Eye in Team Blog

From Tragedy to Triumph: Joe Bouchelle’s Journey to Coaching

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 23:57:08 GMT

Joseph Bouchelle started playing soccer at just two years old. It was his father that got him into the beautiful game, coaching teams from the high school level all the way up to college, winning a national championship along the way. Due to this, Joe would spend a lot of time around his father’s teams and this is where his love for the game would grow.

He also recalled the fond memories he had of watching Premier League football with his father every single weekend, an interest his dad picked up while studying abroad in England in his early years. He jokingly adds: “it's been tough sometimes” as he supports Arsenal, while his father is a Manchester United fan.

Joe always admired his Dad’s love for soccer and the impact it left on him, stating “that passion, that love for the game just came from him.” Adding that his father’s “example of all that was definitely something that pushed me a little bit”. With that being said, he emphasized the importance of forging his own path, trying to “make everything my own as well.”

Growing up and playing the game he loved, he would then get the chance to continue his soccer career at Southern Virginia University. However, sadly he would get injured in the preseason of his first campaign, stating “my career was done before it started” and “it was hard, you know, kind of realizing that the dreams that I had had as a kid, which could have been realistic, were just gone in a 10-second moment.” Though, having this injury so early into his college career he added, “in some ways that made it harder but in other ways it made it easier.”

Despite the tragedy he faced so early into his career, Joseph turned a negative into a positive, deciding to “make the transition to coaching and really haven't looked back.” Taking a managerial role with the program, he was still able to be around his team and the game that he has dedicated himself to.

Joe in some ways feels grateful for the injury as it gave him the opportunity to coach, which he doesn’t think he “would have found that… if I hadn't gotten injured.” Adding, “I look back and I have no regrets” and that his “heart has been in coaching” ever since.

Fast forwarding to today, Joseph has taken on the role of head coach of the inaugural men’s soccer team at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, California. When asked how starting the program has been he stated: “it's been stressful. It's been hectic. It's been fun. It's been emotional. It's been exhausting.” Adding that he gets “more excited every day.”

One of the biggest challenges he has faced is filling out his roster. “Filling a roster really as a first year program” has been tough because “kids want to go to programs that are successful or that have some kind of history and we don't have either of those things.”

At the beginning of the summer, the team had only six athletes, making it hard to run drills with a small number of players.

Now with a more filled out roster, he has encountered roadblocks with scheduling and inconsistency. One of his biggest points of emphasis is ensuring his players get enough sleep and recovery, which can be challenging at times with balancing school and soccer. With all of these obstacles, he notes that his players have made the process smoother, stating: “every single one of these guys wants to get in here, wants to work and wants to succeed.”

This mindset is part of an overall culture that Joseph is establishing at Cerro Coso, one that sets high expectations. As part of those high expectations, Joe envisions a program that becomes successful very quickly, which his players share that same vision. “To be completely frank with you, I haven't had to sell a lot because our visions have all been aligned.”

In addition to having high expectations, Joe encourages competition in everything that his players do, taking inspiration from legendary coach Anson Dorrance. Every passing drill, every shooting drill has become a competition for his team. “Everything we do is a competition”, he continues “It's been really cool to see how quickly we are competitive in a positive way.” Even outside of practice, players are keeping things competitive, seeing who can get a job in town first.

This is all part of Joseph’s plan of making sure all of his players, assistants, and managers will develop and grow. In his own words: “I want everyone to go to a better situation” and get “better opportunities,” becoming the best version of themselves in the process.

Inspiring Next Generation’s Stars with Former NFLer Jabari Issa

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 19:20:37 GMT

As you can imagine, Jabari learned a lot over his years on the Gridiron, to which he hopes to pass down to his players.

One of those teachings, which he recognized as not a popular one, is encouraging players to be involved in multiple sports, adding that many superstar NFL players like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen took that route. A benefit of this is that his players gain new skills and “get a little bit of athleticism from each different sport.” He adds, “The science behind that is like it's not really good for your joints to be playing the same repetitive sport … in the long run.”

In addition to this, he emphasized the importance of embracing the boring stuff. “The little mundane things you have to do over and over and over and over again,” he continues: “Like it sucks, it's boring, but you have to embrace that part because that's the foundation.” Jabari preaches that the more you do the little things, the quicker it will get locked in your brain and you can then move onto learning new things.

Jabari Issa got a late start to his football career, not throwing on the pads until he attended San Mateo High School in the California Bay Area. Understandably, his mother had reservations about him starting at a young age, even more so once he detailed the structure of Pop Warner leagues at the time. At this point, the youth football league was not grouped based on age, but rather by weight, which would’ve pitted the future NFL defensive end against kids multiple years older than him.

Despite all of this he was still able to get a full ride scholarship to the University of Washington, becoming team captain in the process. After a very great career for the Huskies, Jabari got selected by the Cardinals in the 2000 draft, playing a few years in the NFL and then a few in the CFL.

Jabari then goes on to discuss how he navigates NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) with athletes and their parents. At this point in time, high school athletes in most states can earn NIL money. Going into high school, these players are now professional athletes, Jabari adds, “You don't have to wait eight years, nine years like you used to.”

His biggest piece of advice for athletes now is to “make yourself marketable… create a story behind yourself.” Jabari also urges players to build up their social media engagement and track measurables so they can be brought to potential sponsors. While on this subject, he added, “One thing I just say is make sure their social media is clean.” Understanding the microscope that athletes are under, he emphasizes to his players that what they say online, even when they are younger, has consequences.

Jabari’s love for coaching and helping his players achieve their dreams is more than apparent. When asked what motivates him, Jabari states, ”seeing a player click … seeing their progress.” On top of that, Jabari takes great pride in being a good influence on his players and watching them blossom, becoming more confident people in the process. “One kid might be a little shy … but you know he gets good on the football field, confidence gets up a little bit … now he’s talking a lot more to the team.” He humbly adds, “I don't want to take full credit but just hoping I have some kind of influence in that.”

Once he retired, Jabari moved to Seattle with his daughter where he would become a real estate agent. Soon after his daughter graduated from high school, he moved back to California where he would get into coding. Up to this point, Jabari was avoiding coaching so he could spend as much time as he could with his daughter, but soon this would change.

While practicing with a high school friend’s son one day Jabari got a call asking if he wanted to become a private coach and soon after Hammers Elite Athletics was officially founded. It’s been over a year since then and he has loved every second of it. With private coaching, he has found that he can still be involved in the game he loves, while still having time for his family.

Community & Coaching: A Chat with Soccer Coach Michael Cooper

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 22:25:05 GMT

It was twenty years ago that Michael Cooper moved from England to the small village of Knocklong in Ireland. As he would describe Knocklong, it’s an absolutely beautiful place, a village where “you know you see them on TV and you think, no place is that nice. It is.” However, when his daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and wanted to play soccer, there were no teams around for her to join.

That is when Michael took it upon himself to start a team himself that his daughter could play on. After putting out some flyers and spreading the word, he was all set for the first practice. To his surprise, over 30 girls showed up.

He admits, “It was overwhelming at the start, but once you're 10 minutes into the training session, you're having a laugh.” Adding, “It was the best choice I ever made.”

Michael credits doing it for his daughter and the support from his community for helping him get through that first practice. Jokingly stating, “You need the support because if I didn't have the support from them and I had 30 girls turning up for the first session, I'd have just probably packed up my boot and drove off.”

From there his passion for coaching and deep enjoyment of it would grow.

Fast forward to today, Michael is still getting to coach his daughter, now on a junior ladies team, the Kilfrush Crusaders, with players ranging from 14 to over 40 years old. This experience coaching the Crusaders and the youth teams previously has helped bring him closer to his community. Michael states, “It's building the community. It's building friendships, you know, and for me, that's what it's all about.” He continues, “I don't need to go out and win and be a new Pep Guardiola… I want to bring everyone together.”

We wrapped up our conversation with Michael by asking him to impart some wisdom on those who currently are or are looking to coach. The first thing he says you need is a positive mentality. “For a coach, you have to have a happy mentality. You have to have a passion and you have to have the enjoyment in it,” he states. “If you have a happy coach, you will have a happy team.”

Michael emphasizes the importance of reaching out for help if you’re struggling, stating, “Don't get overwhelmed by the amount of work that's involved in it. People do help out.” Adding onto this point, he encourages coaches to never give up though, “If there's a bad day at the office, you keep going and you go again.”

Even from a short conversation, one can see that Michael’s dedication to coaching and his players runs deep. Despite a back operation last year, and needing another one this year, Michael is still always the first one on the pitch setting up that day’s training. “Until they say to me ‘I’m not playing anymore.’ And I need all of them to do that. That's when I'll stop. But until then, I'm going to keep going.”

He admits, “It was overwhelming at the start, but once you're 10 minutes into the training session, you're having a laugh.” Adding, “It was the best choice I ever made.”

From there his passion for coaching and deep enjoyment of it would grow.

Fun Soccer Drills for 5 & 6 Year Olds That Are Just Starting to Learn the Game

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:42:45 GMT

If you’re coaching soccer to 5 and 6 year olds, you’re at the very beginning of a fun, rewarding soccer journey. At this age, it’s all about introducing the game in a way that builds confidence, coordination, and excitement. Drills don’t need to be complicated, they just need to keep kids moving, smiling, and learning the basics one kick at a time.

Whether you're a first-time coach, a volunteer parent, or just someone trying to keep ten 5-year-olds from chasing butterflies mid-drill, this guide is for you. Below are some of the best soccer drills for 5 year olds and 6 year olds that focus on building basic skills while making the game exciting.

1. Red Light, Green Light (with a Ball)

This is a fantastic beginner drill that helps young soccer players work on ball control while having a blast!

To get started, have players dribble toward you. When you shout “green light,” they dribble forward and when you yell “red light,” they stop and freeze with their foot on the ball. It teaches basic dribbling, listening skills, and control.

This stop-and-go challenge will certainly be a hit at your next practice!

(Tip: Make it silly—throw in a “yellow light” to have them walk, or “purple light” for a funny dance break.)

2. Sharks and Minnows

One of the most popular soccer drills for 5 and 6 year olds, this game teaches dribbling under pressure in a playful way.

How this soccer drill works is one player, known as the shark, stands in the middle while the rest, the minnows, try to dribble their balls from one side of the field to the other without getting their ball stolen by the shark. When a kid gets “caught,” they become a shark, which keeps everyone moving and engaged.

Sharks and Minnows is the perfect game for improving dribbling, awareness, and decision-making.

3. Follow the Leader

This simple drill is ideal for beginners who are just learning how to control the ball while moving.

Line up players behind a “leader” (usually a coach or confident player). Everyone dribbles in a line, mimicking the leader’s movements, which can be left turns, stops, small circles, or anything else they want to do to challenge the “followers”.

This soccer drill is meant to build basic dribbling technique and introduces directional changes in a stress-free and fun way.

Bonus tip: Let kids take turns being the leader, it helps build confidence and keeps every player engaged!

4. Cone Dribble Maze

A great way to focus on ball control without needing any fancy equipment, just a few cones or markers, is a cone dribble maze.

Set up cones in a zigzag or random pattern. Have kids dribble their ball through the maze, trying not to touch the cones in the process. Add in an extra challenge by having cones that players need to do a certain task at, such as dribbling around a cone twice or switch to their non-dominant foot for a portion of the maze.

This is a beneficial soccer exercise for 5 and 6 year olds that helps strengthen foot-eye coordination and maneuvering in tight spaces, key skills to learn in this stage of their soccer journey.

Keep it light-hearted and cheer on every effort, whether they zig, zag, or zig-zag into a cone!

5. Goalie Monster

Goalie Monster is a drill that brings a little storytelling to your soccer practice and helps young players increase their shooting accuracy.

First, set up a small goal and have a coach or parent play the “monster” goalie, using exaggerated moves and silly noises. Players then take turns trying to score on the monster.

This drill makes practicing shots fun while encouraging kids to aim and shoot with intention (and not just toe-poke the ball randomly).

6. Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt is designed for short attention spans and wild imaginations! This soccer drill blends running, dribbling, and just the right amount of chaos.

Scatter cones, bean bags, or small items (the “treasure”) all around the field. Players dribble to collect the items and bring them back to their “home base”.

This drill is a good way to reinforce dribbling with purpose and keeps energy levels high. Treasure Hunt also introduces players to dribbling in small spaces as they look to avoid their teammates around them. You can also add challenges like using only their left foot or racing the clock.

7. Tunnel Tag

This one combines teamwork with movement and it gets kids laughing the entire time.

How it works is that one or two players have the role of “taggers.” When a player is tagged, they freeze with legs apart (like a tunnel). To free them, another player has to crawl through the tunnel.

While not a traditional soccer drill, it’s great for warming up and keeping kids active between technical drills. However, feel free to have players dribble balls during this game and unfreeze someone by having the ball go through the “tunnel”.

The exercise is ideal for building teamwork, agility, and laughter, all crucial at this age.

Final Thoughts

Coaching 5 and 6 year olds doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to be fun and educational. These soccer exercises for 5 and 6 year olds help build foundational skills like dribbling, passing, and shooting while keeping practices engaging and full of energy.

Remember, at this stage the goal is participation, not perfection. Keep drills short, celebrate effort over results, and always, always end with a water break and a smile.

25 Easy Fundraising Ideas for Sports Teams in 2025

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:40:58 GMT

Add some fun by having the runner wear team gear or a costume, and keep supporters updated with training progress and race-day photos. This is a low-lift but high-impact sports fundraising idea that adds a personal connection as people love donating when they know exactly who they’re cheering on!

21. Host a Carnival Day

Hosting a carnival day is a lively and family-friendly way to raise funds while giving your community a day to remember.

Set up classic carnival games like ring toss, dunk tanks, and sack races, charging a small fee for tickets or unlimited play wristbands. Add booths for snacks, face painting, raffles, and even team-branded merchandise to boost your earnings.

A carnival day is more than just a fundraiser, it’s a full-blown event that builds team spirit, draws in families from your local community, and helps generate buzz for your sports program.

22. T-Shirt Design Contest

One of the most fun and creative fundraiser ideas for sports teams is a t-shirt design contest.

This would consist of asking team players to submit their own t-shirt designs revolving around your team's mascot or the sport they play. Let the community vote on their favorite option, raising money by charging a set amount per vote. Ensure there is enough time for word to spread and votes to be cast, around two to three weeks would be perfect.

The winning design gets printed and sold as official team merchandise!

23. Trivia Night

A fun activity to raise money that could be done anytime throughout the week is hosting a trivia night at a local restaurant, school, or community center. Popular themes that would be crowd pleasers include: sports, local history, and fun facts about the team and players.

Charge teams or individuals a small entry fee and offer exciting prizes for the winners. You may also choose to add a raffle or silent auction during the night to raise even more money and give participants other opportunities to win!

24. Kickball or Dodgeball Tournament

Organizing a one-day community kickball or dodgeball tournament is an easy and active way to fundraise for your team. Invite families, friends, and local businesses to form teams and pay an entry fee.

Offer small prizes, snacks, and music to create a full event atmosphere and give participants a lasting memory. Everyone loves a big trophy, so be sure to find one that is just as grand as the event itself!

25. Sponsor a Player Campaign

Give supporters and community members the opportunity to sponsor individual players by donating to cover a portion or all of their season costs. In return, sponsors can receive things like thank-you notes, social media shout-outs, or team swag. You can even create a digital wall of appreciation on your team’s website for all sponsors of the team.

Final Thoughts

From traditional methods to modern-day creative twists, these easy fundraising ideas for sports teams are perfect for helping your team thrive and hit your fundraising goals. Whether you’re a little league, high school, or local recreational team, there’s something here to fit your needs and your schedule.

Ready to kick off your next campaign? Start with one of these strategies and make fundraising a team win!

Are you looking for a way to raise money for your sports team, but unsure how to reach your fundraising goal?

With the high costs of jerseys, tournament travel, and league fees, finding sports fundraising ideas that are both simple, yet effective, can make a massive difference.

Below, you’ll find 25 easy fundraising ideas for sports teams, perfect for youth leagues, high school teams, or community clubs. Whether you're managing a little league baseball team or organizing a high school football fundraiser, these ideas will not only help you have a successful season, but bring your community together in the process.

1. Team Car Wash

A car wash is a classic for a reason! Car washes have minimal costs, are easy to organize, and can help bring the team closer together. They can be easily set up in a community center or school parking lot and with advertising on social media, through flyers, and in your local community pages, can draw a good crowd!

Collect donations from each car washed and assign players to wash and dry. For an extra donation, you can even offer a “deluxe wash” option!

To make the event more fun and draw extra attention, add music, signs, and matching t-shirts with your team logo!

2. Restaurant Profit Share Nights

Many restaurants are willing to host fundraising nights where a portion of the evening’s sales go to your team. It’s as simple as picking a date, spreading the word, and showing up with your supporters!

Chain restaurants like Chipotle or Panera often have fundraising programs, but don’t overlook your local spots, they might be even more generous and flexible (plus who doesn’t love supporting a local restaurant). Make sure to promote the event heavily beforehand to family and friends to boost turnout and donations.

As a fun way to include the players, have them take orders and help bring out food during the fundraising nights!

3. Team Mer chandise

Selling team gear is a great way to raise money while building team spirit. You can create t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and even socks with your team’s logo or players last name and number.

Use a print-on-demand service to avoid upfront costs, or partner with a local printer to bundle orders. Promote the gear through your team’s social media, email outreach, and at games. Supporters love wearing their team pride and every purchase supports your cause, it’s a win-win!

4. Online Crowdfunding Page

Create a digital donation page using platforms like GoFundMe, Givebutter, or FundRazr to up your fundraising efforts. Make sure to include a compelling story about your team’s goals and how the funds will be used, whether it be for tournament dues, referee fees, or travel costs.

To spread the word about your fundraising campaign, share the link in emails, text messages, on social media, and with custom QR codes. Encourage players and parents to share the page with their own networks for maximum reach and chance to meet your team's goals.

Crowdfunding campaigns are both easy to make and easily shareable, making them an ideal choice as a sports fundraiser.

5. Snack Bar at Games

Running a concession stand at games can be a simple, but steady source of income for your sports team or league. Stock up on drinks, chips, candy, and healthy snack options that the whole family will love. Consider buying items in bulk to lower costs and increase profit margins.

To keep operations flowing smoothly, assign volunteers or create a rotating schedule for parents to help when the game is at an intermission. A well-run snack bar not only raises funds, it also makes the game day experience better for everyone.

6. 50/50 Raffle

One of the most popular ways to quickly raise funds without taking too much time to plan for is a 50/50 raffle. If you have not heard of a 50/50 raffle or are unsure how it works, basically raffle tickets are sold, whether that be at an event or game, and the winner of the raffle gets 50% of the pot, while the other 50% goes to the team.

It’s a crowd favorite because participants get the excitement of a possible win while supporting a good cause. Just be sure to check local raffle regulations and secure any necessary permits.

7. Mini Sports Clinic

Leverage the talent on your coaching staff and team by hosting a sports clinic for younger kids in your community. Players or coaches can teach basic skills, lead drills, and even run fun games.

Charge a small participation fee and encourage players to invite any younger siblings or family members. It’s a great way to give back, build local support, and raise money, all while engaging the next generation of athletes (possibly ones that will someday be on your team).

8. Team Sponsorship Banners

Offer local businesses a chance to sponsor your team in exchange for advertising space. This could be banners on the sidelines, logos on your website, or mentions in your social media posts.

Get creative and offer tiered sponsorship packages with different levels of exposure and perks. For example, with the highest tier you can offer advertising space, team merch, signed memorabilia by the team, and free snacks at every game.

Business owners love supporting local teams, especially when they get brand visibility in return!

9. Bake Sale

Bake sales never go out of style and for good reason. Set up a stand full of delicious treats at games, school events, or outside a popular local business to raise funds for your team or club.

Get your team involved by asking your team’s families to donate baked goods like cupcakes, brownies, or cookies. You can also offer combo deals (like 3 for $5) or include gluten-free or nut-free options to reach more buyers.

10. Coupon Books

An easy way to fundraise for your team, while encouraging support of local businesses is to offer coupon books. Reach out to local spots in your community and see if they would be willing to donate coupon cards that you can put into a book and sell for a flat rate.

These cards are attractive to buyers as it gets them supporting local teams and businesses at the same time!

11. Super Bowl Squares

Hosting a Super Bowl Squares game is one of the most fun and engaging sports fundraising ideas you can run in the winter. It’s simple to set up and doesn’t require much more than a printable grid and some football fans. Create a 10x10 square grid, with each row and column corresponding to the last digit of the score for each team. Sell each square for a set amount (like $10 or $20).

Once all the squares are purchased, randomly assign numbers 0–9 along the top and side. At the end of each quarter, the person whose square corresponds to the current score wins a cash prize. You can split the pot 50/50 or set fixed prize amounts and keep the rest for the team.

This fundraiser is exciting because it keeps participants invested throughout the game. Plus, it works well for football fans outside your team as parents, coworkers, friends, and neighbors are often happy to join in for the fun of it. Just make sure to be transparent about the rules, prizes, and deadlines.

12. Silent Auction

Silent auctions can be a great way to help with your team's expenses, and can be done either in person or online!

Ask local businesses for donated goods, services, or gift cards that participants can then bid on. These items can range anywhere from a bottle of wine to an entire vacation! Businesses are often eager to assist as it garners interest in their company, while supporting a good cause.

If you choose to have an in-person silent auction, be sure to display items attractively and bring in lots of attendees by spreading the word via email, flyers, and social media. If an online silent auction is preferred, platforms like 32Auctions or BetterWorld make it easy to manage and promote virtual auctions.

While this may seem to be a more time consuming option, the returns may be equally exponential!

13. Hit-a-Thon/Shoot-a-Thon/Goal-a-Thon

Events like these are fan favorites due to their exciting and competitive nature. Have players collect pledges from their family, friends, and community members based on how many hits, baskets, or goals they achieve during the event.

For example, supporters might donate $1 per hit in a baseball hit-a-thon or $5 for every three the athlete makes in a two minute span.

A Hit-a-Thon, Shoot-a-Thon, or Goal-a-Thon will not only motivate the athlete, but also serve as a fun way for supporters to get involved. At the same time, these events are a great way to connect your fundraising efforts with the sport that you are fundraising for, creating team spirit come game time.

14. Beach Clean Up

What better way to fundraise than while helping our environment at the same time?

Organize a team-wide cleanup day at a local beach or waterfront area (if you are not near a beach then a good alternative is a park cleanup) and invite community members to sponsor your efforts. Donations can be collected per bag of trash collected or as flat-rate contributions to support your team’s fundraising goals.

Be sure to promote the event on social media and even invite local news outlets to cover your team’s impact, as this can inspire others to do the same.

Not only does this fundraising activity help cover costs for your team, but it also helps teammates bond with each other and builds community goodwill, making it one of the most rewarding sports fundraising ideas out there.

15. Community Yard Sale

A quick way to raise money for your sports team is to hold a community yard sale. Ask your team’s families to donate gently used items, such as old furniture, clothing, and cookware. Be sure to choose a weekend with good weather and then promote it around town to generate interest.

Offer bundled pricing, and consider selling refreshments for extra income as well. What doesn’t sell can be donated afterward, so nothing goes to waste!

16. Team Breakfast Fundraiser

A pancake breakfast can be a cozy, family-friendly event that brings your community together and helps you reach your team's fundraising goal. This event can easily be hosted in a school cafeteria, church hall, or community center.

Charge a set ticket price for entry and offer unlimited pancakes, juice, coffee, and of course, syrup. Include raffles, music, or a short player presentation to make it more memorable and engaging.

17. Calendar Fundraiser

A fun, quick, and easy way to fundraise for your sports team is to create and sell a team calendar. It’s as simple as gathering the photos you want to use and ordering them from the distributor.

Get creative with the photos, but a few ideas are featuring your team’s best moments, player profiles, or fun themed photos. You can also add fun facts about the athletes on each page so that people can learn more about your team and players. Make sure to add in local holidays and game schedules so that supporters never miss out on the action.

These calendars make great gifts for family members and fans!

18. Local Restaurant Tip Jar

Partner with a local restaurant, coffee shop, or food truck to set up a special tip jar labeled with your team’s name and fundraising goal. Over the course of a week or weekend (or however long you keep it up), all of the collected tips go directly to your team’s fundraising efforts.

This low-effort fundraiser is a great way to reach supporters beyond your usual network, especially if you promote it on social media and display a sign that explains your team’s mission.

It’s one of the easiest fundraising ideas for sports teams and works especially well when paired with a themed event or busy dining hours.

19. Pickleball Tournament

With its rising popularity, a pickleball tournament is a fresh and fun way to raise money while bringing your community together. Rent local courts or partner with a community center to host a one-day or weekend long tournament.

To raise money, charge a team entry fee and encourage participation by offering prizes for winners, like gift cards to local shops or team merchandise.

You can also boost sign ups by dividing the event into two sections, one open to all ages and skill levels, and a second “Parent & Child” bracket where families can compete together. This inclusive approach makes the event feel more like a festival than a fundraiser, and it’s a great way to engage both the competitive crowd and those just looking to have a good time.

20. Run a 5k

Turn your next local 5K into a fundraising opportunity by having a coach, team parent, or even a group of supporters run for your team. Before race day, set up a donation page where friends, family, and community members can sponsor the runner with flat donations or pledges per mile or time completed.