Any seasoned football mums here?

[itsthewheeloffortune]

My sons have both started doing football in the spring of this year, they love it and I can see it continuing for a while.
Yesterday was the first proper freezing morning we've had and by the time the session had finished I was frozen to the bone and quite uncomfortable.

Are any of you professionals at this and have any tips to keep warm, or just warmer than freezing?
I don't see how I am going to get through the winter at this rate 😩

Flask of tea, hat scarf and gloves, warm coat and layers. Also keep your feet warm - I have sheepskin liners for my shoes and they are a game changer!
If there’s any sun make sure you stand in it rather than the shade.
Ultimately though you will be cold until spring!!!

second making sure your feet are warm and dry - thick soled boots. I had thermal socks (M&S i think) and thermal leggings (cheap mens ones from peacocks). Sure lots of places do these though. Long down coat if dry (lands end do loads) and waterproof coat and waterproof overtrousers for rain. And hat, gloves and flask of coffee of course.

I have a huge flask of hot chocolate for him - one with a lid that turns into a cup.
I have fleece lined wellies. Thick socks. Huge jumper and thick water proof coat with a hood on. I have a hot water bottle filled up and stick it under my coat on mornings like yesterday - they I have a thick towel over the car seat - I give the hot water bottle to him when he gets in the car and sometimes a second cup of hot chocolate. Spare towels is good. Trainers are in a separate bag and then go on before he goes into the car and dirty football boots into a dog poo(empty) bag which is biodegradable. Straight in utility sink and washed with boot buddy and then to dry. I have an umbrella with a strap on to carry and normal hat gloves and scarf - I also have little hand warmers for the really cold days.

On cold day I find he needs sugar and liquid. So sometimes a combination of water and sometimes hot chocolate.

I have a thermos mug of tea for me in my pocket.

Home and football
Kit straight in wash, boots in sick and he has a bath (not shower) to warm him through - sometimes I even have a blanket in the car if it is icy tucked inside a hot water bottle. Mine has mild joint paint but really prone to infections and ear ache - so far it’s working!!nice warm breakfast and multivitamin and vitamin d daily too!

Most important is the feet. Make sure you have proper winter boots, thick soles, lining, waterproof. Else proper hiking boots with winter walking socks.
Merino/thermal underwear.
Layers. I prefer woollen, T-shirt, jumper, gilet, then fleece and long wind proof coat. Scarf, gloves and hat.
Flask of tea.
You'll be fine for the first 30-40 minutes!

Move around leave and come back if you can.

Hot water bottle
Long coat
Blanket
Hot drinks
Coins for tea hut, please buy a cuppa at the ground!

Been doing it for 15 years. Trips get longer. 140 mile round trip for me today to watch DC play.

Sit in the car.

I’d highly recommend Sorel boots - wish I’d have found them years earlier! I have poor circulation, and they are the only thing that keep my feet warm in winter!

Big boots (I've got my dog walking river boots). This is the important one! Wellies are too cold.

I have a thin running jacket I can put under a coat for extra warmth without bulk or sweat.

Sunglasses (even when it's freezing it's often bright)

I have wide brimmed hat or a bobble hat. The wide brimmed is the business for rain.

Long jacket, wax or puffa

Silk gloves (so you can go on your phone / take pictures)

Overall, I like the knee boots, big coat, hat and sunglasses look. I try not to load up on tea and coffee - sometimes there are no facilities!

On the rare occasions I go to any of DS’s sports I get coffee in the clubhouse with one of the other parents and emerge occasionally to wave. Other people stand on sheets of thick cardboard or jog up and down the touch line in exercise gear, combining a workout with technically being there to watch. One woman does the Irish Times crossword in her car. There’s a large, good looking Maori man at one sport that I thought got a lot of female attention because he’s gorgeous, but I realised after I fell into conversation with him that he’s so big and broad, he’s a lovely windshield, and if he had a face like a robber’s dog, he’d still be popular.

So, my advice is either sit in the clubhouse with coffee and your friends, or dress warmly and find a big, tall, fellow parent, preferably in a big puffy coat, to stand downwind of.

Sit in the car and listen to radio 4.

lighthearted

Sit in the car, that's what I did, I HATED being a football mum, and I hated all those other screaming mothers "gooooo-awwwwn Luke" even more. Shudders.

Just hope they go off it, like mine did, then he moved to rugby and his dad took him.

Did it with 2 boys, often one match followed by another. Thermals for them and you. Proper walking boots for you, my Best Buy! And a woolly hat.
I miss it now! 23 year old has just left for his game but his girlfriend has gone to watch!
Enjoy it while it lasts

@SpeakingFranglais

lighthearted

Sit in the car, that's what I did, I HATED being a football mum, and I hated all those other screaming mothers "gooooo-awwwwn Luke" even more. Shudders.

Just hope they go off it, like mine did, then he moved to rugby and his dad took him.

I’m with you. Sideline martyrdom is optional.

Plastic Box in Boot of Car holds towels, blankets, coats (long padded and long waterproof), usually have jeggings, vest top, jumper, gloves, scarf, hat, thick socks, long boots then coat over.

Loving the hot water bottle idea.

Nope!
Ds1 played for years. Now Ds2 had been playing for years. I think people underestimate what a commitment it is : every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Not for the faint hearted !

I’m not a football Mum but I am a ski Mum. Last year there was lots of standing around on ski slopes waiting for the boys to finish their lessons each weekend.

Both DH and I wore 2 pairs of socks; normal cotton ones then wool ones over the top. I have Emu Australia waterproof sheepskin boots and DH Sorrel snow boots. Salopettes (slim-fit ones in black that look more like trousers). Thermal base layer, followed by a woolly jumper or fleece and Canada Goose coat. Hat, scarf, gloves obviously. Sunglasses.

We also either took our own hot chocolate or bought some.

Normal thermal vest legging etc but a thick warm hat that goes right down over your ears is essential

I remember it well. You can get heated body warmers and battery operated socks and gloves. Might be worth a look on Amazon. I used to use hand warmers inside my gloves.

@Verfremdungseffekt
On the rare occasions I go to any of DS’s sports I get coffee in the clubhouse with one of the other parents and emerge occasionally to wave.

😂😂😂😂

These are all great suggestions, thank you.

Unfortunately we don't have a clubhouse at our pitch but I will most definitely be taking advantage on away games 😉

I need to get some proper boots I think, I was just in trainers yesterday and I agree that keeping the feet warm is the most important.
I've had bells palsy twice and although 99% recovered, when it's freezing, that side of my face freezes and it's horrible and uncomfortable but I don't think anything other than a balaclava could help that and it may look odd.

Yes to sitting in the car, I have done this at training when it's been hammering down but when my 7 year old is playing too I can't really leave him, I usually try and convince them to not go when it's tipping down 🤭 but there's always one who has to be difficult and wants to go

I am off to amazon to search for some of these suggestions, anything to make it more bearable I will buy.

Yep 10+ years on the sideline here. Trainers definitely not enough - feet and head are the most important bits I think. Everything must be waterproof. So proper waterproof (not just shower resistant) walking boots, big down waterproof coat and waterproof trousers for the really bad days. Thermal layers. Mittens better than gloves for keeping hands warm I find.

You can't just not turn up if it's pissing it down! Football Happens regardless unless the pitch is frozen. Yes it's bloody miserable but unfortunately my kids seem to like it.

Dh is now coaching both kids' teams which is a massive result for me because I never have to take them. Strongly recommend as a solution.

On truly icy days I used to have a hot water bottle stuffed up my jumper....none of this heated clobber business back then mind....

When I say not go... I mean to a training session.
My 7 year old isn't in an official team it's just training and the odd friendly game and my oldest boy is in a team but they have a couple too many players so he doesn't do every match.. it's fine, the coaches don't mind us missing a training session if he isn't in the game on the Sunday.
I wouldn't dream of just not showing up to a match or session before one.

I use my hot water bottle a lot so I will definitely be tucking that in my coat - can't believe I hadn't thought to do that myself.

Merino baselayers
Dryrobe
Sorrel boots
Sheepskin liners

Liftsharing!

i'm not sure what they are called and if they still do them, but one of my kids bought me this big scarf thing that also doubles as a hat.....its a big circular loop like a scarf sewn together at the ends. that would be worth investigating as you could wear a hat and then cover your face up too. its what i did when super cold.......its pretty warm at the moment.