Running a tournament?

[badger_14 601]

I couldn't quite find anything for this in the search, apologies if it's been covered somewhere.

So a couple of my friends and I were tossing around the idea of running a (small) tournament to benefit OneFund, the charity set up to help victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. We think it could work, the thing is, we have no idea how to get the ball rolling on something like this.

We were figuring something like a day-long, perhaps 3-on-3 tournament, mixed level (would that work?), individual registration, see if we can get some local business to offer prizes for a raffle.

Thoughts? Are we crazy?

eta: We are local to Boston

[chk hrd 164]

To help keep cost down and maximize your donations try a cross ice 3 vs 3 tourney. They are alot of fun and you can run 3 games at the same time for the price you pay to rent the ice for one game. Try to get as many donations as possible from businesses, the rink might even give you a break for the ice. Because it's a charity event companies may want a receipt that says you are a non proffit.

Good luck with it.

[MatthewRoach7 130]

I have helped run a summer tournament for the past 2 years. Like chk hrd said keep the cost low. You may not have such a problem with this because your funds are going to a good cause. People wallets looses up sometimes in cases like this. Make sure that you lay out rules and have a waiver ready. Talk with the rink and serif they can donate some ice time. Make sure that you get the word out on it too. We also have an annual bennifit game in the area where they get donations (every thing from golf passes to gift cards, autographed items from Syracuse University teams and pro athletes from the area. Then people buy raffle tickets and can put them in for the items they want to win(Chineese Auctioning think this is called). We also did some Tron jerseys with a tournament logo for all the players. Maybe you can offer to have a screen printer put their logo on it for a discount too. If you have any more questions let me know. Check out http://burritojonzinvitational.com/ this is the tourney I help with.

[Zylos45 118]

badger....go to FMC and see if they would give you a discounted price on the rentals since it is a charity tournament.

If you do set something up, let me know...... If I am free, I would play

[badger_14 601]

Thanks for the suggestions - I spoke with a guy who runs 3v3 leagues around here, and he suggested asking a rink to donate the ice as well. Rules and a waiver - good plan, I forgot about that. Is there a standard waiver form somewhere?

Zylos - I know Revere and West Roxbury have hosted tournaments in the past. So far I was thinking FMC, Saugus (Hockeytown), or Ristuccia. i was told the two rinks I know of that half half-rinks are busy/closed on Saturdays in the summer (Dedham and Somerville).

So - ice time, rules & waiver, players, raffle ... what else should I think about? We are not, thus far, officially affiliated with the OneFund, so I should probably talk to them as well.

[badger_14 601]

I've contacted Hockeytown in Saugus and they are willing to donate the ice, as long as there's an official affiliation/verification from OneFund. So it looks like this may right get off the ground. I've sent a message out to OneFund and we'll see where it goes from here?

[Chadd 916]

Referees, scorekeepers, staffing, etc... The people running it shouldn't be playing as well.

[Zylos45 118]

Badger,

Another idea that works well is once you get the location nailed down, go to the local bars and ask if they have any interest in being the "tournament bar". They may be willing to kick in some money to be listed as the place to go to before, between and after games. They usually will come up with a special deal for all tournament participants. Tourney I played in the spring had free wings for anyone that played in the tournament.

Once you get this set up you can send me a link to a website or something and I can promote for you within my hockey circle

The only other Tourney/Charity game I have heard of in Mass so far is a game/tourney in Tewksbury. Think HEH is putting it together

Good Luck!

Z45

[badger_14 601]

Good points both, Chadd and Z45. Referees only occurred to me yesterday, I have them written down.

Looking at Saugus right now, and luckily there are a number of eateries nearby. Perhaps they would also be willing to offer a gift certificate for a raffle.

A website is another thing I have to sort out - that's something I definitely haven't done in a while. I think paypal has a prefab donation site, and there's another one (fundme, something weird like that) that does the same thing.

The organization I coach with is having a gen. body meeting soon, I can ask if anybody there wants to help out. (not as an organization necessarily, but just if any individuals want to help out).

Still haven't heard back from OneFund, but it's been only a day.