This Friday is the first middle school tailgate for my oldest. So I thought it was the perfect time to share a few tailgating tips for the football season (or whatever you like to tailgate for!). Feel free to share your own tips in the comments section below!
- Snacks. I definitely like to plan ahead with this one. Ideally I like to bring snacks that don’t require too much work and assembly while we are there. I’m happy to spend the time at home getting things ready if it means I can relax a bit at the actual tailgate. A few things I do ahead of time: cut up fruit and veggies, make some simple finger foods and order some sandwiches or pizza if we’re having a meal. Ideally I go for less mess and easy.
- Overpack. Generally I like to keep things simple when I pack. But for a tailgate, I like to have extra. Since lots of kids and adults might mill around, I want to have enough snacks and drinks to share. I also like to overpack when it comes to outerwear. While it might be sunny and warm while we’re tailgating, the weather often turns cooler during the game–or rain enters the picture. I always have a bag with sweatshirts and another with raincoats so we can throw on an extra layer before heading to the game.
- Plan for Entertainment. Sure, the adults are happy with a drink and some snacks. But if I want any time to talk to other adults, I need the kids to be entertained. We recently ordered the VersaHoop (like versatile basketball hoop). Since it can be clamped on just about anywhere, I will be bringing this along as the entertainment for the kids. Since I have quite an age range of kids, I needed something that would appeal to boys and girls, young and old. It’s perfect to clamp on to a dock or boat ladder, a fence or playground post or you can use the suction cups to stick it just about anywhere.

The day our VersaHoop arrived, we immediately put it up on our trampoline. The kids LOVE it! The weather is finally cool enough that we are spending tons of time in the back yard and the trampoline is now a hot commodity with the VersaHoop. What I love is that it seems like all of my kids and all of their friends love it! My three-year-old was the first to use it with one of his friends and I could barely pull them away when the big kids got home since they wanted a turn, too. The backboard is very sturdy and the rim is made to withstand dunks (yes, we’ve tried it). And for those of you in a harsh winter state like myself, VersaHoop can also be ordered with a door hook for an easy over-the-door basketball hoop. This option would work great over a deck railing as well!

And, just for SIMPLE readers, VersaHoop is giving away one portable basketball hoop! Just in time for tailgating!

The VersaHoop PLUS+ with Door Hook would be cool!
The VersaHoop Combo: Hook On & Clamp On Hoop with NCAA Basketballs would be great to have!
My grandson would use the VersaHoop Combo: Hook On & Clamp On Hoop the most.
My kids would have so much fun with the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets.
The VersaHoop PLUS+ with Door Hook would be awesome.
VersaHoop PLUS+ with Door Hook! My 4 year old has been begging me for a basketball hoop for his room.
The versahoop style my family would like best would have to be the Hoops with Suction Cups
We’d love to have the VersaHoop with door hooks! It would probably get used all over our house. 🙂
I like the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Door Hook for using it with our front door.
I think we would enjoy the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Door Hook
I think the VersaHoop Combo: Hook On & Clamp On Hoop with NCAA Basketballs would best fit our needs.
The versa hoop plus with door hook would be my choice!
We would use them all but I really like the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Door Hook.
My kids would have so much fun with the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets.
I love the versa hoop plus with door hook! My son would love it!
We would use the VersaHoop with Door Hook.
I’d like the stick style
Oh we would love the Clamp on style for our trampoline. OH that looks so neat!!
I like the VersaHoop Combo: Hook On & Clamp On Hoop with NCAA Basketballs.
I would love the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets.
I would love to hook this up to our outdoor play ground!
We’d use the Versa Hook Plus+ with Brackets the most! Love it!
I’m sure the boys would like the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets the best.
That looks like a blast!
Reminds me of the hoop I had as a kid. Tons of fun.
That looks like so much fun for the trampoline!!
Would love this for the trampoline!! So fun!
We would probably use the clamp or suction cups the most! This looks like a blast!!
I like hoops with door hooks
My kids would love the VersaHoop Combo: Hook On & Clamp On Hoop with NCAA Basketballs.
I like the one with the brackets
I like the VersaHoop Combo: Hook On & Clamp On Hoop with NCAA Basketballs!
I like the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets.
I think my kids would like the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets
I think the VersaHoop Plus with Door Hook would be the best choice for us. I like that it can be moved around to different rooms.
Versa Hoop Plus with Brackets.
Probably the hook on.
I like the one with the door hook. It would go great in the kids room and would use space that’s not currently used,
VersaHoop Combo: Hook On & Clamp On Hoop with NCAA Basketballs W/blue line gators xl for the trampoline my 4 little ones would go nuts over this set <3 Thanks for the chance .
The VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets for us would be best.
More than likely we’d use the hook on at our house.
I like the door hook kind 🙂
I Like the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Door Hook
plus with brackets for us!
I think the VersaHoop with Door Hook would be easily taken down and put up, and it seems very portable. Looks like a lot of fun!
Here’s the one I think we would use the most: VersaHoop PLUS+ with Suction Cups that costs
$ 79.95.
My kiddo’s would use the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets the most! We would be able to hook it up to so many places with the brackets!
Plus with brackets!
I would like the one with the door hook best. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
I think the one with the Door hooks would be good!
VersaHoop Combo: Hook On & Clamp On Hoop with NCAA Basketballs LSU!
the hook on
I would say the VersaHoop Plus with brackets
I would use the door hook the most.
The Versa Hoop Plus love to have this
I would love to have the Canopy Caddy for Tailgating/Camping.
VersaHoop PLUS+ with Door Hook
i love VersaHoop Mounts in Rod Holders of Boats
My kids would use the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets the most!
I would love to have the Hook On. This would be great for us because it could go outside in the summer and my daughter could have it in the basement in the cold winter.
VersaHoop PLUS+ with Brackets
I’d like the stick on style.
We’d probably use the Hook On.
I believe my son would enjoy the VersaHoop PLUS+ with Door Hook most in his bedroom.