Sports are some of the best parts about summer. And nothing pairs better with those summer sports than a great tailgating party. Whether it’s a baseball game, a NASCAR race, a tennis match or even a swim meet, grilling out some burgers and brats makes every event more fun. Football tailgates may be the most popular, but the summer sun and the beautiful weather make summer sporting events the best time to pack a cooler.

The parking lot festivities before the game set the game-day mood and stir up team spirit for the athletes inside the stadiums.

Whether you’re a rookie to the tailgating atmosphere or a pro, there are sure to be a few tips here to improve your pre-game parties.

DO coordinate with your group. Make sure you know where you’re going to park so that everyone can easily carry their chairs and coolers over to the predetermined area. Establish who’s bringing what as well. Otherwise you’ll end up with four bottles of ketchup and no meat.

DON’T park in a sketchy area.. Stick to stadium parking lots. They’re more fun and in-the-action anyway. It’s worth the ten dollar parking fee to keep your car from being broken into.

DO mark your territory right away. You don’t want to be squished up against the trunk of your car the whole time, and people move fast to mark their spots. Remember to bring enough chairs to establish your area and for everyone to sit in. If you’re there for a few hours, that 24-pack of beer you figured you could sit on gets uncomfortable, especially when it gets down to 10 halfway through the tailgate party.

DO bring a great playlist. There’s nothing better to get you excited for a game than a good beat. Pay attention to your neighbors though, and if they’re not enjoying it, don’t be rude and play something else.

DO bring a quick pop-up tent to protect from sun or rain. Make sure you know how to use them, though – you don’t want to spend all of your time on assembly or be late to the game.

DON’T forget the sunscreen. Even if it’s not that hot, standing out in the sun for hours unprotected is not smart. You WILL regret it in the morning when you’re redder than a lobster. So lather up the sunscreen and keep your shirt on. Especially if you have a Big letter painted on your chest (which could be another whole ‘DON’T on my list).

DO grill out. Games are better with a brat in your tummy. They just are.

DON’T think there is such a thing as too much food. Trust me, it will all be eaten. And if not, there is nothing wrong with leftover burgers for lunch the next day.

DO make friends with neighboring tailgaters. Share your food, offer up a beer, let them borrow the mustard. That being said, don’t be the guy who brings nothing and mooches off everyone else.

DO bring a football. Or a glove and ball, or cornhole, ladder golf or a Frisbee. If you’re there for hours, standing around the grill chit-chatting can get old. With all the food being consumed, you could use some exercise anyway. Make sure you keep it casual and stay fairly close together. You don’t want to throw from hundreds of feet away and hit cars or children and knock over hot grills. Catch is more fun with a drink in your hand anyway.

DON’T litter. Be nice to the clean-up crews - those lots are huge.

DON’T put your grill back in the car while it’s still hot – let it cool down. You may be in a hurry to get to the game, but putting a hot grill in your car is a terrible decision. There have been numerous car fires due to hot grills, and that will ruin even the most exciting win. Try to find a charcoal disposal bin to get rid of the hot coals and let the grill sit for at least an hour. Remember, better safe than sorry.

DON’T get too wasted. You don’t want to be too drunk to know how to get in the stadium, and you don’t want to puke all over everyone once you do get in. Everyone hates that guy who causes his friends to miss the game because he’s too drunk. And you will NEVER hear the end of it.

DON’T forget the tickets. Don’t forget them at home and don’t forget them in the car. The game won’t wait for you to run back to your car.

DON’T let your battery die. Don’t leave the car door open for hours and then realize the overhead light has killed your battery. Don’t leave the car radio on either, or your car won’t start for you after the game. There will most likely be plenty of experienced tailgaters around to rescue you with jumper cables, but don’t embarrass yourself by being that guy.

DON’T forget the little things. Grilling utensils, buns, baggies for any un-eaten food, garbage bags and napkins. Make a list of things you will need the night before, because there is always something little forgotten. And don’t forget to bring plenty of water. After spending hours in the sun, you don’t want to end up dehydrated.

DO have a post-game plan. Wait for the traffic to die down, kick back and finish those bags of chips. Instead of sitting in your car forever waiting to get out of the parking lot just to drive 10 miles-an-hour on the freeway, If your team won, keep the celebration alive. And if you lost, well, forget about it with a few beers. If it gets to be too many, though, make sure you find a shuttle, bus or cab home.

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