Planning a sports party for kids

What sounds better than sports, hot dogs, and birthday cake?

Honestly, not much.

If you’ve got an energetic child who loves to run around, play games, and burn off some excitement, a sports party is one of the easiest and most fun ways to celebrate their birthday.

Whether they’re football-mad, love shooting hoops, or just enjoy being active with their friends, a sports party gives kids the freedom to move, laugh, and have a brilliant time, without being stuck indoors.

Got a birthday coming up and thinking of planning a sports-themed party?

You’re in the right place.

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In this guide, we’re sharing our top tips for hosting a sports party that’s packed with energy, simple to organise, and guaranteed to leave your child smiling long after the last whistle blows.

Super Sports – choosing the activity

First things first, you’ll need to choose the sport for your party.

Does your child love kicking a football around the park? Shooting hoops at the local court? Or do they just enjoy running, throwing, and playing team games with friends?

Once you’ve picked the main sport, planning the activities becomes much easier and helps give your sports party a clear focus.

Not sure which sport to choose? Here are a few sports party ideas that work brilliantly for kids’ birthdays, depending on space, age, and numbers.

1. Football

Football is always a popular choice and works brilliantly for kids’ parties. All you really need is a few footballs and some open space.

If you have a garden, you can set up a mini pitch using cones or jumpers for goalposts. Alternatively, a local park or sports field is ideal if you need more room, or a sports centre where you don’t have to worry about the weather!

You can also appoint a “coach” for the day to organise teams and keep games moving. This could be you, another parent, or a willing friend. Adding a simple scoreboard and keeping track of goals is a fun way to get everyone involved and adds a friendly competitive element.

We have a whole blog on How to Throw a Football Party here.

2. Tag rugby or American Football

Tag rugby or American football is a great option for a sports party. It brings all the excitement of the real game, without the contact, making it a safer and more child-friendly choice.

If your child loves American football, you can lean into the theme by taking inspiration from game day traditions. Watching highlights on TV beforehand or decorating the space to feel like a stadium can really add to the experience.

You can also add small themed details to make it feel more immersive. For example, label the bathroom as the “restroom”, turn a bedroom or quiet space into the “locker room”, and set up a clearly marked “water station” so everyone stays hydrated while running around.

If rugby is more familiar for your group, tag rugby works just as well and follows the same idea, fast-paced, energetic, and great for teamwork, with none of the risks of full contact play.

3. Basketball

Basketball is another great option, especially for slightly older children. A portable hoop works well in the garden, or you could base the party around a nearby outdoor court.

A mini tournament or shooting challenge helps give the party structure while still keeping things relaxed and fun. You could even create simple “admit one” style invitations to make it feel like a real game day experience, which also doubles as a lovely keepsake.

4. Tennis

Ideal for smaller groups. Mini tennis using soft balls and shorter rackets is easy to set up in a garden, driveway, or local court, and works well as casual games rather than full matches.

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5. Badminton

A flexible option that can be played competitively or just for fun. Lightweight rackets and shuttlecocks make it easy to set up outdoors or in a sports hall, with plenty of rotation so everyone gets a turn.

6. Cricket or Rounders

Perfect for summer parties and beach parties. These games are great for teamwork and work best in open spaces where kids can spread out and take turns batting and fielding.

7. Table Tennis

A great choice if you don’t have a large space or a big group. It works well indoors and is ideal for parties where children prefer shorter, turn-based activities.

8. Swimming

A popular option, particularly for older children. This works best when you hire a pool for a private party and ensure appropriate lifeguard cover and adult-to-child ratios are in place, so safety is always the priority.

9. Athletics or Sports Day

A brilliant choice if your child enjoys variety. Short races, relay games, long jump, and throwing challenges are easy to organise in a park or garden and suit mixed ages.

10. Netball

A fun team sport that works well in playgrounds, sports courts, or open spaces. Passing drills and shooting challenges can be adapted easily for different abilities.

Next, you’ll have to think about snacks…

Hot Dog Delights

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One of the best parts of going to a sports match is the food, and a sports party is the perfect excuse to bring those classic snacks into your child’s birthday celebration.

Hot dogs are always a hit and easy to serve to a group of hungry kids. You can keep things simple with buns, ketchup, and mustard, or set up a small toppings station so children can customise their own.

Just like at a real game, the snacks are part of the experience, but the best bit at a birthday party is that there are no long queues to wait in. The kids can grab their food quickly and get straight back to playing.

Other crowd-pleasing options include popcorn, nachos, crisps, and fruit cups to balance things out. Having food that’s quick to grab means less waiting around and more time for running, playing, and enjoying the party. (You can find lots more kids’ party food ideas here).

Better still, why not hand off the catering to a professional and join in with all the fun instead!

And of course, no sports party is complete without a themed birthday cake. A football or basketball cake works brilliantly, or you could opt for cupcakes decorated in team colours for an easy, mess-free option.

Sports Party Decorations

Every great birthday party needs a little bit of magic, and decorations are a simple way to bring your sports party to life.

You could decorate the space with team colours, banners, and balloons, or hang up a large photo of a favourite sports player to set the scene. To make it even more interactive, try turning this into a fun photo booth by cutting out the face and letting the kids pose for photos. It’s a brilliant way to create memories and gives them something to take home afterwards.

Sports Party Games and Activities

When it comes to planning a sports party, having a handful of simple, DIY games ready makes all the difference. The best activities are easy to set up, quick to explain, and flexible enough for different ages and energy levels.

Sports Obstacle Course
Create a simple obstacle course using cones, hoops, skipping ropes, and anything you already have at home. Kids can dribble a ball around cones, crawl under a table or blanket, hop through hoops, and finish with a goal or target throw. This is a great warm-up game and can be adapted for football, basketball, or general sports themes.

Penalty Shoot-Out or Target Throw
Set up a goal, hoop, or bucket and let the kids take turns shooting or throwing from a marked spot. You can move the line further back for older children or add fun challenges like using their weaker foot or throwing with their non-dominant hand.

Relay Races with a Twist
Classic relay races are always a hit, but you can make them sports-themed by adding a ball to carry, bounce, or pass to the next player. Keep teams small and rotate quickly so no one is waiting around too long.

Mini Sports Stations
If you have space, set up different stations around the garden or park, such as shooting hoops, throwing for accuracy, dribbling drills, or balance challenges. Small groups can rotate between stations every 10 to 15 minutes, which helps keep the party flowing and gives everyone a chance to try everything.

Fitness Fun Challenges
Short challenges like star jumps, hopping on one foot, or timed sprints between cones are easy to run and work well for mixed abilities. You can frame these as personal challenges rather than competitions, so everyone feels included.

Team Game Finale
Finish the main activities with a simple team game related to your chosen sport. This could be a short football match, a game of tag rugby, or a friendly basketball shoot-around. Keep it relaxed and focus on fun rather than rules.

Ending the games with a short award ceremony is a great way to wind things down. Simple awards like “Best Team Player”, “Most Improved”, or “Biggest Smile” help celebrate effort and teamwork rather than just winning.

With a bit of planning, a sports party can be simple to organise and full of energy, laughter, and great memories. From choosing the right activities to keeping food and games easy and flexible, it’s all about creating a fun, relaxed environment where kids can be active, included, and celebrated.