HOW TO ORGANIZE A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
January 29, 2009 by Andy
A few weeks ago, we interviewed Brian Yang about running a basketball league. For basketball enthusiasts who want to give it a go themselves, that might be a daunting task. An easier compromise would be running a tournament, typically a one or two-day commitment that is simpler to run. Here are some tips:
Tournament type. Are you organizing a 3-on-3 half-court tournament or a 5-on-5 full-court tournament? Decide what you want to do. This will allow you to figure out what kind of gym or court you can play on, and how many games can go on at once.
Set the rules. Is it first team to 25 points? 13? Determine your rules and guidelines so that teams know what they are aiming for. You can have full games with four quarters or you can do 20-minute time limits for each game. It’s up to you to decide. Dreamleague NY tournament games are four quarters at nine minutes each and follow NBA rules, while the Urban Professional League uses colleges rules. Adding an air of legitimacy to the tournament is a shot clock, which you can buy at Wal-Mart for $60. Or you can opt to go without a shot clock, but that diminishes the feel of the game.
Game limit. How many games does each team get to play with their entry fee? Usually teams are guaranteed a minimum of three games. Keep this is mind when deciding how many teams you will allow to join your tournament.
Team limit. Likewise, you want to figure out how many teams should be playing. Logistically, there are only so many games you can fit in, so make sure you don’t overbook the number of squads for a tournament. You don’t want a lot of players waiting on the sidelines. The number of teams will also determine how many shirts or jerseys you want to create. You can make custom jerseys at Nike or have team shirts screen-printed at a site like Jakprints for around $10.
Location, location, location. Games can be played outdoors or indoors. Keep in mind, most gyms require you to rent out the facility so factor that cost in when you decide what the team entry fee will be. In New York City, the prices range between $100 and $200 an hour for public school and college gyms. The best way to go about this is to call the school and let them know that you’re interesting in renting the gym for a tournament. They will direct you to the right person to speak to. An alternative is to play outdoors. For more information, go to www.nycgovparks.org.
Have some cover. You have to make sure that you have insurance or that players sign a injury waiver. Definitely consult a lawyer regarding this issue. You don’t want to be liable for players getting hurt on the court.
Spread the word. Market the tournament through friends and co-workers. Pass out flyers at the local basketball courts. Utilize social networking to let people know about your tournament. Use other Web tools such as message boards that focus on local sports.
Get some back-up. A tournament can’t be run by yourself. To make this the best tournament possible, you will need volunteers to help teams check in, as well as keep the score, different stats, and time. You will also need to hire referees for the games. Referees cost $35 a game.
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