Hosting A Sports Banquet

Tips for Hosting a Sports Banquet

For years we’ve celebrated our sports heroes. We’ve admired their commitment, paid respect for tenacious effort and we have celebrated the brightest moments, in both success and failure. Nowhere is this practice more alive than in amateur sports and it lives vividly at the end of each season when we celebrate our athletes with a season ending sports banquet. The stars of the show vary depending on the sport.  If it's a high school team, it'll probably be the senior athletes, but the trick is making all of the athletes feel special – after all, they’ve all worked hard through the season.  

Here are some more suggestions for making your sports banquet memorable:

Decorate with team uniforms

There’s nothing more personal for an athlete than the uniforms and equipment they take into battle. They wear their gear with tremendous pride and putting some of these items on display at the banquet conjures up memories and inspiration. 

Fill the space with team color

This is straightforward, but rather than just hang a couple streamers and have a banner, put a committee together and take over a space with team colors and paraphernalia. “Own” the space and make it feel like an extension of your school spirit.

Make the kids the stars

So often banquets are bogged down by parent co-chairs, coaches and assistant coaches who all want to pass on sentiments about the season, pass on “props” for coordinating the event, etc. Of course, this is important to do, but our recommendation is to keep it brief and be sure it’s directed towards the student athletes. Make sure there is ample, yet controlled, amount of time for the kids to reflect on the season. Usually the kids provide the most entertaining moments of the evening.

Produce a highlight video

Kids love pictures and every kid loves to see themselves on the big screen and if you’ve attended a sports banquet, you have sat through many of these. First, be sure your venue has audio/visual equipment to support the video and test it ahead of time for audio levels. Secondly, keep the video brief and uplifting. If possible keep it 5-7 minutes in duration. Let the gathering know how long the video is, so they have the right expectation. So often, this part of the program drags on with no end in sight and you want to be sure you leave your families inspired!

Have fun!!!

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Tips for Hosting a Sports Banquet

For years we’ve celebrated our sports heroes. We’ve admired their commitment, paid respect for tenacious effort and we have celebrated the brightest moments, in both success and failure. Nowhere is this practice more alive than in amateur sports and it lives vividly at the end of each season when we celebrate our athletes with a season ending sports banquet. The stars of the show vary depending on the sport.  If it's a high school team, it'll probably be the senior athletes, but the trick is making all of the athletes feel special – after all, they’ve all worked hard through the season.  

Here are some more suggestions for making your sports banquet memorable:

Decorate with team uniforms

There’s nothing more personal for an athlete than the uniforms and equipment they take into battle. They wear their gear with tremendous pride and putting some of these items on display at the banquet conjures up memories and inspiration. 

Fill the space with team color

This is straightforward, but rather than just hang a couple streamers and have a banner, put a committee together and take over a space with team colors and paraphernalia. “Own” the space and make it feel like an extension of your school spirit.

Make the kids the stars

So often banquets are bogged down by parent co-chairs, coaches and assistant coaches who all want to pass on sentiments about the season, pass on “props” for coordinating the event, etc. Of course, this is important to do, but our recommendation is to keep it brief and be sure it’s directed towards the student athletes. Make sure there is ample, yet controlled, amount of time for the kids to reflect on the season. Usually the kids provide the most entertaining moments of the evening.

Produce a highlight video

Kids love pictures and every kid loves to see themselves on the big screen and if you’ve attended a sports banquet, you have sat through many of these. First, be sure your venue has audio/visual equipment to support the video and test it ahead of time for audio levels. Secondly, keep the video brief and uplifting. If possible keep it 5-7 minutes in duration. Let the gathering know how long the video is, so they have the right expectation. So often, this part of the program drags on with no end in sight and you want to be sure you leave your families inspired!

Have fun!!!

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.