It’s Time to pack your Judging Bag!!
Paula Carroll-McAllister

Let’s talk about preparing your judging bag for the upcoming season. We all know this bag is your best friend throughout the season. It goes with you everywhere! You need to take some time to pack it with all your personal can’t-go-without items, your trusted Manual, and judging necessities.

What do you think judging necessities include? In my opinion, these are some “must have” items to pack in your judging bag! The first thing I put in my bag is my MHSAA emblem on a black lanyard. Actually, I usually have about four of these in my bag! Secondly, I pack my Manual. Now, it’s not the Manual itself; it is the Manual with all the MHSAA inserts and/or clarifications clipped inside. (Just a side note: Check MHSAA website regularly for updates.)

Additional judging necessities include your personalized judging note sheets or a notebook to keep track of the notes you take during the competition. I also pack highlighters, pens, pencils, a calculator, and a clipboard (Safety officials always use a clipboard, but there are some Panel officials that do too.). Other office supply type items you may want to consider packing are paperclips, white out, staple remover, pencil sharpener, eraser, and scotch tape. If you are a Safety official, you must pack your stop watch. One optional item is a self-inking stamp with your MHSAA Official ID Number. This is not a required item, but it sure is a lot easier to stamp your number than handwrite it on every score sheet.

Now let’s think about those non-judging necessities that we need to pack. In light of our current pandemic situation, pack extra face masks, hand sanitizer, thermometer, and Clorox wipes. I also pack hand lotion, tissues, stain remover, acetaminophen, an antacid, band aids, safety pins, mints, a lint roller, static spray, a few napkins, a mirror, a little makeup kit, and dental floss. Snacks, don’t forget to pack your snacks and water bottle! I typically pack almonds, raisins, protein bars, fruit, and vegetables. Another thing to consider packing is an extra pair of black socks. If you’ve ever gotten a soaker on the way into a competition, you know how uncomfortable it is and how pruned your toes are by the time you get home! (Speaking from experience, pack the socks!)

Take some time to pack your “Cheer Bag” necessities. One thing to think about…Once you arrive at the competition and realize you don’t have something in your bag that you need, you can’t go home to get it. Happy Packing!!!