✨Youth Sports Holiday Gifts That Keep on Giving ✨
It's our inaugural Good Game Gift Guide featuring gift ideas that (just might) have your athlete thanking you in the long-run. Even if they don't know it yet.
Try saying Good Game Gift Guide five times fast. Not easy. Neither is trying to find meaningful gifts for the young athlete that seemingly has it all, even if that don’t realize it. My kids’ combined holiday wish list includes a few reasonable asks but also the latest ‘best’ bat ever, a personalized glove, 49ers tickets, an Mbappe jersey (authentic preferred), Victor Wembanyama attending the older one’s Bar Mitzvah … with his new Nike shoes in hand. The list goes on and becomes even more cringe-worthy when we do the math on how much we’ve spent this year so our kids can play the sports they love. It’s a terrifying exercise but one I highly recommended.
Then again, most youth athletes that I know work really hard. Bonus points for the kids crushing it in school or at least trying. Hopefully the work ethic aspect of youth sports has already seeped in or is in progress for the youngest athletes. So yes, spoil away if you want - I’m not trying to be too Scrooge-y here. But for those seeking sports-related gift ideas that may sneak in some longer-term values, I do have an array of suggestions. Please note that all of these recommendations have been carefully curated by me, and Good Game is not receiving any commission.
For athletes who could use some inspiration: ‘Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youth to Become Stars’ by Gregory Zuckerman
I could not buy this book fast enough. Seriously. Former USMNT keeper Tim Howard overcoming Tourette’s. Steph Curry overcoming all the heightists out there. These are real-life digestible stories guaranteed to give any youth athlete perspective. And many kids out there will find extra comfort relating to the challenges these players faced.
Ages 9-12 recommended (But good for any age) | $9.99
For the athlete who idolizes the pros: $$$ (Amount TBD by parents)
Wait, don’t scoff. Let me explain. Both my kids play in a fantasy football league and a few years ago the league instituted a rule that a small portion of the champion’s winnings would go to a player’s charity - usually one of the players that catapulted them to victory. I’d love to say my kids drummed this idea but in actuality I stole it from NFL writer, Michael Gehlken.
So my older kid wins a few years ago and sends $20 to then Viking RB Dalvin Cook’s Viking Table charity, a pop up food truck that served meals to local children with food insecurities. A month later my kid got a thank you note on official Vikings stationary that said something to the effect of, “On behalf of Dalvin Cook, thank you for your contribution.” My son couldn’t care less that it wasn’t written by Cook; he was just thrilled to have his little deed acknowledged.
Whoever your kid looks up is surely involved in some charitable cause. Giving your kid $10 or $20, plus the autonomy to seek out this info and then donate, will make their connection even stronger. Now they’ll idolize the off field aspect of their favorite athlete, too.
All Ages | Cost TBD
For the athlete who needs some positive vibes: Mental health stickers
I LOVE everything about these. The aesthetic is super cute and the messaging is divine. I especially love It’s ok not to be ok. Hopefully our kids will plaster these stickers on their helmets, water bottles, electronic devices, and maybe give a couple to some teammates who are struggling.
All Ages | $20
For the football player/lover who doesn’t have the best aim: An important message
Ok, so this is a different kind of long-term gift. My only wish is that they had included putting the toilet seat down. But seriously, there is no age too young to learn this important piece of etiquette.
All Ages | $43.57
For the aspiring collegiate athlete: Looking For a FULL RIDE? by Renee Lopez
Renee Lopez’s seminal book is mandatory for anyone looking to play sports in college, be it at any level from D1 to JUCO (junior college). The title is a bit misleading as the majority of athletes don’t get a full ride but her advice is priceless nonetheless. While clearly the book is useful for parents, it’s even more essential for the athlete as Lopez has designed an easy-to-follow specific game plan for navigating a complicated system, including when and how to contact coaches.
Lopez has an equally informative Facebook page where parents can ask her direct questions. A loooot of parents are posting their kids’ commitments these days - and crediting the book for its helpful advice.
Ages 13-18, plus parents | $34
For the overtrained athlete: Massage gun
To alleviate muscle tension, professional and college athletes get regular massages. This professional muscle manipulation can reduce stiffness, increase blood flow, and decrease muscle soreness, and improve improve flexibility. If you’re like me and not sending your child to a masseuse any time soon, a massage gun is a great alternative. As advised by Leada Malek, a San Francisco-based sports physical therapist, you can use the massage gun to loosen up tight muscles before practice and to speed up the recovery process after. To use, Malek says to add pressure as tolerated, but not too aggressively. Then stay in one spot for up to 15 seconds or sweep an area for 2 minutes.
As for which massage gun to get, well, there are a variety of price points depending on the features and aesthetic you’re seeking. Here’s a highly rated option on Amazon that is relatively affordable.
Ages 10+ with some parental supervision | $59.99+
For the kid wanting to learn the basics of football (or the parent wanting their kid to learn the basics): Future Fans
I have to admit I had no idea what Future Fans was when I first received it a few months ago. A game? A book? A box full of fun football props? Turns out it’s all of the above and more. Billed as A family experience in a box to learn football together, Future Fans it’s an immersive experience rooted in an intricate story about a group of campers who decide to learn football (reading - hello educational!). There are various chapters and most come with tangible activities. For example, there’s a ring toss game that helps reinforce the notion of four downs. There are plenty of other surprises in the box, too. Perhaps this will be the first step in your kid’s upcoming Hall of Fame NFL career. At the very least a kid who knows the basics should make for a more fun couch potato companion during football season. It’s all about family bonding, right?
Ages 4-10, plus parents | $59.99
For the athlete who wants to document their youth sports journey: Personalized sports journal
A journal. A diary. Call it what you want. The kid might not do a happy dance upon seeing it but if they update it on a regular basis with recaps, accomplishments, struggles, dreams, etc, it will be a priceless gem when they finish playing. Start them off with a few writing prompts if they aren’t natural writers. This really is the ultimate ‘you’ll thank me’ later gift.
All Ages | Price Varies