What to Buy for a Birthday Tournament

A birthday tournament needs more than balls and a few prizes. You’ll need equipment for each match, a clear way to register teams and record scores, and enough cups, plates and serving supplies for breaks. Plan drinks, coffee, tea and snacks around the event length, then check power, cooling and charging before guests arrive. This shopping list helps you cover the items that are easy to overlook, from spare marker discs to waste bins and extension cords.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 45
Registration desk
Prize table
Waste binsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 50
Reusable cupsqty 80
Coffee cupsqty 30
Cutlery setsqty 50
Serving plattersqty 8

Sports equipment

Footballsqty 6
Basketballsqty 4
Volleyballqty 3
Conesqty 30
Marker discsqty 20
Team bibsqty 40
Whistlesqty 4
Stopwatchesqty 4
Scoreboardsqty 4
Sports bagsqty 2

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3
Coolersqty 3
Charging phone

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 3
Kitchen knivesqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 3
Ice cube traysqty 4

Decorations

Balloonsqty 80
Buntingqty 6
Tableclothsqty 6
Team flagsqty 5

Lighting

String lightsqty 3
Battery lanternsqty 4

Cleaning

Trash bagsqty 40
Cleaning spongesqty 6
Mop set

Catering

Groceries
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Iced tea - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Spa Rood - 3 bottles
- Beer - 48 cans
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 cans
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Rosé - 3 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Snack nuts - 3 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Strawberries - 2 kilos
- Wraps - 5 packs
- White bread - 3 loaves
- Whole grain bread - 3 loaves
- Cheese slices - 2 kilos
- Back ham - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Yogurt dressing - 2 bottles
- Mini pizzas - 50 pieces
- Vegetarian snacks - 40 pieces
- Mini frikandellen - 50 pieces
- Satay sauce - 2 jars
- Cake - 1 cake
- Whipped cream - 3 cans
- Coffee spoons - 1 pack
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 2 packs

Tips

Allow at least one ball for each sport in use, plus cones or marker discs for boundaries and drills. Check the equipment before the tournament and keep spare items together in sports bags.
Prepare one registration desk, one prize table and enough folding chairs for players who are not currently competing. Keep scoreboards and printed score sheets at the scoring area, not in the equipment pile.
For the first hour, plan roughly two to three drinks per person, then add water for the matches and breaks. Chill drinks in coolers and prepare ice in advance; ice cube trays rarely produce enough on the day.
Use reusable cups, plates and cutlery, with serving platters for snacks. Put waste bins near the food and seating areas so used tableware does not end up beside the playing field.
Test the Bluetooth speaker, extension cords and power strips before opening the venue. Charge the phone used for timing, music or communication the night before and keep its charger with the event equipment.

Frequently asked questions

What food and drink do I need for a birthday tournament?: For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per person, then add water for the remaining matches. Buy snacks that can be served quickly, and prepare coffee and tea for breaks rather than relying on last-minute kitchen work.
How many balls do I need for a birthday tournament?: Start with at least one usable ball for every sport included in the format, then bring a spare if a ball may be shared between matches. Check footballs, basketballs and the volleyball before setup, not when the first game is due to start.
What equipment is easy to forget for a sports birthday party?: Small items are often missed: whistles, stopwatches, team bibs, marker discs, scoreboards and printed score sheets. Also pack extension cords, power strips, a charged phone and waste bins before leaving for the venue.
When should I prepare the birthday tournament shopping?: Buy non-perishable supplies and decorations at least two to three days beforehand. Chill drinks and prepare ice the day before, then check sports equipment, power and serving supplies during the venue setup.

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