According to the Federation Internationale de Football Association, more than 240 million people around the world play soccer regularly. Globally, 25 million children play soccer or “football” every year. In addition, children see health benefits from team sports, as it’s recommended that children and adolescents should participate in at least one hour of physical activity each day. Planning a soccer tournament can be a great way to get children and parents involved in soccer, and serves as a motivator for local teams. However, there is a lot of planning that needs to be done before you can have a tournament. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking to host a tournament for local children’s soccer teams.
Location
The key to a successful youth soccer tournament experience is finding the right location to host the event. There needs to be at least one field for the teams to play on, places for spectators to watch, and adequate bathroom facilities. When choosing between locations, ask about insurance requirements, field preparation protocol, cleaning, and any other tasks involved with using the facility. Also make sure that the facility will be available when you plan to host your tournament.
Budget
Budgeting for a youth soccer tournament can be difficult, especially for those who are hosting for the first time. By creating an expense budget, you can get a better picture of the costs involved, such as renting a location and purchasing trophies. If you’re having difficulty funding the event, consider raising the ticket price, or look for sponsorship to lend a helping hand.
Security
Soccer tournaments bring people together, and when people come together, anything can happen. When holding a tournament, inform the local police and fire departments so they can be called upon as necessary. It’s also important to lay down ground rules of the tournament, such as the banning of alcohol and drug use. In addition, proper first aid should be available at all times.
Do you have any tips to add to this list? Need help organizing your next soccer tournament? Let us know!