Or maybe your golf tournament is doing great and you want to add another competitive event that will branch out to something that is more inviting to a wider audience.
We have some ideas that build on the fun, competitive spirit of a golf tournament but with a more level playing field. (Sports puns are free.)
Fun Non-Golf Tournament Ideas for Chambers
The first thing you want to think about when finding an alternative to your golf tournament is how much athleticism is required for the new event. You want something that’s challenging, but can still be played by most people–athletic or not. If there’s a steep learning curve, you’ll have fewer participants. Finally, you want something that doesn’t require a lot of personalized equipment. If you want newbies to the sport to join you, you need to ensure they can use club equipment or borrow it.
The activities on this list are easy to learn and some of them use handicaps so that your newer participants won’t be at a severe disadvantage to your more seasoned ones.
Pickleball
Pickleball is played on a modified tennis court so it’s something that likely already exists in your community. It’s played with a paddle that resembles a pingpong paddle but with a squared-off tip.
While Pickleball has a reputation for being a sport that only appeals to the over 55
How It’s Played
Pickleball is a mix of tennis, ping pong, and racquetball. Players use paddles and a whiffle ball on tennis courts with specially marked lines just for pickleball. The court is much smaller than the boundaries used for tennis so it involves defending a smaller area and it’s most commonly played with doubles.
Most people enjoy how quick the games are. They last about fifteen minutes. It’s a good sport for any age. Basic paddles cost only about $30 but many rec centers have them.
How to Organize a Pickleball Tournament
The USAPA makes running a tournament easy by providing bracket software. Plan for each match taking on average between 40 to 60 minutes. The first matches may be shorter, but as the competition stiffens, the matches will likely run longer. Matches are played with best 2 out of 3 games to 11 points.
Since it’s often played with doubles you can encourage people to register together or pair them up based on handicaps. You can charge for entry, sponsorships, food, etc.
Kickball
Remember that awkward game you either loved or hated from elementary school? You know, the one with the big, red, bouncy ball that was likely hurled at your head at some point even though the teacher probably forbade it? Well, it’s back and it’s a favorite among companies.
Kickball is played with many of the same rules as baseball but instead of using a bat, you kick a ball as it’s rolled to you from the pitcher’s mound. It’s making a comeback because there’s little equipment needed outside of a rubber ball the size of a basketball and a grassy area large enough to run the bases. A baseball field works well as the bases and baselines are already established.
It’s a good team sport and fits young and old because, while you may need to run the bases, the amount of running is minimal and there is plenty of rest. It also has a nostalgic appeal to Baby Boomers and Gen Xers.
How to Host a Kickball Tournament
Kickball teams can be co-ed and involve all levels of athletic ability. You can organize a kickball tournament asking businesses to sponsor teams of nine (or so) employees. They can wear team t-shirts for further branding. You can use a double-elimination format.
Establish rules ahead of the game such as no throwing a player out with the ball only tags or throw outs below the neck. If the ball is popped up and caught by the opposing team, the kicker is out. There are three outs per “team up.”
Or play according to the Official Rules of the World Adult Kickball Association, which calls for 11 fielders in each inning, 5 innings, 2 base coaches, bouncies, no head shots, one base on an overthrow, forced outs, no ghost men, and bunting is allowed … so you need a good catcher! You can find the official rules of the game here.
Charity kickball tournaments are becoming more and more popular as a good way to raise funds in a sport most people can play or at least understand easily.
Shuffleboard
I may be a little biased because I’m writing from Saint Petersburg, Florida, shuffleboard capital of the world (okay, I just made that up. It’s really not a legal title but we do claim to have the “world’s largest shuffleboard club.”). Our shuffleboard courts are a big deal. Our elementary schools even take an annual pilgrimage to the courts to wrap up their shuffleboard education as part of their PE curriculum.
Shuffleboard is a non-strenuous game where you push disks with a long-handled cue over a marked surface that resembles a strange pyramid with numbers on its spaces. If you ever watched the TV show Love Boat, you likely saw someone play or reference it. But it’s no longer just from cruise ships!
While the easiest way to host a chamber shuffleboard tournament would be at a club like what we have in St. Pete, that might not be available in every community. If you don’t have one, you can make one on a smooth floor with tape or some sort of temporary markings. You can also buy portable sets for a long, flat surface. Or you can make a few courts with some concrete using this DIY idea. If you go with a traditional club or rec center court, it’s likely they already have the equipment. No one needs their own. It can be shared as participants take turns with the cues.
There are several different ways to play it and the rules can be found here along with the variations. If a shuffleboard court isn’t available in your community and you don’t want to make one, they are table-top versions of it that you can purchase for a tournament. They run from about $80-$4,000.
There is little risk of injury. It can be played by people of all skill levels. It can even be played by people who have some trouble with mobility. That’s part of the reason it’s widely thought of as an “older sport.”
Hosting a Shuffleboard Tournament
Again, this is another opportunity to get out some brackets. In addition to rewarding winners of the tournament, you can hand out some fun awards like “best style” and “craziest left-handed shot” or maybe even an audience favorite for best in show.
If you’re looking for a new tournament as a possible source of non-dues revenue, you can consider these ideas. They are largely accessible, don’t require a large equipment investment, are easy to learn, and can be played as a newbie or a veteran with a similar level of enjoyment. All of these have interesting sponsorship opportunities and don’t cost a lot to host.
