13 Items to Add to a First and Ten Football Care Package

For many people, American football plays a crucial role in their lives. Whether they are football players themselves or were simply raised in a football loving family, American football goes beyond having a simple appreciation for the sport. It is associated with family get-togethers, dinners spent watching the game, and unforgettable tailgates. Even if you aren’t the biggest fan of football, you probably enjoy the way that the sport brings people together. After all, who doesn’t at least remember Friday nights spent cheering on your high school team? 

Do you have an avid football player in your life? Treat them to a football care package! Whether they have been feeling down lately or they just achieved a major accomplishment, they will definitely adore the care package you send them! With the start of football season, your loved one has gone through hours of grueling training and practice. It’s time you treat them with a special football care package. Not sure what to put in it? No worries! Check out our top recommendations below! 

Top 13 Gifts to Add to Your Football Care Package

Don’t forget to add these fun gifts to your care package!

Assembling a football care package can be tough. You want to offer a nice balance of fun gifts and practical items. That’s why we created a guide for building the perfect football care package. Whether your loved one is a beginner football player or a seasoned college athlete, they will love these gifts!

1. Personalized Football Keychain to Carry With Them

Is your loved one prone to losing their keys? Add a personal football keychain to their care package! You can find numerous keychains in different styles and you can even add your friend’s name to them. 

Some keychains are shaped like a football while others are engraved with football helmets or football jerseys. To make it harder for your loved one to lose their keys, consider adding a lanyard. Of course, a lanyard and keychain won’t totally prevent them from losing their keys, but you can hope that they will at least have an easier time finding them. 

2. Poster of Their Favorite Athlete to Inspire Them

Is your loved one an Aaron Rodgers fan? Do they worship Lamar Jackson? Surprise them with a poster of their favorite athlete! You can purchase a traditional roll-up poster or a life-sized photo cutout wall graphic of a regular football player. If you aren’t sure what your loved one’s favorite football player is, the life-sized wall cutout is a great alternative. 

This poster will not only help keep your football player motivated, but it will also remind them of you every once in a while. Posters are pretty inexpensive, making them a fun and easy addition to your care package! 

3. Gatorade Packs to Keep Them Energized

‍Gatorade bottles or packets are an easy and obvious addition to any football care package. Football players rely on the drink’s carbohydrates and electrolytes to stay energized and hydrated during practice. Gatorade comes in a number of different flavors. If you’ve never had it before, no worries. The Fruit Punch, Glacier Freeze, and Lemon Lime are always a safe bet! 

You can also purchase your loved one a pre-workout and/or post-workout drink powder. Pre-workout is designed to increase an athlete’s energy and endurance. Most pre-workouts contain caffeine and creatine. Pre-workout isn’t necessarily mandatory or required for a good workout. However, many athletes enjoy using it before an intense lifting session. 

Post-workout is designed to help your muscles recover after a tough practice. Some athletes prefer drinking post-workout supplements while others are content with drinking some chocolate milk or a protein shake. If you aren’t sure what your athlete prefers, just ask! It’s better to ask than purchasing them something that they might not use, thus letting it go to waste. 

4. Water Bottle for Hydration

It can get pretty hot out there. Purchase an insulated water bottle to keep their drinks fresh and cool. Some water bottles are built with double-walled insulation, allowing your water to remain cool during even the hottest of days. 

You will want to get a relatively large bottle so your athlete doesn’t have to constantly refill. Water bottles come in a variety of different colors, so it will be easy to find one that suits your football player’s preference and personality! 

5. Athletic Socks Because it’s Probably Been a While Since They Purchased a New Pair

Athletic socks are also a key addition to your care package. Football players typically wear special cushioned football socks or crew socks for extra support and blister prevention. Athletic socks are commonly made of cotton, wool, or nylon. While they might not be the most creative or exciting gift, they definitely are the most practical. 

Most people purchase white or black socks. But you can mix it up by purchasing a pair in their favorite color or finding a pair of socks in their school colors. 

6. Decorated Football to Serve as Special Memorabilia 

Your loved one can never have too many football decorations in their room. If you consider yourself a crafty person, you will love purchasing a football and customizing it. Some people paint their football with their favorite colors or their team colors. Others also had a special message to it. 

But if you aren’t the best with crafts, don’t worry. You can easily purchase footballs online and customize their color. You can also add your own custom logo to the football. Some people even add their loved one’s football photo to the surface of the football. There are so many fun ways you can customize it!

7. Personal Note Offering Them Support

To make your care package extra special, don’t forget to slip a personal note to them. You can keep it plain and simple by writing it on a blank piece of paper or purchase a special card to add your message to. Ultimately, it’s up to you. The most important part of the note is the message itself, not the medium that it is written upon. 

8. Plenty of Snacks to Keep Them Energized and Ready to Go

Snacks are essential additions to any care package. Keep your athlete energized with some delicious and healthy snacks like popcorn, trail mix, pretzels, and yogurt. 

Of course, you don’t have to include only healthy snacks. Treat your favorite football player to some cupcakes decorated with footballs, cookies with helmets painted on them, or some simple cake pops! You can even add encouragement notes to each snack to keep them motivated and ready for their upcoming game.

9. Books to Help Them Succeed on the Field

If your loved one enjoys reading, they will certainly appreciate a good football book. Whether you give them a memoir written by a famous player, a guidebook on becoming a better player, or just a fun fan book, they are sure to adore it! Not sure what to get? Check out these popular football books:

• The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis
• Belichik: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time
• The Dynasty by Jeff Benedict
• The Education of a Coach by David Halberstam

10. Their Favorite Players Jersey to Keep Them Motivated

Staying motivated can be difficult. Practices are often long and tough. They can often leave your player feeling exhausted and even a little burned out. Remind them why they love the sport with a football jersey of their favorite player! This simple, yet fun gift will be greatly appreciated by them. 

11. Journal for Keeping Track of Their Workouts

A small, portable notebook is a perfect addition to your care package. When working out in the gym, most athletes keep track of their workouts with a notebook. A simple blank notebook will do. You don’t have to go crazy and purchase a large, intricate notebook filled with designs. Of course, if you think they would love one, go ahead and get it for them. Their new notebook will make it easy for them to track their workouts and overall progress. 

12. A Bouquet of Flowers Because — Why Not?

When was the last time your loved one received flowers? A bouquet of flowers looks great in a care package and adds a special touch to its overall aesthetic. You can keep it simple with a small bunch of assorted flowers or you can go the extra mile and give them a bouquet of flowers shaped like a football!

13. Small Towel for Wiping Off the Sweat

Dealing with sweat is never comfortable. Purchase a small towel for them to wipe it off during practice or when they’re resting on the sidelines during a game. You can easily find a towel rocking the logo and colors of their favorite football team. You can also purchase a special cooling towel that offers instant relief. With these towels, you just need to soak them in water to activate their cooling effects. 

For many people, American football plays an important part of their life. Help them celebrate and cultivate this part of their life with a fun care package! What items do you like to include in care packages? Let us know in the comments!