How to Start a Community Sports Team

Athletes on community sports teams learn teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship. Organizers of these teams can learn time-management, leadership and patience. Whatever your reasons, and whatever your sport, follow these steps to start your team.

Instructions

1. Pick a sport. You should pick one that you already play, or that you have always wanted to play.

2. Find a coach. You might be the coach. If you are still new to the sport, however, you might want someone else to be in charge.

3. Find participants. If it's a sport you already play, chances are you know some people who want to be on your team. You can also conduct tryouts. Post fliers, email potential team members. If you have a coach picked out, use him to find athletes.

4. Find a location or a league. Again, if you are already a player, then this should be easy. But a little research at the local library, on the Internet or in the local newspaper will give you all the information you need to reserve a field or join an existing league.

5. Find a sponsor. Local businesses often sponsor teams, paying for uniforms and equipment. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce, or simply canvass your local business communities.

6. Schedule practices. Once you have a coach, players and a field, you need to practice. Set up a schedule and stick to it.

7. Research the sport. Watch tapes of professional teams. Read about your sport. Take what you learn and put it into practice.

8. Play! That's what this was all about in the first place, isn't it?