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When you belong to a sports team you know that everyone has to pitch in and carry the gear. Basketball bags are one great way to stay organized and make sure that the balls used for practice won’t get dirty or dinged up on the trip. Most ball bags are very simple, with a zip pouch container for the ball itself and a sling strap to carry, but some even have features like a handy mesh side pocket to hold a water bottle or two as well.

Traveling isn’t the only time you can use a basketball bag. If you play a lot of games on a local, neighborhood court, it is convenient as well. Hang it by the door and it is ready to go when the call comes that a game is on. The bag is also an excellent pick for children and teens, allowing them two free hands and helping to insure that the ball doesn’t get lost or mixed up with someone else’s at the end of practice.

These bags don’t have to be totally reserved for basketballs either; they have multi-purpose function. They can double as a simple carrier for a bag lunch if you are going on a picnic or as an away bag for your child if they are staying overnight at someone’s house.

Got a child playing football? Then this bag is perfect. The Sport Saq Grid Saq Jr is a football backpack with a unique ball compartment for youth footballs. The bag also features a ventilated shoe compartment, an insulated drink/sports bottle holder, a padded mp3 player pocket, a helmet and shoulder pad fastening system, padded shoulder straps, and an extra removable pocket great for mouth guards, keys, or a cell phone.

Whether they’re headed to a game or practice, this bag has everything needed to carry all gear and accessories conveniently and comfortably.

There are a few different types of volleyball bags out there that might be useful to the player, depending on what they need and where they play. Here is a breakdown on some of the choices to help you decide which one might be right for you or your team:

• Tournament ball bags. These large mesh bags hold multiple balls (typically in the 10 to 15 range), have reinforced bottoms and sturdy handles for easy carrying. Perfect for teams that travel a lot or even just for keeping them all in one spot at someone’s house.
• Backpack-style bags. These bags cinch at the top with a drawstring and have straps so they can be worn “backpack style” for easy transport. They hold somewhere around 5 balls. Great for beach practice if you don’t want to give chase right away when someone gets a little carried away. Many have mesh incorporated into the design for ventilation.
• Multi-purpose bags. These usually have a bag compartment and a ball attachment at the side. Often used by serious players, these have room for personal gear as well as one ball. A great individual bag choice.

Other options exist, but these are some of the most popular bags out there right now. All of these can help make your life easier when you go to transport gear, so making a choice between them really depends on your personal needs as a player.

If you play a team sport or are a coach for one, there are some things to consider incorporating into your travel routine that will help keep things organized. Having team bags, assigning duties to various players and keeping a checklist with needed travel items can all contribute to having a team that runs smoothly. Let’s take a closer look at what each of those entails:

• Team bags. These come in two types: those for individual players and those that carry gear. Purchasing the same style of bag for all the players can help keep things together when traveling. It also has the benefit of giving the team a more polished look. Other bags to invest in are ones that carry gear such as balls, bats, protective pads and other things you may need to bring along for a trip.
• Assigning duties. If everyone knows what to do when you are packing up, you’ll get to leave on time or early. There will also be less bickering if everyone has a specific duty to take care of. Examples include packing equipment, loading bags and making sure everyone is there before you go.
• Packing checklist. This handy item can be brainstormed by team members or created by the coach and used time and again for trips. Make sure to include key items such as medications, identification and uniforms.