Calendar of Events 

FL Resident Specials

Academics

Birthday Parties

Child Care 

Clubs & Activities

Family Fun

Health & Safety

Lessons

Mommy & Me

Photographers

Sports 

Just for Teens

Local Resources:

Libraries

Recreation Centers

YMCA's

Join Our Team

Football Party Planning

Not everyone is interested in Monday night football, but when it's time for THE BIG GAME suddenly everybody's a fan.  We all like choosing a team to cheer for.  Some of us select our favorites by their home state, some look at their performance record and some just like them for the color of their uniforms!  But whatever the reason, we all like to gather around the big screen with munchies and high-five each other every time our team scores.  All this cheering, celebrating and eating is "Super" exciting for kids.  When else can they get away with standing on the sofa screaming at the top of their lungs while eating corn chips and salsa for dinner (and don't forget the 2 liters of root beer it will take to wash it all down).  Inviting a few families over can make game day a real winner.  Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:

Decorations!  No football party is complete without them.  Get everyone into the spirit with these easy tips:   

• Borrow some of your child's (or someone else's) football gear to set the scene.  Hang a pair of cleats over the door, drape a set of shoulder pads over the back of a chair, and put jerseys up on the walls.   If you don’t have ay football gear lying around, visit your local sporting goods store, garage sales, and second-hand store for accessories.

• Visit Oriental Trading and pick out some small items such as confetti, football trivia cards and miniature pompoms to spread over tabletops.

• Use food coloring to dye foods such as dips, drinks and ice cubes to match the team colors.

• Purchase a few inexpensive blow-up chairs - one can never have too many recliners during football season.

• Provide face paint (including black for under the eyes).  WARNING:    If the thought of permanent paint smudges appearing on your child's clothes or your living room sofa makes you squirm, you may want to resort to temporary tattoos or stickers instead.

• Turn a helmet upside down to place the bowl of dip or salsa in.

Half-time games!  The teams on T.V. don't have to be the only ones playing.  Give everyone a chance to stretch their legs by joining in some football fun: 

•   Purchase enough bead necklaces (like those given away at parades or sold at football games) for each guest to wear upon arrival.  Let all players know that they may no longer say the word "football" for the duration of the game.  If they do, they will loose their necklace to the person who catches them saying it.  Every time "football" is said, that player looses one necklace.   The necklace is given to the player who catches the “mistake” first.  The player with the most necklaces at the end of the game is the winner. 
•  Blow up a balloon and place it on the floor.  A kicker is then blindfolded, spun around 3 times and released.  He/she is then told to kick the "football" as far as they can.  Many will miss the balloon entirely (making for a good laugh) and some will actually make contact only to send the balloon 8 feet into the air but only 1 foot forward.  The kicker gaining the most distance wins the game.

• Divide into 2 teams (making sure to have an equal number of children and adults on each side) and play a game of sports pictionary.  Provide a large drawing surface, marker and a stack of cards with sports related topics.  Have a player from one team draw a card and illustrate the topic on the card.  Setting a time limit ensures that this games finishes before the BIG GAME does.  The team that guesses the illustration first gains a point.  The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

• Hang a football shaped pinata filled with stickers, trading cards, whistles and candy.  This game can provide a good opportunity to work out frustrations for those whose team is losing. 

• Divide into teams (again, equal number of kids and adults per side) and make up cheers to perform for the opposing team.

Food!  What would game day be without munchies?  Keeping things simple, preparing dishes ahead of time and having others contribute allows everyone to enjoy the game without missing a play.   Besides the usual chips and dips, you may want to offer your hungry crowd more substantial foods.  Here are some dishes that are sure to score points with your guests:

Chili and corn bread

Bar-B-Cue baby back ribs

Chowders, Stews, and Gumbos

Assorted kabobs

Sub sandwiches

Wrap or Roll-up sandwiches

Casseroles

How Sweet it is!  No one will pass on this dessert:

Bake a cake in a 9x13 pan and decorate to resemble a football field.  Spread green frosting or sprinkle dyed coconut flakes on the cake for the base, draw lines on the field using white icing or licorice laces and use straws to assemble a set of up-rights for the ends.  Creative cooks will even add the team name and colors to the cake.

By planning an eventful afternoon, football games won't be just for the avid sports fan.  Everyone will appreciate being included in the BIG GAME DAY excitement.  End your football folly by congratulating the winners (showing good sportsmanship ends things on a positive note) and setting a date to play a friendly game of flag football in the park.  Now, LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

 Resources for this Party:

Oriental Trading Company, Inc.

Great prices on children's party favors, decorations, lighting and more!

Party Store
Birthday Express has decorations, piñatas, favors...everything you'll need with hundreds of kid's birthday party themes.