Raising Money at Tournaments
Image via Wikipedia Yesterday we had the honor of hosting our district’s sectional tournament for the major softball division. The sectional was created to reduce the burden on the state tournaments, but in our case is a bit silly. We have only three districts in it so it is a 3 game round robin . Whoever shows up in their two games wins and goes to states. That is for a different article though. Today, I would like to discuss making money for your league hosting a tournament.
The cost we have to put out to host the tournament is about $700. This includes the flag for the champion, pins, medallions, and medals. The problem with only three teams playing is that there is no way to make that money up with concessions. We sold almost $500 in concessions, but that is revenue, not profit. We still had to purchase the stuff that we sold.
Therefore, we needed to find a way to raise more money. Our initial thought was a souvenir t-shirt. Everyone wants a momento of the tournament right? WRONG! We sold only about 20. Why?
I think it is because the girls play in a tournament every weekend just about and purchasing a shirt at each one is not feasable. Had this been the state tournament we probably would have sold enough to justify the costs, but at the sectional they simply did not sell.
This creates quite a dilima for the hosting league. First we have to feed all the umpires and district adminstrator. There is a cost for that. Then, we have to make sure all the volunteers have water and such to keep them going. And then theres the city guy which we have to make sure he is watered and fed as well. Suddenly we are losing a lot of money hosting this event!
So how can we raise more money at this event? We tried a 50/50 drawing and didn’t sell a single ticket! What tactics have you used in the past to raise money at tournaments? Please share with us so we can all reap the rewards of the hours of effort that goes into hosting a tournament.
Related articles by Zemanta
Sectional Today
Was up until 3AM putting songs together for the sectional and then just got home! What a long day that was! Oh well, that’s why we make the big bucks working for little league! Oh yeah, we are volunteers! Will post something substantive tomorrow, I promise.
Just Got In!
Image via Wikipedia It’s after midnight and I just got in! Umped major championship after getting field ready. Well, the city guy did most of the work and he wasn’t even supposed to be there! Learned a pretty cool trick w/ a pump to get rid of water, but that will have to save that story for later.
Anyway, losing team was up by 8 in going into the bottom of the 5th and lost on a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the sixth. Amazing. I think we will see more of this with the new pitching rules. Teams are on their 5th and 6th pitchers this late in the tournament.
Sectionals tomorrow have to be there at 7:30! Gotta run!
What’s the greatest ending to a game you have ever seen?
Related articles by Zemanta
Sometimes Hard Work Pays Off
Image by Getty Images via Daylife All Little League umpires are volunteers. At least they are supposed to be. Some leagues pay them. I would love to see a protest at the sectional or state level where a team was disqualified because they used paid umpires all year. Anyway, 99% of Little League umpires are volunteers, we do it because we love it.
The greastest honor a little league umpire can have in his district is to be selected to umpire the Major’s Division Championship game. I, along w/ a few of my friends, have been selected to umpire that game tomorrow. Hand picked by the adminstrator in fact.
It is an honor, and I am humbled.
What is your biggest honor in Little League?
Related articles by Zemanta
- Don’t Like What You See on the Field?
- I am Sore!
- An Umpire’s Viewpoint
- Top 10 Reasons Parents Spoil the Little League Experience
- What a Dork I Am!
- Championships Or Leadership?
- Read Your Rule Book
- Use Flags to Mark All-Star Maps
- Thank You Little League Moms!
When Parents Clash
Image via Wikipedia I think tonight I figured out when things get really ugly. It’s not when the parents yell at the ump, or for their kids, it’s when they yell at each other or at the kids or coaches on the other team! The most amazing part? They are usually wrong! What happens is once you yell at someone else, they are going to yell back, then we got ourselves a fight!
My solution? Tonight I warned each coach that if their parents said another word other than positive to their team that I would clear the stands and we would let the kids play the game. It stopped instantly. The funny part? One coach said, "that might be a good thing!"….lol. Guess he has been getting trouble from his parents as well.
Related articles by Zemanta
Top 10 Reasons Parents Spoil the Little League Experience
Image by Getty Images via Daylife Top 10 Reasons Parents Spoil the Little League Experience
10. They are too competitive
9. They think their kid should play every inning
8. They think other coaches know better than their coach
7. They dwell on losses
6. They think Johnny/Janey cares whether his/her team wins or loses
5. They over pitch their kids
4. They question every move their coach makes
3. They complain for the sake of complaining
2. They show up late and wonder why that matters?
And the top reason that parents spoil the Little League Experience?
1. They feel that they know better than (insert board member, umpire, coach, concessionaire, any other person in charge) but when asked to help make the problem better they respond "I don’t have time for that".
Have another to add to this list? I am happy to compile another.
Related articles by Zemanta
- Don’t Pass Judgment
- Championships Or Leadership?
- Rec League Cancels All-Star Game
- What a Dork I Am!
- Don’t Like What You See on the Field?
- Unsportsmanlike Cheers
- Is Stealing Signals OK?
- Playing Time
Coach Ejected For Chew
Image via Wikipedia I saw an all-star coached ejected today for chewing tobacco in the dugout. The use of tobacco products of any kind is strictly prohibited in Little League . While I am not a big stickler on this, I don’t know why anyone would think they could chew in the dugout. At least the smokers know to go to the parking lot.
Should chew be allowed in a little league dugout? What do you think?
Related articles by Zemanta
Misc. Ramblings
Image via Wikipedia Back to Work
After a long 3 day weekend, we all have to go back to work tomorrow! Yippee!!!! I do love when July 4th falls on the weekend and at least we get the long weekend. When it is in the middle of the week it just makes you have to go in to work the next day tired.
Back to All-Stars
Here in central florida we take off the 4th weekend for the races. I still call it the Firecracker 400, but apparently this year it is the Coke Zero 400, who stole it from the Pepsi 400. Coke Zero is really horrible! It tastes nothing like Coke and leaves a horrible aftertaste. Tomorrow we start the grind again and I will probably be umpiring every night. How about that finish to the race last night? That’s not racin’, that’s smash-up derby at the local track.
Hosting Sectionals
While most league’s all-stars are winding down, we are hosting two sectionals. Major softball and senior baseball. Boy do I wish we were in the major softball, but I blew that one. Oh well, next year!
Movie Night Report
National Treasure: Book of Secrets , a pretty cool movie! It started a tiny bit slow, but improved as it went along. The original kind of bored me, but this one was not as intricate, and much more like Indiana Jones . My 8YO loved it as well, even though he didn’t entirely understand it, the action adventure kept him interested.
Class Coming to an End
My business integration class is coming to an end! WooHoo!!! It took a lot of my time at a time when I didn’t have any time to give! I am very tired and need refocus my life again heading in to fall. Tuesday I move on to consumer behavior, that should be an interesting class. Only eight months to graduation!
Kevin Youkilis is a Sweaty Pig
Did you see Kevin Youkilis sweating tonight on ESPN against the Yankees ? That was disgusting! Dripping off! It wasn’t like he was pitching or anything, even though the pitchers weren’t sweating as much as he was. Yuk. Makes you wonder a bit maybe? Why only him?
First Travel Practice
Speaking of sweating! We had our first 10U travel practice today. It was extremely hot! My 8 year old (9 years old little league age next year) said we "practiced our butts off". That was fairly accurate. Great practice as well! Tons of parents helping, all knowledgeable, lots of stations, lots of coaching going on. It’s no wonder why we consistently compete.
The Yankees Win
Can they still make the playoffs? Never count them out, but they have tough row to hoe. Even if they make it they will probably wear themselves out getting into the playoffs as they have done the last couple of years. But who would want to play them? No team in their right mind.
Can Milwaukee Actually Be Legit?
Can the Brewers actually make the playoffs? Wow, what a trade they pulled off with the Indians eh? Wouldn’t it be cool if they won it all? I love teams like that, the Marlins have done it twice, the Rays this year, the Twins , too many to name. There is always a team that competes with young talent. It’s fun to watch.
Any comments? Come on, let’s debate!
Related articles by Zemanta
- Time to see who really deserves All-Star spot
- Jays’ Roy Halladay named to all-star roster
- Right place, right time: Daytona can provide needed thrills
Movie Night
Family is home and tonight is movie night! Nothing profound to say today anyway, hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend! Don’t you love when the 4th falls on the weekend? Take this weekend to enjoy your family. Monday we start up w/ All-Stars all over again!
Related articles by Zemanta
What a Dork I Am!
Image via Wikipedia Wife’s Away, Time to Play! (Yeah Right!)
My wife took all 4 of the kids that still live at home and went to the Beach for a week. Party time right? Not for me! While most men would have been down at the sports bar w/ their buddies, what did I do? Spent every night on a Little League Field! I am such a loser huh?
Here was my schedule:
Friday Night: Wife Left, I had all-star practice
Saturday: First All-Star Game
Sunday: Last All-Star Game (I hate 2 and outs!)
Monday: Umpired
Tuesday: Umpired
Wednesday: Umpired
Thursday: Umpired
Am I the biggest geek ever or what??? The problem is every day had a rain delay! Gotta love Florida in the summer! That meant I didn’t get home until 11PM each night!
My Family is Home, Woohoo!
Tonight my family is home! Yiippppeee! I actually missed them, way too quiet at night! We also have tomorrow and Sunday off due to race traffic. (I think the DA just likes to go to the races…lol) So I have a whole 3 days w/o a little league activity! Woohoo! Then its probably back on the field every night next week, sectionals on Saturday, then senior sectionals the following Saturday. Then we have to start working on fall ball! It never ends! Oh yeah, travel team practice starts Sunday morning!
Do you have any life at all or can you relate?
What our Readers are Saying