A little healthy and friendly competition never hurts anyone, and the best way to showcase this is through sports. Sports are fun for everyone, from the participants to the spectators. And there’s no better time to host a sporting event than the summer. But before you get up and active, there are a few tips you should follow for planning and setting up an outdoor sporting event.

Pick a sport

Get organized first and pick a sport you know will draw everyone’s attention. Deciding on the sporting event helps eliminate other tasks on your list. Depending on the sport, you can narrow down your venue options. You can also decide the age range of the participants.

Take a poll on social media and give everyone some options. Once you see the sports with the highest votes, you’ll know what equipment you need to purchase and the snacks to bring to keep everyone energized. The next thing you need to do is find a reputable referee for the day.

Send the invites

Send out the invites early and have people RSVP. Like the first point, sending out the invites help narrow down a location to host the event.

Send out the invites via email. Make an Evite list and send a follow-up reminder as the event approaches. There, remind everyone of the time, location, and any other important details they need to know to enjoy the day. Also, warn everyone early if you have limited amounts of parking.

Plan for comfort

Aside from beautiful nature, the great outdoors doesn’t offer up much comfort. You will need to pick up the slack when it comes to amenities. If you have a limited amount of seating, bring some extra chairs and design a section where spectators can watch the sport.

Naturally, you will need to provide everyone with proper lavatory accommodations. When you purchase your portable restrooms, consider getting a hand sanitizing station. Keeping your hands clean throughout the day is a priority for everyone. Participants can clean their hands after the game before they indulge in the food and snacks you provided.

Bring the equipment

This might be an obvious point, but you’d be surprised to learn about the number of people who forgot to bring the goals, cones, or even the ball. Make a checklist of all the equipment you need that day. Bring extra safety equipment in case any participants come without it.

Safety goes beyond mouth guards and kneepads. Bring a first aid kit as well because you never know what can happen. Hopefully, the day goes by without any serious injuries, but you never want to be caught off guard.

You can expect the whole day to go off without a hitch if you follow these tips for planning and setting up an outdoor sporting event.