suggestions for end of season girls soccer party at my home>>>

[wildernesslodgelover]

my 12 year old DD is on the middle school soccer team at her school. There are 17 girls on the team. They did really well, made the playoffs but lost a playoff game and did not make the championship.

It just seems "unfinished" to me to have it all done and over with. I feel like a small celebration is in order. This is only the second year the school has had a team, so there are no traditions so far. I thought we could have a party at my home. I have a pool so we can swim (we are in SoFla, so it is warm enough) and I thought I could order pizza...but anything else we can do to make it special and somehow sports/soccer related?

Also, anything special to honor the coaches? We already took up a collection and got them each a gift certificate to Outback and a really nice card signed by all the girls. We did this at the end of the regular season, before we even knew that we were making the playoffs. Just wondering if any parents out there know of another way to honor the coaches.

The school has a sports banquet at the end of the year to honor all the sports teams on campus. That's where they do MVP, most improved, etc. So we can't do anything like that at the party.

I realize I may be over thinking this...I have never held a party like this so I was just wondering if there are some ideas floating around on the DIS that could make my event extra special and memorable.

Thanks!

 

[mdsoccermom]

We do stuff like that for DDs team. Have everyone, including the families, over for pizza or a barbecue. You've got the pool, so that's the big thing. If you have a yard, have some balls out and the girls will probably kick them around a bit. Just make it informal.

One year, DDs coach and wife got all the girls necklaces with little silver discs on them that had their names and numbers engraved on them. I'd have to find out where they came from, but I know they were inexpensive.

Has anyone been taking pictures throughout the season? Maybe put together a photo book for the coaches? A parent did that for DH when he was coaching DS team, and it was so wonderful. DH just loved it.

 

[emma'smom]

My dd's team did a photobook for our coach at the end of last season. If you want to some fun stuff at the

-make a slide show of various pics from the season
-do "fun awards"--- "biggest smile", "muddiest goalie", etc
-Give out little prizes (soccer hair scrunchies, etc)

At the end of the season, lots of the girls brought little gifts for the rest of the team--- you could do this, but instead of one for every girl-- do it like a grab bag. Each child should bring one inexpensive soccer related gift--- it could be fun to see what kinds of "soccer themed" stuff they come up with.

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids play on over a dozen teams each year - end of season pizza party, gc for the coaches. You don't have to overthink it. My ds12 has been playing on the same travel soccer team for over 6 years now - end of season pizza party. The fact that you have a pool kicks it up a notch.

 

[mdsoccermom]

And let me tell you of a stupid idea for a party...

My son is 9 and while he's been playing for a few years, is on a travel team for the first time this year. Now, all other seasons, the end of season/year party has been a pizza party. Very informal, short, and the kids enjoyed it. Coaches picked up the tab.

Well, last season's party had me rolling my eyes so far back into my head that I saw my brain. Apparently, the team manager and his wife belong to a country club. We got an email saying the party would be there at $14/pp for a buffet of chicken fingers and pizza. Really? A country club? And what idiot thought 9 year olds would care? This was just an end of the season party!

Anyway, I was a little annoyed, and sent my son with another family, because I was damned if I was paying for all of us to go to what should have been an informal get together. The funny thing was, my son was home an hour earlier than scheduled because everything ran it's course and the kids were bored!

 

[jrmasm]

If you have someone capable and have good photo images, a signed team poster is always a huge hit with coaches and players. Another idea is a photo dvd set to music.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

You guys are great. Thanks so much for the suggestions.

I have not been taking many pictures, just a few here and there. I know another mom took tons of pics. Thing is...I don't want to spend *too* much of my own money and I do not want to collect from parents...we asked for $20 each child for the coaches already and got them the GCs.

I was going to buy the pizza and a soccer themed cake (or maybe even try to make one, I think it would be a fun project to do with my DD, even if it doesn't turn out perfectly!) I was going to ask some of the moms to bring chips, soda, paper plates and cups.

I was going to *try* to encourage a "drop off" party, just because entertaining 17 girls will be enough, I think. I can't imagine parents and siblings, too! I will say, this is a small, close knit school so honestly, I am friends with almost all of the moms and it could be fun to have them here, but throw in siblings and dads and we could have over 75 people here!

mdsoccermom-that's a shame! Kids don't get into stuff like that. Funny how some people don't "get" that....although I can see how some folks don't want a bunch of kids messing up their house, too. Still...a country club?

I am going to talk to a few moms and see what they think.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

 

[golfgal]

What about just having a pot luck at a park somewhere? You could have families come and everyone bring food.

If it is just going to be a party for the girls, swimming and make your own pizza's would be the way I would go if you are looking for "something" for them to do-otherwise if you just want a get together, order pizzas and let them swim. Have the party last for about 2 hours and send everyone home.

We never did end of the year parties for the kids-but a lot of the mom's got together and went out for dinner and drinks

Now that the kids are in high school we do have "banquets" at the end of seasons. Marching band has one, Famous Dave's caters, it's $15/pp, $8 for kids under 12. For the golf team we have a "banquet" at the country club.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hey golfgal!

A "make your own pizza"party is a good idea. I do kind of want *something* else for them to do other than swim. But you are right....2 hours is plenty, maybe I will even plan it for between lunch and dinner so I can just keep the food simple.

Oh, of course the moms have gotten together and had drinks a few times! I actually hosted a "Real Housewives of Miami" premiere party for the soccer moms...a few of us talked about it and realized we were hooked on the RH series. The others were curious, so we all met here, had light appetizers and drinks and watched the show.

A golf team party at the country club makes a little more sense!