What to do with your downtime during a tournament?

During downtime when traveling to a youth sports tournament, it's important to keep the team engaged and make the most of the experience.

Here are some suggestions for activities during your teams downtime:
 
Relaxation and Recreation: Downtime is a great opportunity for relaxation and recreation. Consider activities like swimming, playing games, or simply enjoying some leisure time at the hotel. Some hotels may offer recreational facilities like a pool, gym, or outdoor spaces that can be utilized for team activities.

Sightseeing and Exploration: Take advantage of the opportunity to explore the tournament's host city or nearby attractions. Visit local landmarks, museums, parks, or other points of interest. It can be both educational and fun for the team.

Team Meetings and Strategy Sessions: Utilize the downtime for team meetings to discuss game strategies, review performances, or plan for upcoming matches. This can be an excellent opportunity for coaches and players to communicate, set goals, and make adjustments.

Volunteer or Community Service: Engage the team in a volunteer or community service activity. Look for local organizations or initiatives that may need assistance. It not only provides a valuable learning experience but also promotes a sense of giving back.

Cultural and Educational Activities: Research the local culture and history of the tournament's location. Plan visits to cultural centers, historical sites, or museums that can provide insights into the local heritage. It can be an educational experience for the team.

Team Dinners or Social Events: Arrange team dinners or social events during downtime. This can be a fun way to celebrate accomplishments, build team spirit, and enjoy local cuisine together. Look for nearby restaurants or consider organizing a potluck or BBQ at a suitable location.

Rest and Recovery: Downtime is also essential for rest and recovery, especially for young athletes. Make sure to prioritize downtime for relaxation, proper sleep, and rejuvenation. Encourage team members to take care of their physical and mental well-being.

Group Activities and Games: Plan group activities or games that promote interaction and fun. This could include card games, board games, team challenges, or outdoor activities like a scavenger hunt. Engaging in recreational activities can boost team morale and create lasting memories.

Watch Other Matches: If there are other games happening during the tournament, consider watching matches of other teams. This can provide an opportunity to observe different playing styles, strategies, and learn from other athletes' performances.

Remember to balance downtime activities with the tournament schedule and the need for rest. It's important to create a mix of fun, relaxation, team-building, and preparation to make the most of the overall experience.

Finding the Right Hotel For Your Team 

Traveling with a sports team can be an exciting and challenging experience, especially when it comes to finding the perfect hotel, assuming you and your team have a choice! Choosing the right hotel is crucial for the success and comfort of your team, as it can affect their performance and overall experience. Here are some tips on how to find the perfect hotel for your traveling sports team:

1. Location: The location of the hotel is essential for a sports team. Look for a hotel that is close to the venue where you'll be playing or practicing or if you are playing at multiple facilities, try and find one in the middle. It's also essential to choose a hotel that is close to restaurants, grocery stores, and other amenities.

2. Room Amenities: The rooms should be spacious enough to accommodate your team, and should also have enough storage space for their gear. Look for a hotel that offers amenities like refrigerators, microaves, and coffee makers in the rooms.

3. Recreation Facilities: If your team has some downtime between games, look for a hotel that has recreation facilities like a pool or a gym.

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Whether you are satisfied with the size of your business or looking to grow, staying on top of trends: Demographics, Economics, Participation Rates, etc., will undoubtably influence whether to stay the course, expand regionally or diversify into to other sports. In addition, securing facilities to host your events is another critical component in your decision to expand or not. The good news is that there are sources of information accessible to businesses wrestling* with these decisions.

Demographics

City and region growth rates are driven by a number of factors including immigration, migration, technology mobility, weather, etc. These factors and others contribute to certain states and regions growing faster or slower than others. When looking to expand your existing business, demographic trends can be an important data point to consider but may not be the only factor to consider. The Census Bureau is a good place to start when looking to better understand demographic growth trends.

               

Economics

While there are articles written about the idea that the youth sports industry is “recession” proof, your customers, parents and players, will change their behavior based on economic uncertainty which can impact your growth plans. “During a recession, however, families may opt for a regional travel team instead of a national team to reduce travel expenses”. Forbes. Staying on top of economic signals can help guide you as to whether to look to expand or stay the course.

Participation Rates

The trends for youth sports participation accelerated after covid, with certain sports growing and others shrinking. The Aspen Institute through their “Project Play” does an amazing job at analyzing the factors that influence participation rates in youth sports. Growth rates in sports may mean you should double down in your existing sport or possibly extend into another sport. Be sure to check out participation rates for youth sports at Project Play. 

               

Facilities

Demographics, economics and participation rates all factor into deciding whether you should expand or not, but they are not the only things to consider. Access to facilities and employees are two additional critical factors that will undoubtably influence your decision. While Travelsports hasn’t yet fully tackled the “employee” issue, we have gone on to create the largest list of facilities on one site. From rinks to fields, gymnastics facilities to fitness centers, Travelsports has over 38,000 facilities listed on our platform that you can use when deciding on adding your next event. 

*“We like to throw in some sport motifs when possible!”