How To Make Senior Night Unforgettable

The final year of high school is rich with memories. We’ve got some outstanding examples of how you can make Senior Sports Night memorable for the class of 2013.

Welcome the seniors and their families with Personalized Vertical Banners showing pictures of your school’s athletes in action.  Create a life size stand up from a picture of their freshman year or a giant 3-foot Big Head Cutout of their face for friends and family to wave when they are being honored.

You will also want to include a goodie bag filled with both fun and keepsake items such as personalized water bottles, key chains with the team photos. Personalized items create a memorable token for your seniors.  Let your imagination run wild with Do It Yourself treat bags that you can fill with either candy or healthy snacks. Or both! Make Senior Night for the class of 2013 one that they’ll be talking about in 2023 at their 10-year reunion!

Invite the Team to a Film Reel Party

After the big game, the team deserves a celebration. Invite them to something that’ll be the closer to a hard fought win: watching film from some of the best moments of the game! The team can relax, laugh, and have fun together at your film reel party.

Lights Out

Once the film is done, what is there left to do? Keep the lights off and have a glow party. Give out some glow paint and let the team paint some creative pictures or simply an inspiring message on a poster as a memoir to the big night. Throw in some glow necklaces, too, to illuminate the room. Play some upbeat music such as Sandstorm to get the party jumping.

To the Yard

If space is limited in closed doors, the backyard is a great place to throw a party. Everything that you need for your party can fit in one locale. Setting up the film is as easy as hanging a screen on the wall for a projector. After the film, plan some activities for the team:

What’s a backyard party without backyard sports? Ultimate frisbee is a simple sport yet is always a good choice for a team that just wants to have a friendly game. Volleyball is another sport that is easy to set up and fun at parties. Want to think outside of the box? Try this backyard sport:

Music is essential for any party. But for a team oriented outdoor party, some pump up music is a great idea, especially after a big game. Some recognizable songs that fit in this category include “We are the Champions” by Queen and “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey.

http://youtu.be/rfUYuIVbFg0

Athletes are always hungry. Between games, let the team munch on some good food. Burgers and hot dogs have been the classic backyard grilling choices. However, if you want to spice things up, try this recipe:

Celebrate the big win or close the season with a bang with a film reel party. Ready, set, party!

Varsity Appreciation Night Ideas

The varsity players have been carrying the team all season, and it’s time to show them how appreciated they are! Varsity Appreciation Night is a time to recognize all varsity players on a team, whether they play almost every minute of every game or are more of a “sixth man” type of player. There are lots of fun ways to recognize your varsity players on Varsity Appreciation Night.

Set the Date

This special night should be set well in advance and clearly not on the night of a sporting event. How else would the team attend?  Take into consideration the other sports that multi-sport athletes might play. Don’t schedule the football Varsity Appreciation Night on the night of a wrestling match. Some of your varsity football players might also wrestle.

Pick a Location and Decorate

It’s probably easiest to hold the appreciation night in the school cafeteria. It would be easy for everyone to attend if it’s at school, and decorating is easy. Chances are, the cafeteria is already plastered with your school colors. Be sure and decorate tables and walls with even more spirit-themed decorations. Varsity players will feel especially appreciated if they are greeted with a personalized sports banner. You know they love seeing their names in print!

Decide on Entertainment

Entertainment could be something as simple as a carry-in dinner. Assign different parts of the meal for different grades. For example, maybe the freshmen bring the salads, sophomores are in charge of the side dishes, juniors bring desserts, and seniors simply bring themselves!

Consider contacting the yearbook staff or school television station for pictures and videos of your varsity players. This could either be played while everyone eats or it could be a special event after dinner.

Thank them with a Gift

Don’t let your varsity players go home empty-handed on Varsity Appreciation Night. There are all sorts of school-spirit favors they can take home to remember the night for years to come. Some ideas include personalized magnets, team balls, or even personalized seat cushions so that when they come back to support the team after they’ve graduated, they’ll have someplace comfortable to sit.

Thanking varsity players with a gift can also be done if your appreciation night is the night of a game. Give the varsity players their gifts before the game or at halftime in front of a packed house.

Whatever you do, make sure your varsity players feel appreciated. Let them know that no matter how the season ended, your school and community are proud of all the hard work they put into the season.