Washing the whole team kit

[PurpleBirch]

DS has joined a new rugby team and they have a very organised WhatsApp including a rota of all the parents’ jobs. Fair enough, I’m very happy to participate mannjngbyhe car park, cooking food for after etc. This includes taking turns to wash the whole team shirts. Is it just me or does it seem a bit silly to take home 20 dirty teenage size shirts to wash and dry instead of each taking their own and wearing them to the match the following week?

There are more than enough shirts per player. It’s our turn in a couple of weeks and I’m already hoping for good weather!

I want to question the logic but DH thinks just do it and don’t rock the boat.

Do any of your DC teams do this?

I used to wash the strips every week for my sons football team. If the kids take their shirts away there is a massive headache with shirts being lost. Washed too hot, dyed by other garments, shrunk etc. If a kid leaves they often keep the shirt which equals more cost to the club. It definitely works better if they get their strip in match day and stick it in the wash bag afterwards.

This is the way.

Sounds like a pain! Does anyone have enough airers and space in their houses to get all the kit hung up to dry? And what about in the winter when it's cold and difficult getting anything dry anyway?

This. A small amount of effort for one time per season. All part of having a child in a team

Let DH and DC sort it. Not a default female job.

I see the logic. 20 is quite a lot though, more than one load

My DH coaches my DSs football team and washes the strips every week. It’s a pain but they disappear/get lost otherwise

Normal for rugby as the shirts are numbered according to position. Depending on availability and performance DS has played 9, 10 and 15 or been on the bench. Not like football where it can be any number.

DS should be the one doing this washing btw.... (naturally under the supervision of DH if needs be)

Grateful that my boy does football. He has a training kit and a match day kit and we are responsible for washing that ourselves. We have never forgotten to wear it…!

Don’t question it as per DH suggestion and let him do it 👍

When I was at school 25+ years ago the Home Ec dept washed the senior boys rugby kit- no such luxury for the younger boys or the girls hockey though!

When I played football at uni the player of the match had to take all the kit home to wash.

in my DS football team the coach does all the washing of the match kits (we only own his training kit), and it’s the same in his rugby team.

This was quite normal in both girls and boys teams in our club when mine were playing. The idea was that the players would take it in turns to have the responsiblity of washing and drying the shirts so if they were still mucky/stinky the next game, the player would get the penalty. However most parents couldn't cope with the hassle of damp and dirty shirts hanging around for days so did it for the players. Top tip - if you do it on the Sunday afternoon whilst they are still damp and dirty, and use twice the recommended amount of powder/liquid and wash at 40 (or 50 if you're brave) then its much easier to get them clean.

Drop off at a launderette as their drums are larger and mud and debris won't wreck your machine and the dryers are huge and fantastic.

Or wash at home and just use the launderette to dry them.

It it's daft and surely more costly for the parent.

2 football players(1 cricket too) everyone washes their own kit and turns up at the next match wearing it. And all opposition seem to do the sameWhy would it go missing?
When my husnband coached a youth team (16+) he did bring the kit home - for him to wash. Maybe more a thing at a certain level when players shower and change after a match?

Take to local launderette for a service wash.

Is this feasable in ladies and girls sport if at a level whereo changing rooms sre not available every week. If not cold enough for base layers where do they strip down to thier bras?

We used to have a lot of difficulty with kids leaving the club and keeping their top as a souvenir

But they didn't realise that the supplier changed their tops from time to time, so we ended up with (a) a team with mis-matching strips as the old strips couldn't be replaced or (b) having to replace kit for the whole team unnecessarily, because 4 strips had gone astray

Far easier to have a rota for washing them, as it keeps the strips together

At our club, the girls wear match strip over their training tops

where do you think? In the loo, in their car, facing a bush so you only see the back? Of all the non-issues 😂

When you are soaking wet, you remove the base layers too, it's freezing, and no parent wants a soggy or muddy player in the car anyway.

Girls AND BOYS get rid of wet shorts/ skins...

Just take the full kit to the laundrette to get it washed and dried, it's what most parents do. Or players when we are talking about adult kits.

I'd 'rock the boat' on this one but I'd take my turn so I don't owe anyone. I'm not sure I'd question the logic but I'd just say after your turn that you found it a bit restrictive/of a responsibility....I mean to start with it assumes you have transport to take and return the kits. It also assumes you have time/capacity to do it. Don't dis their system, just say it doesn't work for you and you're opting out. Let the others come to their own conclusion, don't advise. Pretty sure there's no advantage to this.....well not that I can see.

I'm with others on this one. If your DH thinks it isn't an issue, then he can jolly well get on with it then, and your DS can assist. Domestic appliances work just as well when operated by someone with a penis.

Here everyone washes their own. I'm not sure how it works otherwise with people with skin allergies? We can't use any laundry powder/detergent. I'd feel a bit awkward dictating what others should use.