What I Keep on Hand as a Coach + Former Cheerleader

Cheer bags are basically little emergency kits disguised as backpacks.

If you have been around cheer for any amount of time, you already know something is always happening. A bow breaks, someone needs tape, someone forgot deodorant, a shoe is rubbing, a ponytail is falling out, somebody needs a snack, and somehow no one has a hair tie.

So whether you are a cheerleader, a coach, or a cheer mom trying to keep everyone alive through a long game or competition day, these are the things I think are actually worth having in your bag.

Hair Stuff. Always.

This is probably obvious, but you can never have too many hair ties. I keep extras because somebody always needs one, and somehow the girls who bring six bows will still forget a ponytail holder.

A few things I like to have:

Hair ties
Bobby pins
Small clear elastics
Hair spray
A brush or comb
Extra bow

Always an extra bow because someone will forget theirs!

Athletic Tape + Basic First Aid

I am not trying to turn my cheer bag into a medical clinic, but I do like having the basics nearby. Having a ready to go kit is helpful. I never leave home without Active Repair, in our house we call it the magic spray because it works on everything!

Athletic tape
Bandages
Blister bandages
Alcohol wipes
Instant ice pack
Pain reliever
Hand sanitizer

For coaches, I think an instant ice pack is one of those things you do not think about until you desperately need one.

Snacks

Cheer days can be LONG.

Games, competitions and events somehow manage to fall right across normal meal times, so I always think having something easy in your bag is smart.

Protein bar
Granola bar
Fruit snacks
Jerky
Crackers
Something with a little sugar for a quick boost

Nothing complicated. Just enough so nobody is trying to stunt after surviving on half a Starbucks drink all day.

Water + Electrolytes

This is a big one for me.

Especially in Florida, we need all the hydration we can get.

I always want water nearby, and I like keeping my favorite electrolyte packets in my bag too. They barely take up any space and are easy to add to a water bottle when someone needs a little extra hydration. I love the CURE brand or Just Ingredients.

Deodorant

This deserves its own section.

Cheerleaders, coaches, cheer moms, literally everyone.

Bring deodorant.

That is all.

I have been bouncing around brands, so I dont have one I love for more than a few weeks. Currently using Schmidts, I’ll let you know how I like it in a few weeks.

Lipstick + Makeup

This obviously depends on the age group, but when it’s performance time, we usually need a little mascara and a bright red lip.

I do pay attention to ingredients, especially with lipstick since it’s something you’re putting directly on your lips and inevitably ingesting a little bit of throughout the day. Some lip products can contain heavy metals, so I personally prefer cleaner formulas when I can find them.

I like this brand for a cleaner option that still gives you that good performance red.

Charger or Portable Battery

Cheer days are notorious for killing your phone battery.

Between videos, pictures, group texts, music and figuring out where everyone is supposed to be, your phone somehow goes from 80% to 6% in approximately an hour.

I always like having a portable charger with me. Nothing is more annoying then low battery when its Awards time.

Gum for me, Mints for them

Not technically a cheer necessity.

But after coffee, snacks and six hours in a gym? Necessary. We all know gum is a no no for cheerleaders, so mints ftw. Nothing beats a good spearmint hard candy, but also, those strawberry hard candies your grandma always had? My fave! lol

A Few Coach Extras

If you are coaching, I would add a few things the athletes probably do not need to worry about.

Sharpie
Pen
Small notebook
Printed roster
Competition schedule
Portable speaker
Phone charger
Zip ties
Scissors

Extra uniform (if possible) extra poms and extra music file. Always.

What I Would Skip

I do not think you need to carry your entire bathroom cabinet around.

The goal is really to have the things that solve the most common problems without making your bag weigh 40 pounds.

If I had to narrow it down to my absolute essentials, I would say:

Hair ties
Bobby pins
Hair spray
Athletic tape
Bandaids
Deodorant
Water
Electrolytes
Snacks
Safety pins
Portable charger

That little list covers a lot.

Cheer has a funny way of teaching you to prepare for everything, and after enough games, competitions and practices, you start to figure out which things actually save the day. And somehow, no matter how prepared you are, someone will still ask:

“Coach...do you have a hair tie?”