How to Put on a Soccer Clinic as a Fundraiser

Youth soccer tournaments can be expensive, and in a still-recovering economy, it can be difficult to find the money to bring a team of 20 to 30 people to a tournament. A soccer clinic is one way to raise the required funds for such a trip or for any other large expenditure like paying for the team itself. If all members of the team and many of their parents contribute, a clinic is also a solid way to spread out the hard work.

Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a date and reserve a field by calling your local parks and recreation department. Some fields don't require a reservation, but you will have to get to your clinic very early to set your boundaries in that case.

    • 2

      Find volunteer coaches. Coaches don't have to have much experience at all; they just need a basic understanding of the game, such as dribbling the ball and essential soccer terminology.

    • 3

      Select how much money you will charge for the clinic. A good idea is to take the amount of money you'd like to raise and divide it among the number of attendees you can reasonably expect. Many soccer clinics charge between $20 and $25.

    • 4

      Craft a press release to send to newspapers. The press release should include the following information: what organization you are, the time and location of the clinic, what age groups you're willing to host, the price, reminders to bring shin guards/cleats/water bottles, information about whether preregistration is required and your contact information for other questions.

    • 5

      Send this release to your local newspapers and schools.

    • 6

      Format the press release information into a flyer. Put the key information in a large font in the middle of the page, and put the contact information toward the bottom. Tack the flyer to bulletin boards and poles around town to increase publicity.

    • 7

      Meet with your volunteer coaches at least an hour before the attendees arrive to train them on what they will all be instructing. Compose a lesson plan detailing the skills and how to teach them. A sample list of skills includes dribbling, passing, shooting, goaltending, throw-ins and corner kicks. Outline a few drills for each skill on the lesson plan, and make sure all coaches understand them.

    • 8

      Divide the field up by age groups if you have multiple age groups. On the day of the clinic, try to keep a ratio of five students for each volunteer coach. Have the coaches work on basic skills, and then let the teams play a scrimmage after an hour or two.