Any seasoned guardie knows the stress that comes with preparing for upcoming shows, whether it be adding the little nuances to the dance, perfecting the flag and weapon work, or packing one’s guard bag.

I’m sure most guard kids have forgotten at least one thing from their guard bag, and it can be a major pain, especially if you have to travel long distances.

I have had many different experiences with forgetting my own materials, as well as watching my teammates forget their stuff. I have forgotten such simple items, like my shoes, and had to walk around in my socks.

One of the funniest memories I have of my teammates forgetting their guard stuff is when several teammates forgot their uniforms in the closet of their hotel room.

It is essential to make sure you have everything that you need before a competition or practice because it can severely delay or impact your show.

I keep all of my items organized in a large duffle bag. I prefer to use a bag with a zipper to keep all of my items secure. A bag with extra pocket space is ideal to store little items like money, medications, inhalers, etc.

Another trick that I use when packing my guard bag is securing items like bobby pins and hair ties in sandwich bags, which saves me from the hassle of them spilling everywhere. I keep all of my makeup in one bag and all of my hair stuff in another. Sometimes, I will bring a drawstring bag with me to put my dirty clothes in. That way, when I change out of my old sweaty clothes, I can put them in the drawstring bag and change into my clean clothes. It saves me from extra clutter and gives me extra room in the bag for other items.

There is nothing worse for a guardie than forgetting their uniform, hair and make-up stuff, cell phone, etc. before a show.

Forgetting any of these items can cause extra unnecessary stress. To avoid this, keep yourself organized and give yourself plenty of time between packing your bag and the competition or practice.

Do not wait until the last minute! You are more likely to forget something that way.

Here is the list of items that you may need when you go to a competition:

• Uniform
• Unitard
• Sports Bra
• Gloves
• Equipment (flag, rifle, sabre, etc.)
• Money
• Ibuprofen/First Aid Kit
• Cell Phone/Phone Charger
• Sneakers/Flip Flops
• Change of Clothes
• Sweatshirt
• Hair Brush/Comb
• Straightener/Curling Iron
• Hair Spray
• Detangling Spray
• Hair Gel
• Bobby Pins
• Hair Ties
• Sock Bun
• Hair Accessories
• Make-Up Bag
• Make-Up Brushes
• Make-Up Sponges
• Concealer
• Liquid Foundation/Powder Foundation
• Face Primer
• Highlighter
• Bronzer
• Tweezers
• Eye Primer
• Eyeshadow (crayon, creme, powder, etc.)
• Pencil Eyeliner/Liquid Eyeliner
• GLITTER!!!!
• Lipstick/Lipgloss
• Mascara
• Face Paint
• Fake Eyelashes/Eyelash Glue
• Gems
• Nail Clippers

And most important of all, do not forget to pack your sanity!