Tripod question for sports photography

[tbar23]

I recently purchased an RF100-500mm L lens for an upcoming safari trip. I had been thinking of renting it, but decided that it could do double-duty for my son's sporting events and that pushed me to purchase.
This is my first lens with a "foot", and definitely the largest lens I have ever owned.
I'm wondering what people find to be most useful / convenient when shooting sporting events (e.g. lacrosse, football, soccer, etc.)?
I have a pair of relatively inexpensive tripods - one is a Joby RangePod with a ballhead and Arca-swiss mount.
The other one has a pretty cheap pan-and-tilt head with some kind of quick-release and plate, too.

Any advice / suggestions?

 

[wfd28]

I shoot Marching Band Championship shows on the football field. Monopod I think would be a better choice. Constantly on the move up and down the sideline. I would not want to keep setting a tripod. I guess you could keep the 3 legs together making like a monopod, but just seems too bulky to me.

 

[Jake Shoots Birds]

Vote #2 for a monopod for sports.

 

[tbar23]

And thoughts on mount? Ballhead or other?

 

[Jake Shoots Birds]

And thoughts on mount? Ballhead or other?

For me a ballhead defeats the purpose of a monopod, which is mainly to keep you operating on a plane. That's mostly horizontal, but depending on your position you may need to tilt up or down so I have just a simple tilt head on mine.

 

[wfd28]

+1 on the tilt head

 

[tbar23]

Thanks, all. So a decent aluminum or carbon monopod. Then something like an arca-Swiss tilt head.
One more Q: I just spent nearly $3k on a lens, so I’m not looking to be penny-wise pound foolish, but I see both monopods and tilt heads that range from a few $10s to $100+. Do you get what you pay for on this stuff?
The Manfrotto head noted above is reasonably priced, but I’d really like to get away from proprietary quick-releases and go to something standard. I already have some Arca-swiss stuff around.

 

[wfd28]

I have an older Manfrotto monopod so not familiar with latest models. I have the 234RC quick release system tilt head and the same quick release on top of the 322RC2 ball head system on my tripod.

 

[Bettcherphoto]

Most sports events won't allow tripods on the sidelines for example. Monopod all the way.

 

[RedCobra]

Leofoto makes a nice monopod (copy of RRS) and monopod head (copy of the Wimberly) and has a Xmas discount running I think.

Monopods Kit

leofotousa.com