A Better Seat for Footy and Netball Sidelines

If you've got kids in junior footy or netball, you know the routine. An early start, a car park that's already full, and a long stretch of standing on the boundary line or at the edge of the court. Then there's the wait between games, and sometimes a second match on the other side of the grounds.

Most clubs have a handful of benches, and they're gone by the first bounce. The rest of us stand, crouch, or sit on damp grass. This post covers what actually helps on sideline days and how to pick a seat you'll bring every week.

Why sideline days wear you out

It isn't one game that does it. It's the whole morning: warm-ups, four quarters, the walk between fields, and the chat with other parents afterwards. You can easily spend two or three hours on your feet without noticing until the drive home.

The ground doesn't help either. Footy ovals are often soft or wet in winter, and netball courts mean hard concrete or asphalt. A good sideline seat needs to handle both.

What to look for in a sideline seat

Easy to carry from the car. You're already carrying a water bottle, snacks, a jacket and possibly a younger sibling. Anything that needs two hands or a trolley gets left behind. Look for something under about two kilos with a shoulder strap.

Steady on grass and concrete. Three-legged stools can tip when one leg sinks into soft turf. A wide four-leg base spreads your weight and feels steadier when you lean forward to watch the play.

Fast to set up and pack away. Games run on a timetable. If moving to the next court means a fiddly fold-up, you'll stop bothering. Aim for something that opens in a few seconds.

Takes up little space. Sidelines get crowded, especially at finals. A big camp chair with armrests blocks the view and the walkway. A compact seat lets you sit close to the line without getting in anyone's way.

Easy to clean. Mud, sunscreen and spilt drinks are part of the day. Fabric you can wipe down beats padding that soaks things up.

How Restup fits a sideline day

Restup weighs 1.4 kg and comes in a carry bag with a shoulder strap, so it goes over your shoulder with everything else. It sets up in a few seconds with no tools: out of the bag, open the legs, sit down. The four-legged X-frame has wide non-slip feet that stay steady on grass, gravel and concrete.

The seat swivels 360°, which is more useful on the sideline than you'd expect. You can follow the ball from one end to the other, or turn around to talk to the parent behind you, without getting up. It holds up to 150 kg, and the fabric seat wipes clean after a muddy morning.

Being honest: it's a stool, not an armchair. There's no backrest, so if you want to lean back and settle in for a full day of cricket, a camp chair might suit you better. And on very soft or boggy ground, any seat's legs can sink a little, so pick a firmer patch if you can.

A few sideline tips

Keep the seat in the car boot during the season so it's always with you. Set up a step or two back from the line so you're out of the way of play and the umpires. Bring a small towel for wet mornings, and wipe the frame down before you pack it away so mud doesn't dry on it.

If you're the parent who ends up minding everyone's bags, a seat also gives you a spot to base yourself. It makes the day feel a lot less like waiting around.

The short version

Sideline days are long, and benches are rare. A light, steady, fast-folding seat makes the difference between standing for three hours and actually enjoying the game. If that sounds like your Saturdays, Restup was made for exactly that.