How to run sports birthday parties for children

A sports birthday party works when the instructor runs the games and the parent handles everything else. Agree in advance the number of children and their ages, the venue, the length — for example two hours including food — and the theme or sport the birthday child wants. Plan a programme with a warm-up, team games that everyone can win at some point, a special moment for the birthday child, and time for cake. Parents pay for a stress-free party; clear roles and a planned timetable are what they're really booking.

Set a maximum number of children per instructor and stick to it; if the parent invites more, add a second instructor at an agreed price. The parent, or another adult they name, stays responsible for the children outside the games — toilets, food, collection. Ask for allergies and health information for each child before the day.

Younger children need shorter games, simple rules and lots of variety; older ones enjoy competition, real matches and challenges. For mixed ages, choose games where skill matters less than fun, such as relays with silly rules.

Check the space before the day: surface, obstacles, fences near roads, water. Bring a first-aid kit and know where the exits are. Agree a wet-weather plan for outdoor parties, and tell the parent in advance what happens if it rains.

Price the party as a package for a set number of children, with a price per extra child up to your maximum, and a separate price for a second instructor or a venue you hire. Say what's included — games, equipment, medals — and what the parent brings. A clear package avoids discussions on the day.

A short message to the parent the next day, with a photo if they agreed to it, closes the party on a good note. Invited children who enjoyed the games are potential members of your weekly classes: a flyer or a card with your booking page in each party bag lets their parents find you. Ask the parent whether you may mention the party on your own channels before posting any image of the children.

On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page. Create a birthday party service and open slots at weekend times, one place per slot, since one parent books the whole party. Slots sit within one day and can repeat each week on chosen weekdays until a date. The parent books online and receives a confirmation email; ask in the service description for the child's age, the number of guests and the venue in the optional note, which you'll read in your new-booking email. Once booked, the slot is full and no longer shown. If you take the booking by phone, book it yourself from your calendar and enter the number of children.

Durations and prices are examples: set your own. Parents can't move bookings online: they contact you, you reschedule or cancel from your bookings list and tell them yourself, since Book doesn't email clients about changes. Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract. It doesn't take deposits.