5) Know the conditions
What do you need to know about conditions?
Well, sitting on a pitch can be cold and damp. As well as that, if it's going to be a windy and wet day then you need to plan for this.
Having the proper clothing, and correct equipment for the weather will be very important. There's nothing worse than being cold and wet. You need to keep warm and dry so that you can concentrate on the sport in front of you.
Hat, gloves, rain trousers, a good warm jacket are all important. It is always good to have them, even if they are not needed. In fact, even in the summer, the evenings can be damp and cold.
With cold weather, don't forget to aclimatise your gear. Going from a warm environment straight to shoot in the cold can make your lens fog up.
As well as that, if it's going to rain, then you will also need to protect your camera. Your camera getting wet could mean disaster. There are many professional solutions for camera protection, including Kata and Aquatech. And then there is the simple plastic bag solution. Having a plastic bag or two in your camera bag can be invaluable.