There’s no better way to celebrate the team’s accomplishments than having an end of the season party. Not only is it the perfect opportunity to recognize the athletes, but also the parents that have helped throughout the season. An end of the season party is one of the most exciting parts of any season. Games, food, and comradery result in an awesome time for everyone.

However, those tasked with planning the team party might not be as enthusiastic leading up to it. Organizing any kind of soiree, especially ones where you’re expecting a lot of people, is an extremely stressful affair. An end of the season party can have a lot of time consuming aspects. So much so, that you shouldn’t be the sole person in charge of the shindig.

Check out these important elements you need to consider, as well as some helpful insight into how to plan the team party like a professional.

Location

When considering where to host the party, there are a couple viable options available. You could always host at your house or the house of another willing parent. While this is the cheapest alternative, there are a few rather large negatives to having it at someone’s home. First and foremost, preparation and cleanup will mostly fall on the home owner. The host might also be expected to provide more of the food and drinks. Depending on the size of the team, a house might be a tight fit too, causing everyone to be a bit uncomfortable.

A park and/or pool are solid places to have an end of season party. Plenty of room and nice weather are two ingredients for a great time. Kids can freely run around and play, while adults can get a break and relax. Renting a park or pool is generally inexpensive and it isn’t asking too much to have other parents pitch in on the cost. Regarding food, you can either have people bring a dish or two, or get it catered. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend on the party.

Restaurants with sufficient space to accommodate your team are another option. Costs will be lower because after paying for the room, parents can simply pay for themselves and their children’s entrees. This choice makes figuring out who owes what very simple.

Things to include

There are a few things that every end of season party should have. One way to really make the party a success is to hand out trophies to the kids. There is no limit regarding what you want to award the kids for. You could recognize someone for “most improved player throughout the season,” or something a bit sillier like, “team joker.” Get creative with it. Trophies are typically pretty cheap and won’t dig a significant hole in the funds. Getting parents to give a couple dollars isn’t a bad idea either.

If you’re the coach, preparing a speech is not only appreciated by the team, it’s somewhat expected. Reflect on the season you and your team had and talk about how well everyone played. Remember to mention some memorable moments that occurred and keep it uplifting and positive. Along with a speech, ask around and gather pictures that parents or kids took during the season. Creating a photo reel can be a funny and amazing way to look back on the season and relive some fond memories. A highlight video is another cool idea, but this one is a bit more challenging to put together.

Entertainment

The amount of games and activities you can include depends on where the party is being held. Houses with a big yard or parks are the ideal locations for plenty of games. A restaurant or smaller house limits the entertainment options significantly. Regardless of where the party is held, the kids will appreciate some amusing activities. Try to incorporate games that require little to no set up. Dizzy Bat, Tug of War, and Water Balloon Toss are three fun choices..

Food

Unless the party is happening at a restaurant, planning what to do for the food becomes one of the most important items on the list. There are really only two possibilities that make sense. Collect money from the parents to pay for catering from a restaurant. Even some grocery stores cater to large groups. The cheaper alternative is to ask every family to bring a dish and have a potluck style meal.

 

As you can see, planning for an end of season party is no simple task. The to-do list is rather long. Treating each task as a separate entity can help put things in perspective and seem more manageable. Hopefully, you’re planning process goes smoothly and your team has a tremendous time celebrating a successful season.