With loads of equipment to round up, referees to hire and concession stands to put up, organizing a professional, college or high school game is no easy task. Putting together a more casual game is far less tedious, but you need to consider some issues before you hit the field. Put together a checklist ahead of time so you don't end up labeled as the goat before the game even starts.
Equipment
If you're in charge of preparing for a high school or other organized tackle game, you need protective equipment. Helmets are obviously a necessity in order to guard against head injury. There are also various pads needed, including shoulder pads, leg pads and rib pants. Players usually provide their own protective accessories such as form-fitting mouth guards and neck rolls.
Uniforms
If it's a casual game of touch football, you probably won't need jerseys. In flag football leagues, though, teams often have jerseys, which usually are basic T-shirts emblazoned with their team name and perhaps a number on the back. Organized tackle football players wear jerseys, often nylon, and matching football pants. If your players are style-oriented, look for armbands, gloves and cleats that match their jerseys.
Football
You can't play the game without the ball. An NFL ball, made from genuine pigkskin, measures between 68 and 70 cm in circumference and weighs between 14 and 16 ounces. For youth leagues and casual pick-up games, smaller balls can be used, ans they're are synthetic versions available as well -- these cost less than the pricier official-style footballs.
Cones or Chalk
A regulation-size field, used in high school, college and pro football, measures 120 yards in length -- including 10-yard end zones on each end -- and 160 feet in width. Chalk is laid down denoting the boundaries as well as the yard lines. In flag football and casual games, simple plastic cones can be used to line the boundaries and mark the field every 10 yards.
Food/Drink
if it's an official game, attendees will be expecting you to provide a concessions stand, featuring standard game-day fare like soda, hot dogs and popcorn. If you're organizing a game among friends, it's always a nice touch to bring sports drinks or water for everyone.
Flags
In flag football, players pull flags from opponents waistbands rather than tackling them. They're usually belts that clasp at the waist and have two tear-away flags hanging from them. The game's organizer should bring enough for everyone so that when a player subs into the game, she doesn't need to wait for the exiting player to hand her the flags.
Member Comments