1. Find a venue. So, you’ve decided that you want to run a sports event – great! Where will you host the event? Once you’ve found a suitable place, make sure you organise a site visit.
2. Find a team. On your team you will need a core leadership group, some experienced and qualified sports instructors and some passionate volunteers. All leaders and volunteers should be DBS checked, so make sure to recruit early to enable the necessary checks to be done.
3. Decide on the programme. Which sports do you want to run? What age range will the event be for? How will you incorporate teaching into the day, and how will it be themed?
4. Figure out your budget. Create a budget listing all of your expected expenditure and income. Be realistic in your planning as unexpected costs may arise. Local councils are often willing to give grants to properly supervised activities which benefit the community.
5. Advertise your event and notify parents. The more people who know about it, the more people who may come! You could put posters up, speak in assemblies, advertise in local newspapers and on Facebook, and utilise existing networks and mailing lists.
6. Organise events and activities to involve the children long-term. Consider organising more frequent activities of this sort, and make sure you have publicity materials to give to people at this event.
7. Train your team. You could either host a social evening, so that members of the team can get to know each other, or provide specialist training in the sports or teaching content of the event.
8. Collect all the equipment. Gather everything that you need for the event. A lot of sports equipment can be borrowed from local schools, clubs or community centres – so ask around to see if people have the things you need.
9. Put on the event!
10. Post-event follow-up. Continue the relationships and conversations built with the children and parents with similar follow-up activities.
