Time for a tournament?

* Collaborative post

With spring well and truly underway, we’re all starting to look towards summer. Long days, hot weather, and luxury. Or, if you’re a parent, long days, bored children, and stress. That’s right; the summer holidays will be here before we know. They’re never easy, and we all search desperately for ideas to keep kids amused. We want things that get them out the house and burn excess energy. Days out and holidays are all well and good, but they aren’t always practical. We also need ideas for at home days, when we have nothing particular planned but still want to get them outside.

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Sports are always a safe bet. They can’t play them in the house, so that’s the outside part dealt with. Plus, they get plenty of exercise, so they burn off energy. But, it’s not always easy to get them motivated. Sport comes naturally to some kids, but others fight against it like it might kill them. How do you get the latter group to give it a go? You add a little competition, of course. Throwing a tournament could help get them excited. It might even start an ongoing love. So, what do you need to consider to make sure your tournament goes well?

Pick a sport

The game you choose could make all the difference. Choosing the wrong one could turn an already sceptical child against the idea for good. It might help to stick to sports your kids are familiar with. Ask them what they’ve already done at school, and make a choice based off of that. Girls physical education often focuses on games like netball, while boys play football more.

The gear

You’re also going to need to stock up. First, you’ll need to buy the right equipment. This will vary depending on your sport. Get the correct balls and goals. It may also be fun to stock up on t-shirts for each team. You don’t have to spend a fortune here. Cheap t-shirts in different colours will work fine. It may also be worth stocking up on awards and trophies. Get a large one for the winners, and smaller awards for the losing team to avoid anyone going home empty handed. You don’t want to dissuade anyone or cause arguments!

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The right children

You can’t have a tournament without inviting a few of your kid’s friends. Make sure you ask kids who you know will behave. Having one rough child could ruin the game for everyone. Make sure, too, that you invite an even amount of kids. You’re going to need to split them into teams, and leaving things uneven could cause problems. It’s also worth limiting your numbers. As this is your first time, you want a group that you can keep an eye on.

Once you’ve done all the above, you’ll be ready to go. Remember, while the match is taking place, to keep things fun. Competition may be healthy, but kids take things seriously. It’s the taking part that counts!