Football playbook

Running a junior gala day

A plan for hosting a morning of small-sided games for young players, from booking the grounds to handing out medals.

A gala day brings lots of junior teams to one venue for a morning of short, small-sided games. Kids love it. For the host club, it is a lot of moving parts on one Saturday.

This is a plan your committee can follow and reuse next year.

1. Book the grounds early

Confirm the date and the grounds with whoever manages them, well before the season starts. Ask about toilets, parking and the canteen. Check what happens if the grounds are closed for rain.

2. Work out how many pitches you can fit

Small-sided games need much less space than a full pitch. One full-size pitch can often fit several mini pitches across it. Mark them out with cones and number each one.

3. Keep the games short and the format simple

  • Short games, such as two halves of ten minutes.
  • Everyone gets equal time on the field.
  • No ladders or finals for the youngest age groups. Goals still count, but nobody wins the day.
  • Leave five minutes between games for changeovers and drinks.

4. Build the draw

Count your teams and your pitches, then fill in a grid of times and pitches. Check that no team plays more than two games in a row. Keep each age group on the same pitches, so families aren't walking all over the venue.

5. Find your volunteers

You need more people than you think. Make a list and fill every role before the day.

  • One marshal per pitch, to keep games on time.
  • A referee per pitch. Many will be teenagers, so remind parents to be kind.
  • Canteen and barbecue helpers, in shifts.
  • Someone in charge of first aid, with a kit at a known spot.
  • A set-up crew and a pack-down crew.

6. Plan for the wet morning

Decide the night before who makes the call, and by what time. Agree how you'll tell coaches and families, so the message goes out once.

7. Finish well

Gather each age group at the end for medals or a small gift for every player. Thank the volunteers and the referees out loud. Take a photo for the club's page.

Do it in Sportdify

Add the teams and pitches, build the draw, and share the timetable with every family.

How to