Bonus Hack: Take a Gear Photo

At the start of the season, take a quick picture of what a fully packed soccer bag looks like. Mid-season, when something’s missing, you’ve got a visual checklist right on your phone.

 

Final Thoughts

We all juggle a lot to keep our players prepared and on time. These small, repeatable habits can take the stress out of gear management and make soccer season smoother for everyone.

Thanks for all you do to support your players — and our WGSC community. See you at the fields (and hopefully not at the lost-and-found bin)!

Doug BambiniClub Director, Webster Groves Soccer Club