Is your child a sports star? Is he or she playing basketball in the winter, soccer in the summer, and every other sport in between? Then throw him or her a fan-tastic birthday party with our Sports Party Ideas. We have provided suggestions for everything from invitations to party games that will make winners out of all of your guests!
Invitations
Decorations
Food
Party Favors
Games & Activities
Planning & Invitations
Your first decision is where to hold your sports party. You can throw the party in your own backyard, or a nearby park, or consider a more creative location such as a sports complex, baseball field, or school gymnasium. For additional ideas, see our article on When & Where to Have the Party.
What do I need for the Party?
Basic party supplies include paper tableware, such as plates, napkins, cups, and cutlery, as well as a tablecloth, streamers, and balloons. If you would like to use themed partyware, instead of solids, check out our Sports Party Supplies.
You can stick with these basics, or add other items to fit your theme. For example, for a sports theme party, you may also want to consider renting or purchasing the following:
- A Sports Movie, such as Little Giants (Rated PG), The Rookie (Rated G), Bend it Like Beckham (Rated PG-13), or Air Bud (Rated PG)
- Sports Uniforms and Sweatbands
- Sports Equipment (Basketball, Baseball, Baseball Bat, Soccer Ball, etc.)
- A Pinata
You may also want to consider asking a community soccer or baseball coach to come give a short lesson during your party.
To help you with your shopping, take a look at our Suggested Party Supply List. You may not need everything on the list, but you can use it as a guide. For additional party planning tips, our Party Planning 101 Guide includes cake ideas, party etiquette tips, a printable guest list, and more.
If you are planning a party for a big game, find some great Tailgate Party ideas for adults and children from our partner, Celebrations.com.
Sports Party Invitations
Invitations are an important part of your planning because they give the first impression of your party to your guests. If you have the time to make your own invitations, here are a few ideas to consider:
- Buy an inflatable soccer ball, basketball, or football and write the party details on it while it’s fully inflated. Deflate the ball and send it in an envelope. Your guest will have fun blowing it up to read the invitation.
- Take a photo of your child in his or her favorite sports uniform. Print the photo on the front of a top-fold card and write your party details inside.
- Cut the shape of a sports trophy (traditionally shaped like a goblet) out of yellow cardstock. Write your party details on the front.
- Cut the shapes of various sports balls out of cardstock and glue them side by side. You could include a football, soccer ball, basketball, and baseball. Color each ball as they should appear, and write a few party details on each in the line. Fold them accordion style before putting them in the envelopes.
- Include creative wording for your party details, such as:
Are you ready to dribble the ball?
Bend it like Beckham? Hit it over the wall?
Then come to [child’s name]’s sports-themed birthday,
She’s turning [age] and wants to play!
If you would rather not make your own invitations, but would still like a personalized touch, consider our Personalized Sports Invitations, which include all the party details for you! We also offer blank invitations that you can fill in yourself.
Whichever invitation option you choose, seal your envelopes with sports stickers to add that final touch!
Decorating & Food Ideas
Sports Party Decorations
Continue your sports theme with decorations that will create a fun atmosphere and set the mood for the party.
- Use your child’s school colors for your traditional decorations like streamers and balloons. Tie groups of three or four balloons together and anchor them around the party area with balloon weights.
- Set mounds of different sports balls and equipment around the party area. Fill a wire basket with sports equipment as well and use it as a centerpiece.
- Hang pairs of high tops or cleats by their laces throughout the party area.
- Turn a table into a sports field or court using markers or colored tape on top of a colored tablecloth. For example, you could place white ‘yard markers’ on a green table cover to turn it into a football field, or create a basketball court by marking the free throw area over a pale yellow tablecloth.
- Hang a banner over the entranceway to the party that says, “Are You Ready to Rumble?!?” Check out our personalized banners and let us do the work for you.
- Hang posters of famous sports stars or sports complexes on the walls of the party area.
- Tape trading cards and Sports Illustrated photos to the table cover.
- Hang a pinata in the party area that can serve as a decoration before the activity begins. Remember any pinata can be transformed into a pull-string with our easy instructions.
Sports Party Food Ideas
Whether you are holding an at-home party, or hosting a party at a ball field, it can be fun to include some sporty snacks that fit your theme!
- Serve traditional ballpark fare, such as peanuts, hot dogs, soft pretzels, root beer, and lemonade.
- Serve popcorn in traditional popcorn bags. Set out various toppings your guests can add, such as caramel sauce, powdered cheese, melted butter, and cinnamon.
- Make “All-Star Sandwiches” by using a cookie cutter to cut sandwich bread into star shapes.
- Serve drinks in sports bottles and snacks in toy baseball or football helmets.
- Bake or buy a round cake, then ice it to look like your child’s favorite sports ball. We have a variety of different ideas for sports cakes in our article on Birthday Cake Ideas. To make it even easier, use our football cake pan.
Find great Super Bowl recipes from our partner, Celebrations.com.
Sports Party Favors
Thank your guests for attending your party by sending them home with party favors that fit your theme. You could give one large favor, such as a new sports ball; or combine smaller favors such as sweatbands, sports stickers, sports wristbands, and candy in a nice favor bag.
To save time, you may want to consider our Complete Favor Sets, which include matching favor bags. Or, take a look at our popular personalized favors. Choose from bag tags, stickers, magnets, buttons, and more, all personalized with your guests’ names or a personal message from you!
If your child is participating in school sports, check out our Personalized Team Zipper Pulls. You can choose the color that best matches your school colors and include each child’s name on his or her own zipper pull. These are great for backpacks and sports bags!
Sports Party Games & Activities
Planning a sports birthday party comes with a ton of great active ideas to keep your guests entertained. For example, you can practice dribbling a basketball or hitting a baseball, then set up teams and scrimmage! For additional ideas see the Games & Activities section below.
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