Starting A.. Festival

Many teams want to raise revenue and enhance their reputation and standing in their area by running a Football Festival.

If a team in fortunate enough to have access to their pitches during the Summer as well as the Winter then they may be able to consider such a festival, if however you play on Council owned grounds and do not have the main usage the problems of hiring the facility etc may well dissuade you from the idea.

Shared Visions and Roles

Before any such festival can take place you must ensure that more than just yourself share the vision of the potential event. You will need to form a committee that will share the responsibilities of the organising and overseeing the event.

Each festival committee member may have one or more responsibilities so it is vitally important that the people who volunteer to take a role on, are both hard working and motivated enough to see the job through to the end. To simplify things the organising committee need to draw up a list of responsibilities and allocate each responsibility to a member. They should also nominate a ‘filler’ or someone that is willing to support any member of the group that is feeling snowed under or too pressurised. Some considerations prior to the final decision of whether to hold such a festival include: Will you buy or hire equipment? What will officials cost for the day? Can you get sponsorship for the day? These are some of the many questions that will need to be answered before you can finally run your own Festival.

Individual Responsibilities

OF :- Planners, Administration and Finance officials

• Costs for and Number of Teams (to break even and make a profit)
• Gazebo or something similar (weather proof) for control centre on day
• Programme of day
• Timings Games etc
• Rules and regulations (knock out or league basis – combination of both ensures teams get a good number of games)
• Sufficient equipment – goals, bibs, pitch markings
• Changing facilities (availability and for male, female and special requirements)

Individual Responsibilities - continued.

• Refreshments (Club to handle this or bring in an outsider)
• Notify your League / County office of your intention
• Insurance for the day
• Notify the local Police
• Notify the local Council
• Sufficient officials
• First Aid / St Johns Ambulance
• Parking areas
• Organise trophies (keep everyone happy with a trophy)
• Celebrity Guest if possible

Publicity

• To other clubs
• To local schools
• To your league or County
• Local papers
• Local radio
• Club website

Responsibilities on the Day

• Chief Marshall for the day – Responsible for coordinating the day
• Marshall for teams- Responsible for collecting / collating results
• Marshall for car park (more than one – perhaps a rota)
• Marshall for changing facilities – works with Child Protection Officer
• Marshall (s) on general patrol
• Marshall (s) for cleaning up afterwards
• Security (or other methods for handling cash on the day)

Each participating club should receive in advance

• Programme for day outlining age groups, games, timings etc
• Map to and of venue
  * Rules and regulations
• Codes of conducts for players and spectators
• Reminders about weather – footwear, sun cream, hats
• Feedback / evaluation sheet for completion and return

Other ways for Generating Income

• Local sport shop may be interested in putting up a temporary stall
• If not wanting to run own refreshments then franchising for the day
• Raffles
• Bouncy Castle
• Face painting
• Penalty prize – grand parents / Mums and Dads etc

Planning for the Next One

• Committee meeting with all the interested parties in the club invited. The following areas to be covered and minutes should be taken to be circulated to all interested parties.
• Thank all concerned. Write letters of thanks to those who cannot attend or those who played a part (no matter how small – they may play a bigger part next year).
• What went well - WHY?
• What did not - WHY?
• What improvements could be made
• Could certain elements be ‘tweaked’ or ‘tightened up’
• Do we ‘up size’ or ‘down size’ next year
• Seek feedback from the players – what would they like to see done.