How to create a basketball tournament

How To... Organize a Basketball Tournament

The success of any tournament depends on the quality of planning that occurs before the event. The following information is provided to the host tournament committee to aid them with the different steps required to successfully organize a basketball tournament at any level. The following checklists and tips will act as a reference point to properly plan your event from start to finish!

6 Weeks Before…

• Build a Tournament Committee to assist with the planning and operation of the event.  One person shouldn’t take all of the following tasks on themselves!  A committee should be comprised of; Tournament Committee Chair – oversees all aspects of the event; Treasurer – prepares budgets, collects fees – registration and admission; Publicity - advertises an event, media contact, secures sponsors, etc.; Scheduling - prepares and circulates the tournament schedule and results; Facility Manager – secures gym, sets up facility including gate; Hospitality – coordinates a canteen and hospitality room for coaches and referees; Equipment Manager - manages different equipment needs including balls, score clocks, scoresheets, etc; Technical – communicates with referees and scorekeepers
• Reserve gymnasium space.   Get the permit booked in writing to avoid any miscommunications or problems.  See School Division contact list.
• Prepare a budget that will address all possible revenues and expenses.  Prepare for some cost overruns.
• Make a list of the equipment required to stage such an event (basketballs, scoresheets, banners, signage, etc).  You may need to add some items to your budget planning.
• Contact an appropriate Referee Assignor to ensure their availability and knowledge of the event (date, time, location, age level, etc).
• Design and print tournament flyer and registration form.
• Promote the even to the teams you are targeting.  Ask the WMBA office for a list of coaches at that age level(s).  
• Register the tournament with the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association if your tournament is at the High School level.
• If the tournament is NOT a school-based one, register it with Basketball Manitoba by completing our Online Tournament Sanction Form (coming soon).   All tournaments involving Basketball Manitoba teams require sanctioning prior to the event.  You must use MABO-certified referees at the event for the sanctioning to be approved.
• Plan the tournament format.  Most tournaments run with 8 teams.  You can run your tournament with as many teams as you wish, but we suggest going with at least 4.  See our collection of Schedule Samples for assistance. 
• Order awards for the tournament.  You will need to account for this in the tournament budget.  Ideas range from individual medals, trophies or certificates to team trophies and banners.  Contact an area trophy store to view some samples. Ensure that you get your order in on time to avoid last-minute rushes!
• Develop a sponsorship request letter and circulate to area businesses and groups asking for support.  Different levels of support can include financial or products.  Focus on the items you need for the event to run and try to get them covered off by a sponsor such as awards or equipment.   This can also offset your tournament entry fee to make the event more attractive to join!
• Meet with your Tournament Committee to ensure all their duties and responsibilities are on schedule.

4 Weeks Before…

• Process registrations collected from teams.  Use a basic spreadsheet program (Excel) to properly track and register teams.  Provide a written confirmation of being accepted into the event (email will do).
• Design and print publicity posters and tickets for admission
• Contact qualified first aid personnel to be in attendance at the event.  Ensure they have proper first aid equipment.
• If you are inviting teams from out of town, compile a list of accommodation options in your area.  A good start can be the Manitoba Hotel Association.
• Meet with your Tournament Committee to ensure all their duties and responsibilities are on schedule.

3 Weeks Before…

• Secure all the equipment required for the tournament and check their condition.
• Draw up final tournament schedule.  Plan for possible last-minute cancellations. Create a waiting list of teams if you have an excess number of teams.
• Send information package to participating teams (include tournament draw, dates, times locations, and specific details on the event such as changing room facilities, warm-up balls provided, etc).
• Provide tournament schedule to the Referee Assignor you spoke with 2 weeks ago.
• Follow-up with any secured sponsors to ensure support is still there.
• Circulate posters and flyers to areas schools and merchants
• Consider developing a tournament program.  Ask teams to submit rosters and produce copies for sell – can add to your revenue stream.  Use program as an option for sponsors to advertise in.
• Meet with your Tournament Committee to ensure all their duties and responsibilities are on schedule.

1 Week Before…

• Secure all awards
• Obtain a schedule of referee assignments
• Complete the program and get it printed.
• Obtain products from sponsors
• Ensure the referees are aware of any tournament rule modifications to be used at the tournament.  It’s best to provide this in writing to the Referee's Assignor and have copies for the teams and on-site at the tournament.
• Prepare and circulate a media release announcing the tournament and arrange for game results to be included in their reports.
  Prepare a first-aid kit to be on-site at the tournament. 
• Make final equipment check (including clocks, scoresheets, tables, chairs, team benches, etc)
• Print a number of large ‘master’ draws to be placed in the gym area.  Update them throughout the event to ensure teams are aware of the schedule.
• If charging admission or running a canteen, ensure you are well stocked with food and drink and have change ready for sales.
• Consider hosting a ‘hospitality room’ for coaches, referees and volunteers.  Stock it with food, drink.  Most hospitality rooms are held in a classroom near the gym.   It allows for those involved in the event to take a break from their duties. 
  Meet with your Tournament Committee to ensure all their duties and responsibilities are on schedule.

During the event...

• Plan on being there at least 1 hour prior to the first game starting.
• Meet with your Tournament Committee to ensure all their duties and responsibilities are on schedule.

Follow-up…

• Complete all payments of expenses such as referees, awards, gym rental and other administrative costs.
• Send thank-you letters to those who were instrumental in helping with the event (teams, volunteers, sponsors, referees, etc).
• Review your budget and make notes for your next event.
• Make a list of what went well and what needs improvement for your next event.

Other Information
Tournament Information Package to teams
The following items can be included in your Team Package.

• Introductory letter
• Accommodation price lists and locations (for out of town teams)
• Tournament schedule and sites 
• Restaurant lists and locations (for out of town teams)
• Specific rule modifications 
• City map

Referees
It is important to communicate with the head referee assignor as to the exact schedule of games and any specific game modifications pertaining to the tournament.  It is also wise to tape down a copy of the rules to the score table for quick reference through the event.

Equipment

• 2 game balls (ensure you have the correct size ball for the level of play)
• Scoresheets & pens
• Access to the school’s Scoreclock
• 1 score table with 2 chairs
• 2 team benches

GOOD LUCK!!

Hosting a Basketball Tournament | Hoover Met Complex

Hosting a basketball tournament can be an incredibly rewarding endeavor if you prepare properly. Not only does a basketball tournament promote friendly competition, but it also creates a great opportunity to bring members of your community together. Through winter cold and summer heat, you can host a basketball tournament any time of year with the right indoor sports facility. Today, the team at Hoover Met Complex will discuss exactly what you need to do in order to host a basketball tournament at an indoor sports facility.

Decide on the Format of the Tournament

The first decision you need to make is the format of your tournament. The logistics of a 3-on-3 tournament can greatly differ from a 5-on-5 tournament. You can choose male or female only, or co-ed tournaments. You can also select designated age ranges or competitive and casual tournaments. All of these choices have the potential to impact registration numbers.

It is important to remember that fewer designations do not necessarily mean you will have more people register, simply because more will be eligible. Oftentimes, groups will be more reluctant to join if they don’t believe they will have a competitive chance. So if you have a particular demographic target in mind, try to create a tournament that will be attractive to them.

Find Volunteers or Staff for the Competition

Athletic tournaments rely heavily on volunteer and staff help. Your tournament will need referees, people to run concessions, stat keepers, scorekeepers, and more. If you are unable to find enough volunteers, many indoor sports facilities will have staff members that can work tournaments. If you are unsure about the staffing needs of your tournament, your indoor sports facility can help with contacts for referee associations and other potential resources.

Funding Your Tournament

There are two generally accepted ways to raise funds for the overhead of your tournament. The first option is to charge the teams an entry fee. Many facilities offer merchandise like tournament t-shirts, which can be included in the entry fee or sold per item to players and fans.

The second option is to charge spectator entry fees or sell tickets to watch the tournament. This option is a bit more difficult to pull off. We generally recommend you avoid this option for the first year of the tournament. Once you have established your brand and attracted an audience, you can more effectively implement an admission fee.

Advertise Your Tournament

Now that you have the framework, volunteers, and funding, all you need to do is book a venue and advertise your tournament. You can use social media to get the word out, contact your local newspaper, or even go old school with flyers. Whatever you do, you need to get the word out for your tournament to be a success.

Book Your Tournament at Hoover Met Complex

If you are interested in booking your own basketball tournament, contact Hoover Met Complex today. Our facilities are more than capable of handling any size tournament, with up to 11 high school-sized basketball courts all under one roof. Call our team today at 205-739-7364. There are plenty of good reasons to host your basketball tournament at Hoover Met. For more reasons, check out this blog: Four Reasons to Book Your Tournament at Hoover Met Complex

How to organize a streetball tournament in your city?

Streetball is the same basketball, only the game takes place in one ring and with fewer players. Each team is represented by four people (three people on the court, one person is a substitute). Streetball is not just a hobby, but a sport that is included in the Olympic program.

Atmosphere

Streetball is characterized by the atmosphere of the street. Just imagine: there are a lot of people around, the music is booming, you can hear the sound of the ball on the asphalt, someone is rapping and coming up with “sketches” of their new hip-hop song… This is the streetball atmosphere! You don’t even need to look for the whole site, just one ring is enough.

Therefore, if you are ready to do something interesting and memorable in your city, then this material is for you. I want to share my experience in organizing a mass event - a youth streetball tournament.

- Advertising -

For three seasons the tournament (winter 2015, summer 2015, summer 2016) brought together about 450 participants. These were schoolchildren and students of the city of Kemerovo and the Kemerovo region.

So where do you start?

Regulations

Preparation begins with drafting regulations. It should clearly and concisely define the goals, objectives, time, place, main description of the tournament. In the future, you can send it to various student and school associations in order to advertise the event and attract the maximum number of participants.

Finance

The topic is quite interesting for every event. In my case, the university provided financial support. But before the university will allocate funds, it is necessary to draw up an estimate of expenses.

What is needed for the estimate:

1. Name;
2. Dates and venue;
3. Expenses for a judge, presenter, sound engineer;
4. Expenses for prizes.

In my opinion, an event deserves a worthy assessment when it is possible to pay attention to each participant and present him with a memorable prize. But now I'm talking about an event with a small budget. Therefore, we will limit ourselves to prizes for first, second, third places, plus prizes for various mini-competitions (SlamDank - the player jumps over the ring and puts the ball in the basket, three-point shot, "Best Player" among women's and men's teams). Don't forget about sponsors!

Team

Like-minded people are definitely needed! Five - seven people are enough for your cool tournament! When the "Dream team" is assembled, make a plan, share the functionality. NEVER think that you can do everything yourself! It is better to let a person make a little mistake or do it wrong. You can fix it, and next time it will be great! This is more effective than going out of your way and doing everything yourself. Trust people!

Preparation

Set a deadline. This is very important in any event! Your work will be more productive when there are clear boundaries. If we talk about the timing, then you can start preparing two or three months in advance. What needs to be done during this time?

1. Prepare a sponsorship offer, find sponsors, partners, info-partners. The biggest and most difficult stage is the preparation stage. You must remember to offer offset terms. If you ask for something, you should give something in return: placing a logo on the poster, placing their banner on the court on the day of the tournament, telling about them in the tournament group, and much more.
2. Create a poster design. It is very cool if you have found a designer who understands and knows his business! Success depends on the atmosphere of the poster!
3. Start advertising (creating a group, sending to VK, Instagram text with a poster).
4. Start working with members (group invite, private messages to target members).
5. An important point is the organization of the show program. That is, you need to find the IDEAL presenter, sound engineer, photographer, videographer, judge, secretary. The mood, one might say, the outcome of the entire tournament depends on these people. Be sure not to forget about the equipment! Streetball without music will not work.
6. Be sure to have a health worker present. In extreme cases, make a first aid kit. (this is a requirement of the law and just common sense)
7. In summer, don't forget about the awning, under which there will be a registration desk and a secretary, a net for rings, warm-up balls.
8. Think about the format of the tournament and discuss it with the main judge. First, form a table that will determine the order of meetings of the participating teams. Then carry out a draw, according to the results of which the teams are entered into the table according to the number received.

Then we start the tournament itself. We have knockout games: if a team loses one game, it leaves the standings.

WINTER & SUMMER. When is the best time to host a tournament?

I believe that any time has its pros and cons. Of course, in the summer there are more points to take note of.

• Set up an awning for the secretaries and organizers to work comfortably.
• Install the nets on the rings. Often on the grounds where streetball is played in the summer, there are no nets on the rings. This also needs to be taken care of.
• Think in advance on what and how to deliver equipment, tables, chairs, and conduct power supply.

In summer, the advantage is that people are outdoors (many people are more comfortable doing active sports when they are outdoors). But, the downside is that sometimes it is very hot, since the event usually starts from 9-16 hours and it is difficult to play and stay in the scorching sun for most of the day. In this case, try to find partners or sponsors who can provide participants with water.

In winter, the situation is simpler: the gym already has nets on the rings, an awning is not needed, tables, chairs and power supply are nearby.

These recommendations are based on my experience in organizing. And to use them or leave it in the box read - everyone's choice! Good luck!

P.S. If you have any questions or would like to supplement this article, then we ask you not to be silent, but to use the comment form below)

😉 Interested in Youngspace?

• Join the group VK : vk.com/youngspacemag
• Or subscribe to Telegram : t.me/youngspacemag

More on the topic:

Is it possible to create a league of super clubs and not kill the national championships? - I Feel Devotion - Blogs

On the example of the Euroleague.

How European basketball works

The main difference between football and basketball is not that football players can only dream of a superclub league, while basketball players realize everything. The main difference is that the football system in its current form more or less works for everyone, while in basketball they cannot come to at least a non-ideal model and, without particularly risking anything, they have the opportunity to go even to extreme experiments (which, unfortunately, not happening).

There are many reasons for this, but in a nutshell:

• Major league basketball is not in Europe and sucks in talent from all over the world;

• In most European countries, basketball is very much less popular than football and does not pay off at all;

• Because of this, even the most successful, most popular, most well-managed clubs go into the red and exist thanks to municipalities or sponsors;

The most typical story for European basketball is the Italian Siena. Five years ago, it was one of the monsters of the Euroleague, not losing in the home championship. The other day, "Siena" was unable to go to an away match in the second division of the Italian league.

Basketball is popular mainly in the south of Europe, in the countries with the weakest economies. And he is extremely vulnerable to any shocks: Greek giants Oli and Pao have regular problems, Fenerbahce felt discomfort as soon as Dogus left basketball, Alisher Usmanov saved Khimki a few years ago . .. Even superclubs cannot be sure in tomorrow.

• The nature of basketball is that it's class that decides, so the richer clubs almost always win, sensations are something unique and totally unrepeatable at a distance;

• And that's why almost all European championships live in a state of entrenched hierarchy. For decades, the same teams have been fighting for medals, the same teams have been jostling in mid-table traffic.

• Accordingly, this leads to stagnation. Without internal intrigue, without new names, without stars, but with a clear hierarchy, national championships cannot develop qualitatively. Each of them has its own superclubs, but they themselves are closely inside the leagues, which they regularly iron, but without any pleasure.

• No one seems to be to blame for such a device. So it happened historically, something like the allocation of the rich in the peasant communities - the natural process of the formation of giant clubs took place in almost all decent European leagues.

An important feature to understand is that basketball superclubs can't compete globally with football superclubs, of course, but they're just as competitive within their sport. Only the naive believe that the main team of the country is the Russian team. The main team of the country is CSKA. If we take the basketball audience (and not people who are ready to cheer for a cockroach race participant if only under the tricolor), then the majority here supports the army team.

• At the same time, all European leagues are united in a common system through European competitions, and therefore cannot change anything at their level (introduce new rules, set a salary cap, and so on).

Accordingly, only two alternatives are seen as a logical solution . Both of them are imperfect, but you can only choose from them.