Make Your Soccer Program More Fun Like a Carnival

5 Ideas to Have the Most Fun Soccer Program in Your Area
Make Every Soccer Game Day Like a Carnival
An Easy Way to Grow Your Soccer Program
Balloon Arch and Announcer Ideas

Note From David. If you make your recreational soccer program (or basketball, baseball, or any youth recreational program) really fun, word will spread and you will attract more players and parents who want to be involved.

David at SoccerHelp

Want to make your recreational soccer program more fun? Want to grow your program by attracting more players and coaches? This article gives you some ideas that can do both. If you make your recreational soccer program (or basketball, baseball, or any youth recreational program) really fun, word will spread and you will attract more players and parents who want to be involved. Plus, everyone will have more fun, and that is what it is all about. You can have fun AND train great soccer players. The 2 ideas are not incompatible. In fact, if it is fun your player retention will greatly increase, but if it isn't fun, lots of kids will stop playing soccer. When I coached U16 Rec, travel players used to come to my practices because they were fun.

Below are 5 ideas. I got 2 of these ideas from the Woodmont Baptist program in Nashville and I thank them. I am not sure to what age the ballon arch would work, but I would think to U10. The other ideas should work for all ages.

Create a Carnival atmosphere. Some ideas are below. Use your imagination. Think of a school carnival.

Buy a battery powered megaphone and recruit a great announcer to orchestrate the fun. I saw one on Amazon for $30 that got 5 stars. They said you could hear it for a hundred yards. DO NOT get a dull announcer. The point is NOT to just make announcements, the point is to create a Carnival atmosphere, so you must have a fun announcer or it will be counterproductive. Have tryouts in front of kids - don't just ask for a volunteer.

Make a Balloon Arch for the players to run thru before their games. Have the announcer introduce each kid as he or she runs through the Balloon Arch. Example: "KATE Huddleston". It is important to get a good announcer � someone who is really into it and will make it fun. How to make a Balloon Arch: Tie enough helium filled balloons together with string to make an arch tall enough for the kids to run through. Tie each end to a sock filled with sand so it will stay in place but can easily be moved.

Have a "concession stand", even if it is just a card table.

Tell your coaches to think of themselves as "Fun Leaders" instead of just "coaches". That makes an important point.

If you have any good ideas, please share them with me. You can email me through www.SoccerHelp.com.