Sports Mama Review: SportStar GX-4 Chinstrap

Being a football mom is not for the faint of heart. The thing that helps calm my nerves the most is knowing that my boys have some of the best and safest equipment available. From helmets, to shoulder pads, to cleats. Chinstraps are no exception! Which is why No. 1's chinstrap of choice when playing football is a SportStar.

Why SportStar? For starters, and probably most importantly, it absorbs 92% of the impact on a direct hit to the chin! All other brands on the market range between only 20-36%. That is a HUGE difference! One of No. 1's teammates recently took a hit to the chin resulting in stitches...

Ouch. Not pretty! According to his mother, the first thing the ER nurse asked him was whether he was wearing a hard or soft cup chinstrap. What do you think his answer was? And for the record, he was not wearing a SportStar!


The GX-4 chinstrap also includes a gel pad for extreme comfort.

Both the gel and foam are anti-microbial helping to reduce skin rashes and irritation. What teenager can't use a little extra help in that department?!


They can even be customized to match uniforms!


No. 1 has been a quarterback for seven seasons now and has tried several different chinstraps along the way. The GX-4 is by far is favorite. He says it is "comfortable, easy to adjust, easy to put on and take off" and that the "gel feels good". He also "likes the color" options and "the way it looks".

And my boy isn't alone! 1/3 of active NFL players wear them, including the number one pick in the 2018 NFL draft, Baker Mayfield. He wore it at Oklahoma and is wearing it now with the Cleveland Browns. 3/4 of NCAA FBS programs offer SportStar chinstraps to their players as well, including Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, TCU, Stanford and several other top programs.


Want to be sure that your athlete has the best chinstrap out there? Then be sure to head to your local sporting goods store or visit their website and order them a SportStar today!








*** Disclaimer: SportStar was kind enough to send me their product, however, all thoughts and opinions are solely my own (and my son's!)***

Team Mama Idea: Motivational Bananas For Game Days!

Happy Sunday, Sports Mamas! I wanted to share this easy, quick, FUN idea with all of you for the next time you have #snackmomduty.

Bananas with personalized messages on them! Seriously, how cute are they?! All you need are bananas and a sharpie. You guessed it, didn't you? I waited until a couple of hours before the game to write on them. They were 100% easier to write on than the mandarins I drew on a while back to make into mini basketballs.

Healthy and cute!

I also washed and bagged 500 grapes. Yep, I counted. And apparently I'm not the only one who does. I posted the same photo in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group and one mama commented, "Just counted out almost 800 grapes! And I thought I was the only crazy one that counted them before bagging so all the boys get the same amount!!". HA!


Go Spartans!!!






*** Sports Mama Tip: Taking oranges for halftime? Click HERE for the absolute easiest and best way to cut them!

Sports Mama Tip: 5 Tips For Feeding a Large Sports Team + 10 Team Approved Meal Ideas!

If you're ever looking for me on a Thursday afternoon during football season, I can be found at No. 1's high school helping serve him and his teammates their pre-game meals. That's 42 boys + 4 coaches + 2 managers which = a whole lot of hungry mouths to feed!


Here is what we do to make it run as smoothly as possible:

1. Plan ahead. How many people will you be feeding? Don't forget to include the coaches and managers in your headcount! Will you use a caterer or make it yourself? Are there any allergies or dietary restrictions to consider? If feeding the team before a game, be sure to allow at least 2 hours for proper digestion.
2. Keep it simple. This is not the time to test out a brand new recipe from Bobby Flay. Choose one kid-friendly main dish and plan the rest of your menu around it (i.e starch, fruit/veggie, and dessert). Use disposable plates, cups, and cutlery... ain't nobody got time for washing 752 dishes!
3. Ask for volunteers. The more hands the better! The title of this post is How to Feed a Large Sports Team, remember? You will need help setting up, serving, and cleaning up.
4. Serve it buffet style. This is definitely the easiest way I've found to do it. Set everything up on a long table in the order that it will be plated. When I help feed No. 1's freshman football team, we put the plates at the very beginning of the table, followed by the protein, then the starch, the salad/fruit, dessert, cutlery, and finally the bottled water. Assign a volunteer to each item and let them serve the players as they walk down the line.
5. Stock up on PBJs. You're never going to please everyone, ever. No matter how hard you try! There will be picky eaters, there will be parents who complain, don't sweat it, Mama. Keep an emergency stash of bread, peanut butter, and jelly handy at all times. Don't like what we're serving? No problem. Go make yourself a sandwich!

Here are 10 team approved meal ideas:

1. Pulled bbq chicken sandwiches
2. Tacos
3. Lasagna
4. Hamburgers
5. Chicken Teriyaki
6. Sloppy Joes
7. Chili
8. Spaghetti
9. Hotdogs (Click HERE to learn how to make them in the crockpot!)
10. Pizza (Because what would this list be without it?)

Feeding a team doesn't have to (and shouldn't!) be stressful, Mama. I hope you found this post helpful and that you incorporate some (or all!) of these tips into your next team meal.


Bon appetit!

*** Click HERE to read how I keep food warm without warming trays or Sternos!

Team Mama Idea: DIY Big Head Cutouts!

Homecoming 2018 is in the books! I still can't believe I'm the mama of a high schooler. Crazy! It was such a fun week. There were spirit days (i.e. Jet Lag Monday aka pajama day, Peace Out Wednesday aka tie-dye day), a pep rally, a parade, the game (we WON!), and the big dance, of course!


No. 1 and his Freshman football teammates marched in the parade alongside their class float and the cheerleaders. Us mamas wanted to do something special to catch their attention, so we made our own big heads!

They were quite simple to make and only a fraction of the cost of the ones they sell online. Want to make one to cheer on your favorite athlete? Just keep on reading!

All you need:

• Cardboard (I found mine at my local craft store)
• Scissors or X-Acto Knife
• Glue
• Large photo of your athlete (Most stores with photo departments can print them in under an hour. Don't forget to check for a coupon! For reference, my photo is a 20X30.)
• Optional: mounting stick

All you do:

1. Glue your photo to the cardboard. (I started with a glue stick but ended up switching to liquid glue.)
2. Allow the glue to dry.
3. Cut "the head" out.
4. Cheer on your athlete!

The team loved them! They all clapped, cheered, and pointed as they walked by.

Us Frosh mamas were definitely the most spirited (and noticeable!) ones there! But you don't have to have a high schooler to make one. Take a look at these proud JMU mamas cheering on their boys. Go Spartans! Go Dukes!

For more fun ideas and to connect with hundreds of REAL Sports Mamas just like yourself, be sure to join the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group today!




*** Check out these big heads made by some of the awesome mamas in the group:

Sports Mama Review: SISU Mouthguards

What do you look for in a mouthguard? As a Sports Mama to three active boys, I always look for two things; strength and comfort.


But what if there were a mouthguard that provided strength, comfort, hygiene, remoldability, AND freedom?! Enter SISU. They provide all of that! Although their slogan is "More protection. Less mouthguard.", they definitely aren't cutting any corners!

SISU mouthguards are 8 times stronger than 30-50% of conventional ones (depending on the model you get!). They are 1.6-2.4 mm thin, making them super comfortable. Their slim, custom fit allows players to talk, breathe, even drink while wearing them, thus eliminating the need to take them out during the game. Bye-bye germs! And, they are remoldable. How many conventional mouthguards have you had to throw out due to them not being properly molded?


There are four different guards for your athlete to choose from; The GO provides essential coverage, the Aero is for all sports, the Max is for high impact sports, and the Junior is for athletes ages 7-10. No. 2 and No. 3 have been wearing their SISU GO guards for soccer and love them!

According to my boys, they "feel good, stay in place", and they "can talk and drink" with them in. This Sports Mama loves the fact that they are custom fitted (not just a boil and bite) and that my boys actually keep them in their mouths. I don't know about you, but my inner germaphobe cringes whenever I see young athletes taking their guards in and out and touching everything else in between!


They've also been using the SISU Mouthguard Spray. It's cinnamon/mint flavored and can be used to both freshen and clean.

I like that it's easily portable and can be thrown right in my Sports Mama Bag!


The only aspect that I believe they can improve on is having an option with a strap available. There are some youth sports clubs that require their athletes to have guards with straps, especially in football.


If you're in the market for a new mouthguard, I highly recommend checking them out. They even offer night guards for us teeth grinders (be sure to check back soon for my thoughts on it!).


Hit happens; get yourself a SISU Mouthguard!








*** Disclaimer: SISU was kind enough to send me their products, however, all thoughts and opinions are solely my own.***

Sports Mama Tip: Rainy Game Day Essentials

Rain, rain, go away. It rained ALL weekend long here in Northern Virginia. Ugh. But, sports must go on! After sitting through four (yes, four!) games in the rain (2 soccer and 2 football), I realized that I have yet to write a post on rainy game day essentials, so, here we are!

• Poncho. My number one essential! I'm currently using this one. It is large, durable, and reusable. My clothes, head, and hair all stayed completely dry. I paid less than $10 for it and is holding up very well thus far!
• Umbrella. A no brainer. I'm on the hunt for a new one. Have one that you love? Please let me know!
• Hat. An added layer of protection under your poncho. I like to tuck all of my hair into mine because curly hair + rain = a hot mess!
• Rain boots. You can even find a pair to match your team colors! No rain boots? No problem! Any pair of waterproof, closed toe shoes will do!
• Layers. Layers and game days go together like peanut butter and jelly. Cold rainy day? Put on a few extra. Warm, humid and rainy? Take a couple off. There's nothing worse than being too chilly or too hot and not being able to do anything about it!
• Hand warmers. Nothing worse than being wet AND cold!
• Towel. To wipe the rain off of bleachers. To wipe the rain off of yourself.
• Stadium seat/cushion. Because who wants to sit on wet bleachers?! Umm.. not me!!
• Chair. At a game with no bleachers? Bring a chair. You can even get one like this with a canopy!
• Canopy. Speaking of canopies, they're not just for shade. They work just as well for keeping you (and your Sports Mama bffs!) dry. You can set it up on the sidelines or in the stands. Your choice!

Honorable mention:

• Under the Weather Pod. I don't own one, nor have I ever used one. In fact, I'm not sure I'd ever want to own one. BUT, I know that people are using them. In fact, I saw a mama with one at No. 3's flag football games last season. And I'll tell you what. She was definitely the driest person on the field. HA!

Stay dry, Sports Mamas!


Do you have a rainy game day essential that I missed? Let me know in the comment section below or in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!










*** Be sure to click HERE for my warm weather essentials and HERE for my cold weather essentials!

Sports Mama Review: Adidas X 18.2 FG Cleats

A new soccer season is upon us! And you know what that means... yep, new cleats! My boys' feet are still growing so new cleats are always a necessity. (Click HERE to read what I do with the old ones!).


SoccerPro recently sent No. 2 a pair of Adidas X 18.2 to try out. SoccerPro provides soccer gear at great prices; they have everything from shoes to apparel to equipment. Shipping time was great, and the cleats were packaged to perfection!

The first thing that No. 2 looks for when choosing a new pair of cleats is color. He tends to gravitate toward the brighter, flashier ones- so these were right up his alley!

According to SoccerPro.com, "this silo prioritizes fit, touch and movement like no other soccer shoe. For fit on the 18.2, the premium sock offers comfort and the speed lace upper featuring a Kevlar-wire construction on the lateral side are ace. There is a speed engineered mesh for superb touch."


No. 2 has worn them for about a week and a half now (including his game today in the pouring down rain!) and seems to really like them. He says they're very comfortable and not too narrow. He also likes the fact that they are lightweight, which helps him run faster. The studs seem to provide great traction as not once did he slip or fall today, despite the soggy, wet conditions.

If your athlete is in the market for a new pair of cleats (or any other soccer related items!), I definitely recommend checking out SoccerPro. You won't be disappointed!








*** Disclaimer: SoccerPro was kind enough to send me the cleats, however, all thoughts and opinions are solely my own.***