What you need for a badminton tournament

A badminton tournament needs more than rackets, nets and shuttlecocks. You also need a reliable way to record scores, manage registration, brief players and keep food and drinks moving between matches. Plan quantities around the number of players, courts and volunteers, then check what the sports hall already provides. This list covers the equipment, serving supplies and practical items that are easy to overlook until setup starts.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 32
Clothes racksqty 2
Waste binsqty 6

Sports equipment

Badminton netsqty 8
Net polesqty 16
Match ballsqty 120
Spare ballsqty 40
Badminton racketsqty 24
Scoreboardsqty 8
Competition whistlesqty 8
Field marking tapeqty 4
Referees' chairsqty 8
Prizesqty 12

Equipment

Laptop
Printer
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Wireless microphone
Speakerqty 2

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 100
Platesqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 80
Coffee cupsqty 60
Serving traysqty 8

Kitchen

Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 3
Bread knivesqty 3

Decorations

Welcome sign
Route arrowsqty 12
Tableclothsqty 8
Name badgesqty 80

Cleaning

Mopsqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Iced tea - 6 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 10 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Sandwiches - 100 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Back ham - 1.5 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Bell peppers - 2 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Snack mix - 6 bags
- Muesli bars - 80 pieces
- Bananas - 8 kilos
- Apples - 8 kilos
- Grapes - 5 kilos
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Brownies - 80 pieces
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls

Tips

Bring at least one spare shuttlecock tube for every two courts, plus extra rackets if players may not have their own. Match balls wear out quickly during a full tournament day.
Prepare one scoring setup per court: a scoreboard, writing materials and a referee’s chair. Keep spare pens and printed match schedules at the registration table.
For drinks, plan roughly 2 to 3 servings per player for the first three hours, then add more for longer tournaments. Use coolers for cold drinks and thermos flasks for hot water or coffee.
Set aside one reusable cup, plate and cutlery set per attendee, plus about 10% extra. Serving trays, cutting boards and bread knives are easy to miss when catering arrives.
Check power needs at least one day before the tournament. Test the laptop, printer, speaker and wireless microphone together, and bring extension cords and power strips that reach the registration and announcement areas.

Frequently asked questions

What equipment do I need for a badminton tournament?: For each active court, plan a badminton net, net poles, match balls, a scoreboard and a referee’s chair. Add spare balls, rackets, competition whistles and field-marking tape, then check whether the hall supplies any of these items at least one week in advance.
How many shuttlecocks do I need for a badminton tournament?: Start with at least one tube of shuttlecocks per court for a short tournament, and two tubes per court for a full day or competitive matches. Keep one additional spare tube for every two courts so play does not stop when balls become damaged.
How much food and drink should I buy for a badminton tournament?: Allow 2 to 3 drinks per player for the first three hours, with extra water for warm halls or longer sessions. For catering, use the confirmed participant count and add around 10% extra portions for volunteers, officials and late arrivals.
What should I prepare for tournament registration?: Set up one registration table with the participant list, printed match schedule, competition rules, a laptop or printer if needed, and spare pens. Have the registration area ready 30 minutes before the advertised start so check-in does not delay the first matches.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.