BJJ Tournament Day Checklist: Everything to Bring and What to Expect

Tournament day success starts the night before. Packing in advance eliminates morning stress and ensures nothing is forgotten.

The Complete Packing Checklist

Competition gear (mandatory):

• Gi — competition gi, clean and in good condition. Check for tears in the lapel or pants. If competing at IBJJF, verify it meets IBJJF sizing requirements (sleeves, pant length, lapel thickness). White, blue, or black only for IBJJF.
• Second gi — backup in case the first is damaged, rejected at gi check, or gets soaked in sweat between matches
• Belt — the correct rank belt. Forgetting the belt is more common than you think. Pack it with the gi, not separately.
• No-gi gear (if competing no-gi) — rash guard and board shorts or spats. No pockets, no zippers, no loose fabric.
• Mouthguard — required at many tournaments, recommended at all of them. Even if not required, a mouthguard protects against accidental contact.
• Cup/athletic supporter (optional for boys) — not required but some families prefer it for younger competitors
• Ear guards (optional) — if your child has cauliflower ear concerns or has been advised to wear them

Documents:

• Registration confirmation — printed or on phone. Include the QR code or confirmation number.
• ID for the competitor — some tournaments require a birth certificate, school ID, or other proof of age. IBJJF requires the IBJJF membership card.
• Medical clearance (if required) — some tournaments require a doctor's note. Check the event page.
• Insurance card — just in case

Food and hydration:

• Water bottles — at least 2. Refill stations may not be convenient. Avoid sodas and sugary drinks.
• Snacks for between matches — bananas, granola bars, PB&J sandwiches, trail mix. Familiar foods only — nothing new on tournament day.
• Light breakfast food — if your child needs to eat at the venue. Toast, fruit, yogurt.
• Cooler bag — keeps snacks fresh if the venue is hot

Comfort and logistics:

• Change of clothes — for after competition. Your child will be sweaty.
• Towel — for wiping down between matches
• Flip flops or sandals — for walking around the venue off the mat. NEVER walk barefoot in the venue outside the competition area.
• Folding chair — many venues have limited seating. A portable chair makes the wait between matches much more comfortable.
• Phone charger / portable battery — tournament days are long. Your phone will die.
• Cash — for spectator tickets, vendor purchases, or unexpected tournament fees
• Entertainment — book, tablet, coloring supplies. There is a LOT of downtime between matches, especially for younger kids.

Night-Before Routine

• Dinner: Normal meal. Avoid anything heavy, greasy, or unfamiliar. Pasta, rice with protein, or whatever your child normally eats.
• Sleep: Aim for the child's normal bedtime or slightly earlier. Tournament anxiety may make falling asleep harder — that is normal. Do not make a big deal about it.
• Gi check: Lay out the gi, belt, and all gear in one spot. Have the child visually confirm everything is there.
• Nails: Trim fingernails and toenails. Long nails can scratch an opponent and may result in being turned away at check-in.
• Hygiene: Shower, clean skin, no lotions or oils (these make gripping impossible and some are prohibited).
• Jewelry: Remove all jewelry — earrings, necklaces, watches, rings. These must be off before stepping on the mat. Do it the night before so you do not forget.

Timeline

Most youth BJJ tournaments start between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Here is a recommended timeline:

Breakfast

Your child should eat a light, familiar meal 2-3 hours before their expected match time. This gives enough time to digest while providing energy.

Good tournament morning foods:

• Toast with peanut butter
• Oatmeal with fruit
• Scrambled eggs
• Banana and yogurt
• Rice with a light protein

Avoid:

• Heavy meals (pancakes with syrup, full breakfast platters)
• Dairy-heavy meals (if your child is sensitive)
• Anything new or untested
• Large portions — eat enough to not be hungry, not enough to feel full

Arriving at the Venue

• Park strategically. If possible, park near an exit so you can leave easily after your child's division is done.
• Bring a cart or wagon if your child is young and you have a lot of gear. Walking across a large venue with a chair, cooler, and two gis is no fun.
• Identify key locations immediately: Check-in, weigh-in, your child's mat area, restrooms, warmup area, coaching chairs.
• Attend the rules meeting. Most tournaments hold a brief rules meeting before competition starts. At minimum, the coach should attend. If you can, attend as well.

Check-In and Weigh-In

See our youth weight classes guide for detailed weigh-in procedures by organization. The key points:

1. Go to the check-in table with your registration confirmation and ID
2. Receive your child's bracket assignment and/or weigh-in card
3. Proceed to weigh-in (with or without gi depending on organization)
4. Confirm your child makes weight
5. Receive the bracket or match schedule

Gi check (IBJJF): At IBJJF events, there is a separate gi inspection station. Officials check sleeve length, pant length, lapel thickness, and gi condition. If the gi fails inspection, you must use the backup gi. This is why you pack two.

What to wear to weigh-in:

Physical Warmup

Your child should warm up 20-30 minutes before their expected match time. Most venues have a designated warmup area.

A good tournament warmup (15-20 minutes):

1. 5 minutes light movement — jogging, jumping jacks, arm circles. Get the heart rate up.
2. 5 minutes mat movement — shrimps, forward rolls, backward rolls, technical standup. Movements the child does every class.
3. 5-10 minutes light drilling — key positions and techniques with a training partner or coach. NOT full-intensity rolling.
4. 2-3 minutes specific scenarios — quick reps of the child's go-to takedown, guard pull, or opening attack. Build muscle memory for the match.

Do NOT:

• Roll at full intensity during warmup. Save the energy for the match.
• Skip warmup because "they're only a kid." Tournament adrenaline hits differently without physical preparation.
• Warmup too early. If your child warms up 2 hours before their match, they will cool down completely and need to warm up again.

Mental Preparation

For most youth competitors, the mental component is harder than the physical one. Here are age-appropriate approaches:

Ages 4-7:

• Keep it simple. "Go out there, have fun, and do your best."
• Do not overwhelm with strategy or technique reminders.
• Physical proximity matters — stay close, be calm, be present.

Ages 8-12:

• One or two tactical reminders. "Remember your takedown" or "Stay tight on the choke."
• Breathing exercises if the child is visibly nervous — 4-count inhale, 4-count exhale.
• Remind them they have trained for this. The techniques they use in class work in competition too.

Ages 13-17:

• Game plan review with the coach. What is the opening strategy? What are the backup plans?
• Visualization — mentally rehearse the first 30 seconds of the match.
• Competitor-specific preparation if the bracket is published in advance. The coach may know the opponent.

While Waiting for the Match

The wait can be the hardest part, especially for children with pre-competition anxiety.

• Stay hydrated. Small sips of water, not gulps.
• Stay warm. Wear a hoodie or jacket over the gi. Cooling down between warmup and match leads to sluggish performance.
• Stay occupied. Light entertainment (reading, talking with teammates) is fine. Avoid intense screen time or anything that kills focus.
• Stay close to the mat. When your child's division is approaching, stay near the competition area. Missing your call because you were in the parking lot is an avoidable disaster.

This section may be the most important in this entire guide. How parents behave during their child's match has a profound impact on the experience.

What TO Do

• Be calm. Your energy transfers directly to your child. If you are panicking, they feel it. If you are composed, they feel that too.
• Cheer supportively. General encouragement is fine: "Let's go, [name]!" or "Good job!" The crowd energy is part of the experience.
• Trust the coach. If a designated coach is in the coaching chair, let them coach. They know the game plan. They can see positions and opportunities you cannot.
• Watch. Really watch. Your child wants you to see them compete. Being present and attentive matters more than anything you say.
• Record the match (if allowed). Video of the match is incredibly valuable for post-tournament review with the coach. Most tournaments allow recording from the stands. Some restrict recording near the mat — check the rules.

What NOT to Do

• Do not coach from the stands. This is the most common parent mistake. Yelling "sweep!" or "pass the guard!" from the bleachers is confusing (your child may not even hear you correctly), undermines the designated coach, and can result in penalties at some organizations.
• Do not yell at the referee. Referees make judgment calls. Some calls will go against your child. Yelling at the referee will not change the call, it embarrasses your child, and at some events it results in penalties assessed to the competitor.
• Do not display negative emotions when your child loses. No sighing, no head shaking, no "what were you doing?" reactions. Your child will look at you immediately after a loss. What they see on your face matters.
• Do not compare your child to other competitors. "That kid was way bigger" or "the ref was terrible" teaches your child to externalize. Focus on what your child did, not what happened to them.
• Do not discuss the match during the match. Post-match analysis happens later. During the match, your only job is to be present and supportive.
• Do not approach the mat area unless you are the designated coach. Most tournaments have a clear separation between the competitor/coach area and the spectator area.

If Your Child Cries After a Loss

This is completely normal, especially for children under 10. Here is how to handle it:

1. Go to them (once they are off the mat and with their coach). Physical presence matters.
2. Do not dismiss the emotion. "It's okay" is fine. "Stop crying" is not.
3. Do not immediately analyze the match. Now is not the time for "you should have done X."
4. Give them space if they need it. Some kids want a hug; others want to be left alone for a few minutes. Follow their cue.
5. Normalize the experience. "That was tough. Now you know what it feels like." Tears after a loss do not mean your child does not want to compete again.

If your child is in a double-elimination or round-robin bracket, they will have time between matches. How you manage this time matters.

Immediate Post-Match (First 5 Minutes)

• Cool down. Let adrenaline settle. Light walking, deep breathing.
• Hydrate. Small sips of water. A sports drink is fine for teens with multiple matches; water is sufficient for younger children.
• Brief coach check-in. The coach may offer one or two tactical notes for the next match. Keep it short and positive.

Between-Match Window (30-90 Minutes)

• Eat if hungry. Light snack — banana, granola bar, a few bites of a sandwich. Do not eat a full meal between matches.
• Stay warm. Put the hoodie back on. Stay loose.
• Light stretching. Especially if your child feels tight from the previous match.
• Mental reset. The previous match is done. Win or loss, it does not affect the next match. Coaches should help competitors shift focus to the next opponent.
• Watch other matches (if your child wants to). Observing teammates or potential opponents can be educational. But if your child would rather read a book, that is fine too.

Warning Signs to Watch For

• Excessive fatigue. If your child is sluggish, pale, or unable to maintain attention, they may be dehydrated or not eating enough. Address with fluids and food immediately.
• Injury hiding. Some children will not tell you about an injury because they do not want to stop competing. Ask directly: "Does anything hurt?" Check fingers, toes, and shoulders — the most common competition injury sites.
• Emotional shutdown. A child who goes completely silent and refuses to engage may be processing a difficult loss. Give them space but stay close. They may need 15-20 minutes before they are ready to talk.
• Excessive anxiety about the next match. Some children spiral between matches. Deep breathing, coach reassurance, and physical warmup help. If the anxiety is severe, it is okay to withdraw from the next match. Your child's mental health matters more than the bracket.

What happens after the last match is just as important as the match itself.

At the Venue

• Thank the coach. Your child should shake their coach's hand or give them a fist bump and say thank you. This is basic jiu-jitsu etiquette.
• Thank the opponent(s). If you see the opponent's family, a brief "great match" is sportsmanship. This is a small community and you will see these families again.
• Collect gear. Account for both gis, belt, mouthguard, water bottles, and everything else. Leaving a belt at a tournament venue is a rite of passage but an avoidable one.
• Take a photo. Win or lose, take a photo at the venue. Your child competed today. That is worth documenting.
• Ice any injuries. If anything hurts, ice it now. Do not wait until you get home.

The Car Ride Home

The car ride home is a critical moment. How you handle this conversation sets the tone for whether your child wants to compete again.

Good approaches:

• "How did it feel out there?" — Open-ended, invites the child to share their experience
• "What was your favorite part?" — Focuses on the positive
• "I was proud of how hard you worked." — Effort-based praise, not outcome-based
• Say nothing. If your child does not want to talk, respect that. Let them process.

Bad approaches:

• "Why didn't you do the armbar when you had mount?" — Tactical analysis in the car is premature
• "The ref was terrible." — Teaches externalization
• "You'll win next time." — Puts pressure on future outcomes
• "Let's watch the video." — Video review should happen with the coach, not on the car ride home

The 48-Hour Rule

Do not make any decisions about future competition for 48 hours. This applies to both negative and positive reactions:

• A child who says "I never want to do that again" on Saturday may ask about the next tournament on Tuesday.
• A child who is euphoric after a gold medal may crash emotionally on Sunday. That is normal too.

Wait 48 hours, then have a calm conversation about the experience and what comes next.

The Following Week: Coach Debrief

The best time for tactical review is at the next regular training session. Your child's coach can review match video, identify areas for improvement, and set goals for the next tournament.

What a good coach debrief covers:

• What went well (always lead with positives)
• 1-2 specific areas to improve (not a laundry list)
• A plan for addressing those areas in training
• When the next tournament might be (4-6 weeks is a good cadence)

Tracking Progress on JITS.GG

After the tournament, your child's results will appear on their JITS.GG profile within a few days (depending on how quickly the organization reports results). Check their profile to see:

• Updated match record
• JITS Rating change
• Tournament history across all tracked organizations
• Head-to-head records against opponents they have faced multiple times

Share the profile with your child's coach. The data provides an objective foundation for setting development goals.

For the complete guide on managing the first three tournaments, see our three-tournament plan. For scoring details, see our BJJ scoring rules guide.