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Tournaments (TT tournament, pool tournament, table football) - group program for January

Pool tournament
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Many youth groups have Ping pong tables, a table football or maybe a pool table available from their centre. Corresponding tournaments can be organized 1-2x a year.

These tournaments can take place either internally of the youth group or in a kind of competition, which is announced and children and young people from the general public can join in. This gives you an ideal way to advertise for new members. If you have, a fixed number of participants you can plan for a tournament schedule. Every man for himself is only possible if there are not more than 5-8 participants. If there are more then eight participants, it is recommended that two or more groups play against each other. In the end, the group winners would compete against each other to arrive with a total winner.

Table Football
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If you are confronted with a vast number of participants, always 2 players form a team, as in playing doubles.

To add additional atmosphere you could provide a few sandwiches and drinks, and/or order a pizza. The winner, have a trophy, at least a certificate. If you are able to recruit a sponsor, you can also provide more appropriate prizes.

One thing I would like to add: If such game tables are available, there is always a temptation for the youth worker to take an easy way out at the gaming night. Therefore, they do not prepare the night properly. The easy way is always, just let the kids play billiards, foosball table – or whatever is available. However, this approach does not pay in the long run. The worker who comes up with the most variety of games over the year will be the youth worker who is most treasured by the kids. Playing billiard becomes boring over time and is not every young person’s cup of tea.

In the open youth work, such as in youth centres, things look a little different - but then again, often there are multiple possibilities available simultaneously. For some young people billiards or foosball tables is indeed very communicative and sociable; where they can "hang out", have fun and spend a few hours together.

Even in this situation you could offer special "tournament nights" or "Games Marathon” about 1-2x per year " will. This could turn an everyday event into an extraordinary event.