What to Bring to a Soccer Camp in Montreal: A Parent's Gear List
Quebec weather is the wild card. Here's the field-tested gear list — what's required, what's optional, and what parents always forget — built from running soccer camps and sessions for hundreds of kids.
The core items: cleats (or clean sneakers if no cleats yet), shin guards (recommended, not mandatory), water bottle, packed lunch + 2 snacks (no fridge or microwave on site), and weather-appropriate layers. Everything else is optional. Quebec weather is the wild card — pack rain layers in May/June and warm layers in March/early November even on warm forecasts.
Every camp Monday morning, the same thing happens: a parent shows up at drop-off, sees another kid's gear setup, and immediately worries they've forgotten something. You probably haven't. But the parents who've done this before pack a few specific things that make their kid's week noticeably better. Here's the list.
The required items
If you forget any of these, we either provide a spare or send you to the closest store. Don't panic.
- Soccer cleats — molded firm-ground (FG) for ages 4-12. Or clean indoor sneakers if you don't have cleats yet (totally fine for first-camp kids).
- Shin guards — recommended but not mandatory. We have spares; bring your own if your kid wears them.
- Refillable water bottle — labeled with your kid's name. Stainless or BPA-free plastic. Refill stations on site.
- Lunch + 2 snacks — packed cold; there is no fridge or microwave on site. We do not provide food or drinks — refillable water station only.
- Backpack — for all of the above. Bonus if it has a side water-bottle pocket.
Quebec-weather essentials
The Montreal weather forecast lies. Pack layers every day, even when the morning is gorgeous. Real things that have happened at our camps:
- May/June: sunny morning, thunderstorm by 1 PM. Pack a light rain layer always.
- July/August: heat warnings 28°C+ then a 12°C overnight drop. Pack a light long-sleeve in the bag for cool evenings if you've got extended care.
- March break: indoor turf so weather isn't a factor for sessions. Outdoor outerwear for drop-off + outdoor lunch breaks — boots, mittens, hat. Mar 1-5 in Montreal averages -5°C to +2°C.
- September camps: warm shorts at drop-off, fleece by 4 PM. Quebec Septembers are unpredictable.
Sunscreen — yes, even in May. Outdoor sessions are at parks with partial shade only. We remind kids to reapply at the lunch break but a parent layer at home is best.
Soccer-specific gear (most parents already have these)
- 2-3 pairs of soccer socks — pulled up over shin guards. Cotton ankle socks are not soccer socks; soccer socks come up to the knee.
- Athletic shorts — soccer shorts or similar. Avoid jeans, denim shorts, dresses (yes, this happens).
- 2-3 t-shirts — moisture-wicking is great but cotton is fine for recreational camp. Bring extras for sweaty change-outs.
- A second pair of shoes — for indoor/outdoor transitions and post- session. Cleats outside, sneakers in the lobby + lunchroom is the rule.
What parents always forget
The five most-forgotten items at our camps, ranked:
- Sunscreen application before drop-off. Don't rely on us.
- Labeling the water bottle. By Wednesday there are 30 identical bottles in the lost-and-found. A Sharpie + first name on the bottom solves this.
- Shin guards (really). The single most-forgotten item. Even veteran soccer parents leave them at home.
- A snack labeled allergen-free. If your kid has allergies, send a snack THEY can eat in case the lunchroom rotation gets confusing.
- Sweatshirt or light jacket for the drive home. Sweaty kids in air-conditioned cars get cold fast.
What you don't need
- A new soccer ball — we provide all training equipment. If your kid wants to bring their own ball labeled with their name, that's fine, but they'll mostly use ours.
- A jersey of their favorite team — totally fine to wear, no requirement. We don't do uniform days at recreational camps.
- Premium-brand kit — we don't care. The kid in $50 cleats will run circles around the kid in $200 Mercurials more often than not. Save your money.
- Goalkeeper gloves (unless it's a goalkeeper-specific camp) — if your kid wants to play in goal, we have keeper gloves available.
- Energy drinks / pre-workout — we'll send these home. Water and a balanced lunch is what 7-year-olds need.
The night-before checklist
Tape this to the fridge the day before camp:
- Cleats (or clean sneakers) ☐
- Shin guards ☐
- Soccer socks (high) ☐
- Athletic shorts + t-shirt + extra t-shirt ☐
- Refillable labeled water bottle ☐
- Lunch + 2 snacks (cold) ☐
- Sunscreen on before leaving ☐
- Light rain layer in bag ☐
- Sweatshirt for drive home ☐
- Backpack with kid's name on it ☐
- Phone (off, in bag) ☐
- EpiPen / inhaler if applicable ☐
One thing we wish all camp parents knew
The kids who have the best camp weeks aren't the ones with the fanciest gear — they're the ones whose parents made breakfast a little earlier so the morning isn't rushed. A 7-year-old who arrives stressed plays a stressed first hour. A 7-year-old who arrives calm and well-fed plays well from minute one. The rest of the gear is just bonus.
For current dates, pricing, and pickup details, see our summer soccer camp in Westmount.
See you Monday morning. Bring sunscreen.
Ready to see Footie Elite in action?
Three former pros, 100+ five-star Google reviews, small-group training in Brossard, West Island, Laval, RDP, and Westmount.
Frequently asked questions
Does my kid need cleats for soccer camp?
Strongly recommended but not required. Clean indoor running shoes work for our indoor turf sessions and grass field work in dry conditions. Cleats are required only on wet outdoor grass. If your kid is borderline (no cleats yet, doing camp this week), running shoes will be fine.
What kind of cleats should kids wear?
For ages 4-12 doing recreational camps: molded firm-ground cleats (FG) are the safest, most-versatile pick. They work on grass and most turf. Avoid metal-studded cleats (SG) — they're for very wet or competitive grass conditions and can be dangerous in a youth-camp setting. Indoor-only cleats (IC) work but limit you if camp is outside that day.
Are shin guards mandatory?
Recommended but not mandatory at Footie Elite, including camp. We have spares if your kid forgets, but if your kid wears them, please pack their own.
Can my kid bring a phone?
Phones can be in their bag for parent contact pre/post camp. During camp sessions phones stay in bags. We have water-and-air-conditioned breakroom space if they need to text you for any reason — but in our experience, kids leave phones alone once they're playing.
What if my kid has allergies?
Very common. Note all allergies in the registration form. We have a no-nut-products policy in shared spaces. If your kid carries an EpiPen or rescue inhaler, drop it off labelled with the head coach on day 1. We're trained on basic emergency response.
Do I pack lunch and snacks or do you provide them?
Parents pack lunch and 2 snacks, packed cold — there is no fridge or microwave on site. We provide a refillable water station — that's it food-wise; Footie Elite does not provide any food or drinks.
What if the weather changes mid-week?
Quebec weather changes hourly in May/September. Pack layers every day even on a hot forecast. We move to indoor turf if outdoor conditions are unsafe (lightning, heavy rain, heat warning) — your kid is never out in genuinely bad weather.