What to buy for a tennis tournament

A tennis tournament needs more than rackets and tennis balls. Plan supplies for the matches, the players waiting between rounds, officials, volunteers, and anyone handling registration or refreshments. Use the number of courts and registered players to set quantities, then add spares for delays, lost balls, changing weather, and unexpected guests. Buy drinks and fresh food close to the event, while ordering prizes and checking equipment several weeks ahead.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 48
Beer tablesqty 4
Party tentsqty 2
Clothes racksqty 2

Sports equipment

Tennis netsqty 4
Tennis ballsqty 96
Spare tennis ballsqty 24
Scoreboardsqty 4
Ball basketsqty 8
Tennis umpire chairsqty 4
Training hoopsqty 12
Marker discsqty 24
Skipping ropesqty 8
Water cratesqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Kettlesqty 2
Coffee machinesqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Bluetooth speaker
Microphone
Megaphonesqty 2
Printer
Power banksqty 4

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 100
Coffee cupsqty 40
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Pouring jugsqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 4
Serving traysqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Serving tongsqty 6
Ice packsqty 16
Storage boxesqty 8

Decorations

Buntingqty 6
Balloonsqty 100
Tableclothsqty 8
Stage signsqty 3

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 4
Outdoor lightsqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 6 kilos
- Mandarins - 5 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snacks - 4 bags
- Muesli bars - 60 pieces
- Sponge cake cookies - 40 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- White rolls - 60 pieces
- Currant buns - 40 pieces
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Ham - 2 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 1.5 kilos
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Jam - 2 jars
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Herb cheese - 1 kilo
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Bell peppers - 2 kilos
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Chicken nuggets - 4 kilo
- Mini pizzas - 60 pieces
- Vegetarian snacks - 40 pieces
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Chili sauce - 2 bottles
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Coffee filters - 2 packs
- Stirrers - 150 pieces
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 12 pieces
- Paper hand towels - 6 packs
- Bandages - 2 boxes
- Sunscreen - 4 bottles
- Mosquito repellent - 2 bottles
- Coffee creamer - 2 packs
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Sugar-free lemonade - 4 bottles
- Lemonade syrup - 3 bottles
- Paper straws - 150 pieces

Registration

Name stickersqty 100
Pensqty 30
Clipboardsqty 8
Competition formsqty 100
Envelopesqty 40
Wristbandsqty 100

Communication

Walkie-talkiesqty 6
Phone chargersqty 4
Printer paperqty 2
Tapeqty 6
Markersqty 12
Notepadsqty 8
Directional signsqty 12
A4 information boardsqty 8

Safety

First aid kit
Cold packsqty 6
Safety vestsqty 8
Flashlightsqty 4
Non-slip matsqty 6

Cleaning

Broom setsqty 3
Floor squeegeesqty 2
Mopsqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Waste binsqty 8
Trash grabbersqty 2
Toilet brushesqty 2
Hand broomsqty 4

Prizes

Winner's cupsqty 3
Medalsqty 12
Prize packagesqty 3
Certificatesqty 40
Ribbonsqty 12

Tools

Hammerqty 2
Cable tiesqty 100
Cable tiesqty 50
Scissorsqty 4
Measuring tapesqty 2
Umbrellasqty 4

Tips

Plan at least one new can of tennis balls per scheduled match, plus one spare can per court. Label the balls before play so used and unused sets do not get mixed up.
For a tournament lasting four hours, allow roughly 1.5 litres of water per player, with extra crates for officials and volunteers. Chill the first supply before arrival and keep the rest in coolers.
Buy fruit and snacks for the full player list, not just the expected finalists. A practical starting point is two snack portions per player, with additional food for a late finish.
Order trophies, medals, and other prizes at least 3–4 weeks before the tournament. Check names and categories before placing the order; corrections are difficult once items are made.
Prepare one printed participant list and match schedule for each registration or officials' table, plus spare copies. Charge power banks and test the printer, microphone, megaphone, and extension cords the day before.

Frequently asked questions

How many tennis balls do I need for a tournament?: Start with one can of balls for every scheduled match, then add one spare can per court. For example, 24 matches across 4 courts requires 24 match cans plus 4 spare cans.
How much water should I buy for a tennis tournament?: Allow about 1.5 litres per player for a four-hour tournament, then add 0.5 litres per official and volunteer. For 32 players, 4 officials, and 4 volunteers, that is roughly 54 litres.
How much food do I need for tennis tournament players?: Plan two snack portions per player for an event lasting up to four hours, plus one extra portion for every five players. Choose fruit and easy-to-serve snacks that can stay available between matches.
When should I order tennis tournament prizes?: Order trophies and medals at least 3–4 weeks before the event. Keep a final list of categories and participant names ready before ordering, and check the delivery as soon as it arrives.

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