How to Plan a Three on Three Basketball Tournament

Hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament can be a great fund-raising or community building event. Before you decide to host a tournament, there are many decisions that need to be made and things you should consider before planning the tournament.

Instructions

1. Determine the ages and genders for the tournament participants. The younger age groups will typically bring more people to your event. Determine the approximate number of teams you would like to have participate. This will help to guide the location and logistics of the tournament.

2. Choose a location. Outdoor locations can attract more people and provide for more fund-raising opportunities, but they also introduce unpredictability, as the event's success hinges on weather and playing conditions.

3. Recruit volunteers. The volunteers can come from many sources. If you are running this as a fund raiser, the beneficiaries of the funds would be a great volunteer pool. Also, look to the local high school basketball players who need to fulfill volunteer hours or those who would just like to help.

4. Solicit sponsors. Target companies that are a good fit with the purpose of the event or that fit the demographics of the tournament. Get the sponsors early so they can fully benefit from the promotion of the tournament. Sponsors can provide support in many ways such as sponsoring a basket and pay for the T-shirts. In return for their support, their company name/logo would be visible to the tournament participants and shown on all promotional materials. It is a win-win in most cases.

5. Promote the tournament and provide the opportunity for teams to register. This can be done with posters, fliers, ads in the newspaper and on the Web. There are some great ways to get free or very low-cost advertising when you enlist sponsors, local businesses and local media. Be sure to make it easy to register and be clear about entry fees and deadlines.

6. Design the tournament layout, including number and location of basketball hoops, spectator seating areas, tournament control area, parking, food and beverage area and restrooms.

7. Determine and document the rules for the tournament. Every team must understand the rules before participating.

8. Develop the tournament brackets so teams know the time and location of their games. The tournament bracket is constantly updated during the event and must be located at the tournament control area for all to view.

9. Have a sound system for music and announcements.

10. Develop a food and beverage plan for the tournament. In addition to being valuable to players and spectators, it also provides a great fund-raising opportunity.

11. Have a plan for providing on-site first aid. In addition, be sure to have insurance and/or waivers from participants and spectators to protect yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you take on this event, attend a couple of 3-on-3 tournaments to get a better understanding of what you are committing to do.

• Add to the event by providing basketball demonstrations or contests to keep players and spectators occupied between games. These can also provide fund-raising opportunities for your organization.