Author: Adam Lague

  • Top 6 Sports Team Bonding Activities

    Top 6 Sports Team Bonding Activities

    Playing on a youth or school sports team is the highlight of many of our childhoods. We create long lasting memories and make friends we keep in touch with for years afterwards. But what happens when a team doesn’t gel right away?
    Some teams do need an extra push to come together as one, to become close off the field so they can work together effectively on the field. And any of us that have played sports know that teams that get along play better. So, as manager or coach, what can you do to expedite the bonding experience? Here are six team building games for youth and teenagers. Try these out and you’ll have a tighter group in no time!

    1. Change the game

    Something as simple as playing a different sport than what you’re used to can provide a much needed change of pace and remove the pressure put on players to always perform at a high level, even in practice.

    There are a few ways to do this. First, you could play a modified version of your sport. So, for a baseball team, put away the gloves and substitute a hardball for a wiffle ball. For a hockey team, flip the sticks over and throw a ring into the mix for a little ringette. Alternatively, you could just play another sport altogether. Try playing some touch football with your basketball team, or go to the driving range with your softball team. Getting players out of their element always makes for a good time — and a few laughs.

    2. Go watch the pros

    Taking in a local professional game is always a hit among sports teams. For any young athlete, there’s no better place to look for inspiration or motivation than those that are the best in the world at your sport. But not only can you learn a thing or two by watching the top players, you can also have a whole lot of fun cheering on your hometown team. As manager, you can spice things up by organizing some friendly betting in the form of a squares pool or prop bets. And watching from the stands rather than at field level can be a refreshing change!

    3. Pizza night

    There aren’t that many foods that can bring a group closer on their own, but the team pizza party is one of the classic team building activities for teenagers that can achieve things no motivational speech can. For whatever reason, a few bottles of soda and a couple slices of pepperoni have a mysterious ability to put kids — or adults for that matter — in a great mood. With sugar levels high and smiles wide, they’re bound to get along better than ever. Once properly digested, those bonds should transfer over to the playing field.

    4. Scavenger Hunt

    Among fun team building games for youth, the scavenger hunt is one that brilliantly incorporates competition, strategy, and teamwork — all important aspects of any sport. And since the game encourages teams to finish quickly, its high speeds promote exercise too.

    But scavenger hunts can be a way to break up team cliques and get players from different position groups or that wouldn’t normally compete together on the same team. In the heat of battle, players are forced to make group decisions quickly and will need to pull in the same direction. Win or lose, they’ll be doing so as a team.

    5. Community Service

    If the term team building causes eyes to roll, then choose something with a goal much more noble than bonding: helping out others. Community service is a great learning experience for any young person, and many students will be required to complete a number of hours regardless. So organize for a few different groups of student athletes to perform their community service hours together.

    They can help out at a local food bank, bag groceries, clean up the streets, spend time at a retirement home, and so many other things. At the end of the day, the kids will feel good about themselves and the work they’ve done — and they might just find themselves a little closer with their teammates too.

    6. Low-tech Social Network

    Kids these days… they’re obsessed with their social media! This sports team bonding activity works well when the players don’t know each other very well. So if they’re avoiding real life interaction and burying their heads into their smartphones, bring their social network to life — sort of.

    What you need for this activity is a whiteboard, index cards, and markers. Then you’ll have each player create their ‘profile’ where they can write a few things about themselves. Then they’ll stick their index card on the whiteboard and they should draw connecting lines between their profile and the players they already know, adding how they know each other.

    Then, by talking with other players and uncovering little known details in common (Our brothers played together! We’re from the same hometown!) you can create lines between every player on the team. And voilà — the ice is broken and everyone feels like they know one another a little better.

    Once you see the results of a tightly bonded team on the field, court, or ice, you’ll be convinced to implement these team building strategies regularly. Often when a team beats another more talented team, it’s because they had better chemistry. And in-game chemistry always starts away from the playing surface. So try these out, then pull up a chair and watch what happens next!

  • The Longest Highways in The United States

    The Longest Highways in The United States

    Is there anything quite like a long drive? No, we mean a long drive. Highways are the backbone of the classic American road trip. Wherever it is in this country you want to go, there’s a road for that. While this list may seem like nothing but a collection of numbers, these highways are all about seeing the country the best way we know how: on the open road.

    Interstate 5

    From: Mexico to Canada

    Length: 1,381.29 miles

    Best stops: LEGOLAND California, Disneyland Park, Griffith Park, Lemay – America’s Car Museum, Peace Arch

    Technically, the I-5 only exists in the United States, but this country-long roadway just about touches three countries. In the south, it kicks off in plain sight of the Mexican border, beginning in San Ysidro, California, but just minutes from Downtown Tijuana.

    The San Diego Freeway passes right through the city, and you’re never far from the Pacific Ocean until veering in to catch a glimpse of Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Burbank. After Sacramento and a cozy drive through Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the I-5 leaves California behind in favor of Oregon. 

    The highway delivers a magnificent view of Portland from the east side of the Willamette River before cutting through the heart of Seattle, Washington. Three states and 1,300 miles later, Interstate 5 comes to halt at the Canadian border and the Peace Arch monument, giving way to British Columbia’s Highway 99, with access to yet another major city: Vancouver.

    Interstate 95

    From: Miami to Maine

    Length: 1,919.31 miles

    Best stops: Maine Wildlife Park, Bronx Zoo, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, World Golf Hall of Fame

    Trying to add to your list of states visited? Just drive the I-95 from start to finish — you’ll have been through 16 of them by the time you’re finished. This drive is better done from north to south, because once you get to Miami, you’re not ever going to want to leave. But before you do, enjoy the I-95 for what it is: an American state bucket list crusher.

    The interstate starts in Houlton, where Maine meets the Canadian province of New Brunswick. While you’ll be in the US, you’ll also find yourself north of three major Canadian cities: Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto, plus nearly all of Nova Scotia. After that oddity, the I-95 includes some typically wonderful Maine driving before entering the heart of New England, taking a detour around Boston, and showing off several of Connecticut’s prominent cities. 

    The 95 makes a brief appearance on the northern part of Manhattan before winding through rural New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. In the 16th and final state, Florida, much of the road drives directly south, parallel with the Atlantic Ocean. Following glimpses of Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Hollywood, you’ve reached the apex. Welcome to Miami.

    Interstate 10

    From: Florida to California

    Length: 2,460.34 miles

    Best stops: USS Alabama museum, Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge

    From east to west or west to east, this highway drive can be done in good weather any time of year. In Jacksonville, I-10 begins by feeding off another of our favourites, the I-95. Then it goes straight west for what feels like forever, including a rewarding stretch overtop the Mobile Bay before crossing into Alabama and then Mississippi while flirting with the Gulf of Mexico.

    The heart of the drive begins in Louisiana. First, a stretch over water, then a few minutes on the outskirts of the Bayou, and finally a look at the French Quarter, Louis Armstrong Park, and the famous Mercedes-Benz Superdome. After New Orleans, the 10 consists mainly of swamp and wildlife refuge until entering Texas and passing just north of downtown Houston. If you like rural Texas, this next part is for you. If not, close your eyes until San Antonio. 

    After that, it’s more small-town driving until the interstate veers closer and closer to the Mexican border before hitting the bustling city of El Paso. Then prepare for a long stretch of country roads until Tucson and Phoenix in Arizona. The trip includes some California desert before culminating in Los Angeles and coming to a close at the Santa Monica Pier.

    US Route 1

    From: Fort Kent to Key West

    Length: 2,369 miles

    Best stops: Miami, Key West

    You haven’t driven Florida until you’ve hopped aboard Route 1. Yes, Highway 1 technically begins all the way in Fort Kent, Maine on the Canadian border and basically traces the eastern shore of the country. But we’ll skip ahead, because the main event is found all the way in the south, in Florida. That’s where you’ll find some of the most scenic driving in the world thanks to its proximity to the Indian River, so many great Floridian cities, and of course the Atlantic Ocean.

    Cruise through Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, and Aventura in classic Florida fashion. Then, after a glamorous stop in Miami, prepare for the final act: The Florida Keys. Route 1 in all its glory continues through the Keys and onto the Seven Mile Bridge, as if suspended in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, all the way to Key West at the tip.

    Interstate 90

    From: Boston to Seattle

    Length: 3,020.44 miles

    Best stops: University of Notre Dame, Niagara Falls, Sturbridge Living Museum

    If you’re looking for America’s longest interstate highway, that would be I-90, a mammoth cross country drive that takes off at Boston Logan International Airport and caps off at Seattle’s Greyhound bus station in front of the city’s baseball and football stadiums. Talk about a convenient trip!

    What starts as the infamous Massachusetts Turnpike (AKA, the Mass Pike) winds through Boston’s suburbs into Upstate New York, caressing Lake Erie and the Canada-US border after Buffalo, and ducking Cleveland in the process. After browsing Ohio and Indiana but narrowly avoiding Michigan, I-90 could be your ticket to Chicago. Your road trip through the American midwest includes stints in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and a brief stint in Idaho before settling in Washington state.

    US Route 20

    From: the Pacific Northwest to New England

    Length: 3,365 miles

    Best stops: Cedar Point, Carhenge, Longfellow’s Wayside Inn

    At more than 3,300 miles, US Route 20 is the single longest road in America. And it’s another major highway that starts in Beantown and takes a similar route to the I-90. This one actually begins in the Back Bay neighbourhood on Commonwealth Avenue, so it’s first mile includes the historic Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. (Don’t miss the iconic Citgo sign!) After crossing the Charles River, the 20 becomes Main Street, beginning a legendary stretch through 12 states.

    From Fenway Park to the former Boston-Buffalo highway stretch to the Mississippi River and Yellowstone National Park, this looong stretch is packed with history. By the time you get to Newport, Oregon, you’ll have seen just about all of the northern part of the country — and you’ll have driven a road longer than anyone else has in the United States.

    Ready to hit the road? Us too. If the best way to travel is the road trip, the best way to road trip is by bus. No other vehicle provides the convenience and comfort of a charter bus. A coach bus rental allows you to travel in big groups with access to things like WiFi, a bathroom, and undercarriage storage — all rather necessary for trips this long. 

  • What is a Charter Bus?

    What is a Charter Bus?

    Have you ever tried to organize a class field trip, corporate outing, or sports game using only personal vehicles as transportation? For many, this experience is nothing less than a nightmare. A charter bus is a much easier way to transport a group of individuals.

    What is a charter bus?

    A charter bus is a private vehicle rental used by private groups to take them, and only them, to their destination. With a charter bus, your group has the vehicle to themselves and gets to customize their itinerary as much as they’d like. Charter buses typically feature perks like a driver, undercarriage storage space, onboard bathrooms, free WiFi, and more.

    The next time someone asks you, What is a charter bus? — you’ll respond, It’s the best way for groups to travel.

    A (Very) Brief History of Charter Buses

    Coaches have been used for transportation since as early as 3000 B.C.E. — but of course, in those days, the carriages were drawn by horse. They were also only available to society’s most powerful, and useful only where the roads were of high enough quality.

    A vintage coach bus from the 1960s.

    Coach buses as we know them today got their start in the early 20th century, when motors began to replace horses and the vehicles were made available to schoolchildren, workers, and tourists rather than solely the rich.

    In the 1920s, operators such as Leyland Motors and Southdown Motor Services rose to prominence with their heavyweight passenger buses. Today, large-scale operators like Coach Canada and Greyhound serve millions of customers each year in hundreds of locations across North America with fleets of thousands of buses. And the buses? They’ve made some improvements on those over the years too.

    Charter Bus Types

    Staring at a list of bus types with no real clue of which one to choose? There’s a method to the madness of booking a bus, and it starts with one simple question: How many people am I travelling with?

    Once you have a headcount, you can narrow down your options. Then, you’ll be able to compare two or three buses based on price, amenities, trip distance, and more. But start with a number.

    Coach bus

    A modern coach bus.
    • For 30-55 riders
    • Extra legroom, luggage space, and on-board bathrooms
    • Special requests like WiFi

    Simply put, the coach bus is our most luxurious option. It’s pricier than the others, but you get what you pay for.

    Minibus charter rentals

    Mini coach

    • For 28 riders or less
    • Large overhead and undercarriage storage compartments
    • Air conditioning

    The mini coach is a great opton if you’re a smaller group, but you still want the comforts of the coach for a long — or special — trip.

    School bus

    A classic yellow school bus.
    • For 30-47 riders
    • Budget-friendly
    • Nostalgia included free of charge

    The school bus is a great opton if you’re not going too far, and you need the convenience of a single vehicle rather than a carpool.

    Minibus

    One possible minibus configuration.
    • For 21 riders or less
    • Most cost-effective
    • Intimate for small groups

    Minibuses are convenient for a group of tourists hopping from one attraction to the next, or as a shuttle service from airport to hotel.

    Sprinter van

    Sprinter vans are an underrated, versatile vehicle.
    • For 8-15 riders
    • Environmentally-friendly
    • DIY: Drive it yourself

    Sprinter vans are great if you prefer to keep your small group together rather than taking two or three cars, plus you don’t mind driving yourself.

    Most Popular Reasons to Rent a Charter Bus

    The money makes sense

    Bus travel gets you the best bang for your buck. You can rent a school bus to transport 45 people for as little as $389 per day. For the same group, you’d have to rent nine cars — a fleet that would run you well over $400.

    Bonding experience

    It’s just more fun on the bus. Corporate groups, sports teams, and classmates get to spend more time together on the road getting to know each other, telling stories, and laughing. Team building is travel time well spent.

    Convenience

    Rather than organizing a complicated carpool with various meeting points, travel directions, and gas receipts, a charter bus keeps everyone together throughout the trip. One pick-up and one drop-off location — plus your professional driver takes care of the wheel. 

    Societal responsibility

    By slashing the number of cars your group puts on the road, you’re helping to cut back on greenhouse emissions. You’re also contributing to less congested roads — not to mention the sanity of your passengers that don’t have to stop-and-start through frustrating traffic jams!

    It’s soooo easy!

    Booking a charter bus through Bus.com’s online booking tool is a breeze. You can plan your itinerary, get access to our vast fleet of buses, and get a quote all on one page within a few clicks. If you need more help, you can connect with our customer service team by chat or by phone.

    In conclusion, a charter bus s a privately rented vehicle that makes group travel easy, convenient, and cost-effective. For field trips, wedding parties, corporate outings, and many more types of travel, the charter bus is the answer.

  • Toronto Coach’s Guide to Planning a Tournament

    Toronto Coach’s Guide to Planning a Tournament

    Planning a tournament for your Toronto-based sports team, or an away tournament to The Big Smoke? From where to play games to how to get your opponents into the city, here’s all you need to know about planning that big tournament.

    Toronto Sports Venues

    Toronto is known as a hockey town. After all, it is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame, the NHL’s Maple Leafs, and the AHL’s Marlies — but the 6ix has outgrown that label in recent years. Deep playoff runs by MLB’s Blue Jays and last year’s championship won by the NBA’s Raptors cemented T-Dot’s reputation as a multi-sport city. That’s true below the professional ranks too. Participation statistics among Canadian youth show that sports like basketball and soccer have made up ground on hockey over the last five years, and nowhere is that more true than the country’s largest city.

    The city’s sporting venues reflect this change: There are as many quality football and soccer fields and basketball courts around town as hockey rinks. For inspiration: The aforementioned pro teams host their games out of some truly stellar venues. Downtown Scotiabank Arena is shared by hockey’s Leafs and basketball’s Raptors throughout the winter. The Rogers Centre hosts Blue Jays home games rain or shine thanks to its retractable roof, and provides a spectacular view of the iconic CN Tower

    But unless you’re buying tickets, chances are you won’t be able to afford to get your team into those big league venues. Here, we’ll guide you through the arenas, courts, and fields you should know about when planning your Toronto tournament.

    Toronto Hockey Arenas

    Toronto has a remarkable selection of rinks to choose from, sprawling across the city and its many suburbs. Multi-rink venues make it easy to run your tournament out of one location, and Canlan Ice Sports on York University’s campus has no less than six sheets. Just north of the city, in Vaughan, The Sports Village has four surfaces plus a pub for the parents and a video game center for the siblings. Finally, the state-of-the-art Ford Performance Centre is the official practice facility for both the Maple Leafs and Marlies, and it has four rinks available for rent.

    More info on Toronto’s top hockey arenas

    Toronto Indoor Sports Venues

    In North York’s Downsview Park lies one of the country’s best basketball facilities: HoopDome, a 42,000 square foot gymnasium with four regulation courts and three smaller half courts. Ryerson University’s campus gym has only one hardcourt, but the home of the Rams seats 1,000 people for big games.

    More info on Toronto’s top indoor sports venues

    Toronto Outdoor Sports Venues

    Any tournament would be well-suited for Christie Pits Park, which has three baseball diamonds and a field that can be used for soccer, rugby, or football. The Varsity Centre on the University of Toronto campus has a 5,000 seat artificial turf field for soccer and football.

    More info on Toronto’s top outdoor sports venues

    Team Transportation

    The best sports tournaments bring together teams from far and wide, which makes transportation a crucial element for participating teams. As the host team, you can welcome your competition by helping the incoming clubs plan their trips into your city.

    The first thing each away team will want to do is take equipment inventory to decide how many buses they’ll need to book. How much gear teams travel with will impact their bus selection, especially when it comes to storage space.

    Point the opposing coaches or team managers toward our Quick Guide to Choosing a Bus Type —  it’s the easiest way to make the decision. The guide asks all the right questions and shows off important features for each of our bus options.

    Pro tip: if you are coaching a small team this year, you may want to opt for renting a sprinter van instead of an entire bus. Bus.com offers sprinter van rentals in Toronto that can fit up to 15 passengers and even be driven by a member of your team.

    The next step is to reserve a bus. Sports teams often favour the coach bus, an attractive option due to its size (capacity up to 55), comfortable seating, air conditioning, bathroom, and spacious undercarriage storage for all the team’s equipment and luggage. Smaller teams that carry gear might prefer the mini coach over a full-sized coach bus, which has all the comfortable amenities of the regular coach along with storage. Teams travelling shorter distances or simply trying to lower their per player price should consider renting a school bus or a mini bus.

    Want to offer more advice to your fellow coaches? Explain to them the importance of creating an attendance list to use each and every time their team boards and debarks the bus. Safety is the most crucial aspect in play here, and keeping track of all your players starts with this list. To liven things up on the bus, suggest onboard entertainment like music, movies, or sports podcasts.

    A question you’ll no doubt be asked is this: How can I pay for my bus rental? Be sure to let them know about the 3 easy ways to finance a bus rental with Bus.com, as well as our convenient book now pay later option that makes it easy for teams to plan ahead and pay when they’re ready.

    Finally, depending on your sport, make sure to check out one of these resources before booking transportation:

    Toronto Accommodations

    Teams coming in from outside Toronto will need to book rooms in a hotel for their players, coaches, and maybe even parents. As a local, you can help them navigate the different neighbourhoods around town and suggest hotels that are close to the rink, court, or field. But you may not know exactly which hotels are best suited for sports teams — and that’s where we come in.

    We know that the Holiday Inn Express is renowned for hosting sports teams and is equipped with a Parents’ Lounge which is super convenient for younger-aged teams where the parents are along for the ride. We also know that Best Western provides free wifi, complimentary breakfast, and large rooms large with space to store equipment. Both chains tend to be generous with team discounts or sponsorships — all you have to do is ask.
    Pro tip: Book a courtesy hotel room block. A block is essential for any sports team travelling together, as it ensures that your whole group has rooms next to one another.

  • Guide to Planning a College Sports Rally to Away Games

    Guide to Planning a College Sports Rally to Away Games

    Nothing shows school spirit quite like supporting your college team at their away games. While home games bring the whole student body together in a party-like atmosphere, following your team on the road and invading your rival school’s campus for an away game is the true mark of a rabid fan.

    Wearing your team colours onto enemy territory — now that’s dedication. Here’s how diehards plan an away game rally with their classmates or student group.

    Booking Group Bus Transportation

    Choosing your bus for a group trip is part art, part science. You’ve got to assess your group and its travel needs, the type and length of trip, your budget, and much more. Here are some questions you should answer before making your selection.

    How big is your group? 

    Group size is probably the most important factor in determining which bus to book. Each bus type has its own capacity. The minibus can seat up to 21, the mini coach up to 32, the school bus up to 47, and the coach bus up to 55. But size isn’t everything! There are other important considerations, namely comfort, amenities, and storage.

    For groups of 15 or smaller, Bus.com offers passenger vehicle rentals in the form of sprinter vans. Sprinter vans are a type of luxury vehicle that can fit up to 15 passengers comfortably.

    What is the distance of your trip? 

    For a short, cross-town trip, comfort may not be a priority. But if you’re travelling three-plus hours for the big game, you might favour the plush seating of a coach bus over the standard bench seating on the yellow school bus. For the long drive, necessities probably include a bathroom, an amenity available on the coach bus — but not the mini coach.

    Do you need storage?

    Well, you’re a fan of the team, not a player on the team — so you’re probably not travelling with a whole lot of sports equipment. But if your group of students is making an overnight trip to follow your school team in a tournament, passengers will be travelling with luggage. And if you’re a hardcore fan group, your gameday experience might include a mascot costume, foam fingers and other team apparel, or tailgate gear (more on that later). That means you’ll require a bus with room for your stuff, and maybe even undercarriage storage. While both coach and mini coach buses have overhead and undercarriage storage, school buses and minibuses have much more limited storage space.

    Start here: Quick Guide to Choosing a Bus Type

    Financing Your Bus Rentals

    Now that you’ve booked the perfect bus or buses for your rabid group of fellow students, you’ll need a payment plan. If the idea of fronting the money for a bus you haven’t sold seats for yet makes you shudder, start with our Book Now, Pay Later option. This way, you can secure your bus well in advance, and we’ll give you that time to collect your money and pay up when the time is right — at least 21 days prior to departure.

    Another tactic would be to sell seat vouchers in advance of booking your bus — for their money, you can promise each student a spot on the bus as long as you reach a minimum amount of ticket sales allowing you to fill up the bus. That way, you take the risk out of your hands and incentivize students to reserve quickly — as well as nudge their friends to do the same. If you fill up a bus, you can continue selling seats for a second bus, filling up as many vehicles as you can without taking on the financial burden yourself.

    It could be that your rally group has been determined ahead of time — for example, you’re organizing a trip to an away game for an official student group, for the players’ parents, or for the floormates of your residence building. In that case, determine your group size, book the appropriate bus, and divide the costs equally.

    Tailgating When You Arrive

    Just like your team making a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, we saved the best for last. With the bus booked and paid for, your travel podcast playlists in order, and your itinerary set in stone, it’s time to get into party mode and plan your meat-cooking, beer-drinking, team spirit-showing tailgate party. What’s the only thing better than a rabid and rowdy tailgate on gameday? A rabid and rowdy tailgate — on the other team’s turf.

    Invading enemy territory (read: the away stadium’s parking lot) along with your classmates and colleagues requires that you turn the team spirit up to 10. Here’s how you do it.

    Rule number one: Start early. If stadium parking opens for tailgate at 9 am, show up at 8! At the very least, you’ll have more time to practice your school cheers and rally songs.

    What to bring: When it comes to preparing for a tailgate, there are a few essentials to plan for. We’re talking food, drinks, a tent, chairs, tables, coolers, tupperwares and plates for serving, plastic utensils and cups, and more. As mentioned above, the coach bus and mini coach provide the most storage space, and if you plan on tailgating, we strongly suggest one of those bus types.

    The art of the set-up: First things first — you’ve got to mark your spot. You’ll be thankful you’re travelling in a big vehicle, but you won’t be the only one in a bus. If there’s a designated area for large vehicles, go there. Line up your bus in a way that you can set up shop right in front of the undercarriage storage for easy access to all your items. Carefully arrange your tables, chairs, and coolers in order to make your presence felt.

    Two is better than one: We suggest bringing two folding tables. Set up one table next to the grill, and use the other for serving, away from the cooking. Don’t forget to bring garbage and recycling bags to keep your space clean.

    Root, root, root for the away team: This last tip is especially important when you’re tailgating at the rival’s venue. Decorate your tailgate in team colours so everyone knows who you’re rooting for! Talk trash, but don’t leave any behind. Clean up after yourself, keep the rivalry friendly, stay safe, and respect your surroundings. 

    Start here: How to Plan Your Tailgate

  • Montreal Coach’s Guide to Planning a Tournament

    Montreal Coach’s Guide to Planning a Tournament

    Planning a tournament for your Montreal-based sports team, or an away tournament to the City of Saints? From getting there to staying there to where to play once you’re there, here’s all you need to know about planning that big competition, coach.

    Montreal Sports Venue

    Montreal has a healthy professional, amateur, and collegiate sports scene that goes beyond just hockey and the city’s legendary Montreal Canadiens. The Habs — as they’re known to locals — play at the state-of-the-art 21,000-plus seat Bell Centre. Their minor league affiliate, the Laval Rocket, just moved back to Quebec to get closer to their parent club, and play their home games just over the bridge at the newly built Place Bell

    And then there’s the city’s most polarizing venue, sports or otherwise: Olympic Stadium. While it has an iconic look, it’s structure is faulty — and expensive. The Big O has been without a permanent tenant since Major League Baseball’s Expos left town in 2004. While you might want to sightsee at some of these pro arenas, for your tournament, you’ll probably want to look beyond the big league venues. 

    Montreal Hockey Arenas

    Montreal is not short on hockey arenas at any level of competition. There’s the storied Verdun Auditorium, which has hosted various Quebec-based major junior hockey teams. At the collegiate level, McConnell Arena is right downtown on McGill University’s campus, and Ed Meagher Arena is where the Concordia Stingers play, about 10 minutes outside the city centre. In the city’s western suburbs, Sportplexe Pierrefonds is one of Quebec’s top hockey establishments, boasting four state-of-the-art arenas, including one Olympic-sized rink.  

    Montreal Indoor Sports Venues

    The Catalogna Soccerplexe is one of the city’s premier venues for The Beautiful Game. It has two full-sized fields: one indoor and one outdoor, the latter covered by a dome for winter use. With seating for up to 500 people and a happening restaurant and bar, the Soccerplexe is a great place to hold a tournament and a destination for soccer teams visiting Montreal. 

    As far as the hardcourt, the Gadbois recreational complex southwest of downtown has one of the top basketball courts in the city. And several campus courts are known to host competitive ball: Concordia University’s Loyola Campus and Dawson College.

    Montreal Outdoor Sports Venues

    Montreal has long winters, so it relishes any opportunity to get some sun during its electric summer months. That’s why you’ll find so many of its outdoor soccer pitches, baseball fields, and volleyball and tennis courts jam-packed during those months. 

    As you’ve already learned, Montreal’s world-class universities provide many of the sporting venues for the city. McGill’s Molson Stadium hosts high-level football and soccer, and for the latter, Forbes Field is another option that also hosts lacrosse. And then there’s Parc Jeanne-Mance, which has a more recreational pitch in a scenic location at the bottom of Mount-Royal.

    Transportation

    The first thing to consider when selecting a bus to get your team to the tournament or to the games is how much space you need, both in terms of people and equipment. Take inventory of both by consulting your roster and then building a list of team and player equipment that has to travel with the club. (Later, you can use your roster sheet as an attendance list to ensure all players board and debark together.)

    Our Quick Guide to Choosing a Bus Type is a great place to start. It’ll get you asking the right questions, show you the important features of each of our bus options, and will lead you toward making that ever important decision.

    The Bus.com online book tool can also help participating teams choose between four different bus types. For sports teams, the coach bus is the most attractive option. Its comfortable seating, air conditioning, and on-board bathroom make it a luxury for your team on the road. 

    For smaller teams that don’t require the coach’s 55-seat capacity, the mini coach shares all those desirable amenities. Then for a lower cost, lower-frills option, the classic yellow school bus won’t disappoint either. The storage space is limited, but you’ll love the school bus‘s lower price. And finally, the mini bus is a bite-sized version of the classic model.

    If you are finding that your group is on the small side this year, it may make the most sense to opt for a passenger van rental instead of an entire coach bus. If you opt to use Bus.com’s sprinter van rental services in Montreal, you have the choice between having the vehicle chauffeured or driving it yourself.

    When it comes to paying for your bus, we also have you covered. While our book now pay later option makes it easier for teams at all levels to plan ahead and pay when they’re ready, youth sports teams should consider these 3 easy ways to finance a bus rental.

    And once your team is on the road, players might want to consult our list of Sports Podcasts to Listen to On Your Way to the Game to keep things livened up on board throughout your entire trip.

    Finally, depending on your sport, make sure to check out one of these resources before booking transportation:

    Montreal Accommodations

    If you’re coming from out of town, you’re going to need to lock down a hotel for your entire team, including players, coaches, and parents. Without solid accommodations, you’re away tournament simply can’t happen — so get on this early.

    On top of finding a hotel that can fit your entire large group, you’ll probably want to ensure that everyone’s rooms are close by — and that’s for your own benefit, as well as that of the hotel and its other guests. Would you want to stay in a room surrounded by a batch of rooms all occupied by the same hockey team? Not likely.

    So make things easy on your group by booking a courtesy hotel room block: A designated number of rooms in one area of the hotel reserved for your gang.

    Not only will you want to book hotel rooms in a way that keeps everyone together, you’ll also want to choose wisely when it comes to the hotel that you book with. Certain hotel chains are more team-friendly than others. 
    For example, Holiday Inn Express is known to welcome sports teams with open arms. Its Parents’ Lounge is super convenient for youth teams travelling for a tournament, and if you ask, you may just score yourself a team discount. Best Western also has a reputation for generously sponsoring sports teams of all kinds. Plus, free wifi, complimentary breakfast, and rooms large enough to store your equipment.

  • Sports Podcasts to Listen to On Your Way to the Game

    Sports Podcasts to Listen to On Your Way to the Game

    As we wrote in our recent Team Spirit guide, your team needs to be motivated and engaged off the field in order to perform on the field. One way you can fuel those juices — when you’re not delivering a passionate speech of your own, that is — is by exposing your players to some old fashioned sports inspiration in audio form.

    Buses are great, but if you have a small group this year, why not opt for a sprinter van rental? Bus.com offers sprinter van rentals that come either with or without a driver. A sprinter van can help you save money as they can be driven by anybody with a standard driver’s license.

    Best Sports Podcasts

    Not all the podcasts on our list are motivational; some will educate and inform, instead. But the more passionate your players are about the game they play, the hungrier they’ll be to improve. During your next long bus ride to an away game or tournament, flip on one of these sports podcasts — the time will pass that much quicker.

    The Bill Simmons Podcast

    As The Boston Sports Guy for ESPN, Simmons was one of the world’s most widely read sportswriters, and a pioneer for Internet sports writing and blogging. Similarly, he then became an influential voice at the dawn of podcasting in 2007. He’s since moved his pod from ESPN to his own site, The Ringer; but it’s still one of the most coveted sports podcasts out there, with Simmons welcoming high-profile guests and longtime pals like Cousin Sal.

    Against the Rules

    Of all people to host a sports podcast, we couldn’t think of many people better than Michael Lewis, the author of Moneyball and The Blind Side. On Against the Rules, Lewis attacks sports topics the way he always has, but this time his angle is fairness. Over 40 to 60 minutes, he tells stories relating to referees, judges, and those whose mission in life is to make sports fair.

    I’m Not You

    If you need to choose one podcast to play on the team bus on the way to a big game, this is it. On this sports motivation series, host and former NFL running back Olaniyi Sobomehin aims to show his listeners how they can become, according to his website, “a fearless, dominant and supremely confident competitor.” It works.

    Best Hotels for Corporate, Sports, and Student Groups

    Drunk Athlete

    The Drunk Athlete is podcast magic, born of one of those great ideas you and your buddies once had, but then realized it could never happen. Except it did. Host Erin Truslow invites professional athletes to sit down with her, have a few drinks, and tell stories about their playing days. Talk about a dream-come-true.

    Throwback by Sports Illustrated

    Leave it to one of the best content creators sports has ever seen to enter the podcast game — and immediately crush it. SI’s Throwback is only a few months old, but it’s already got its listeners begging for another season. On S1, soccer journalist Grant Wahl deep dives the 1999 U.S. Women’s World Cup victory and explores its origins earlier in the decade.

    Men in Blazers

    Men in Blazers is just what it sounds like. Men. Wearing blazers. But okay, they do more than that. They talk football (a.k.a. soccer),and they do it in their natural British accents. Sold yet? The two Brits hosting “MiB” are Michael Davies and Roger Bennett, and their goal is simple: making soccer America’s sport of the future. Since, NBC brought the podcast overseas, North Americans simply can’t get enough of these blokes.

    ESPN Radio

    Just like Sports Illustrated, everything ESPN does is gold. So it’s no surprise they have a killer podcast too. Really, it’s just a collection of various audio from ESPN Radio that they load into podcast form. But still, we love the idea of having ESPN audio content at our disposal on demand and on-the-go.

    Bus.com Makes Bus Rentals Easy with Book Now, Pay Later

    The Two Mikes

    The so-called “odd couple of sports broadcasting” once got together on their podcast every week to discuss the latest in British sports. Unfortunately, the two split in April 2019 and have yet to reconcile or work together since. Nonetheless, we have about a year’s worth of The Two Mikes podcasts we can go back and binge listen to!

    Sports? with Katie Nolan

    You could call Katie Nolan the female Bill Simmons, but you’d be understating it. So don’t. She’s an unapologetic Boston sports fan just like Simmons, but she’s carved out her own niche and gone national, too. Fans of her former weekly Fox Sports 1 show, Garbage Time, should subscribe to her new ESPN podcast, which she describes as “about sports and all the things tangentially related to sports.”

    Only A Game

    NPR’s sports podcast is, as you would expect, insightful, anecdotal, and downright interesting. Host Bill Littlefield offers stories on offbeat sports and oddball moments. For example, the NFL hopeful that went to space with NASA, the former MLB commissioner’s dealings with the White House, and a homeless marathon runner.

    Business of Sports

    Hosts Michael Barr, Scott Soshnick, and Eben Novy-Williams put Bloomberg’s classic spin on this typically 10-20-minute podcast. They explore the money, real estate, and technology behind the games, and all things business to do with the multi-billion dollar industry that is sports.

    Edge of Sports

    Should the NCAA pay its players? Is the WNBA poised for a breakout? What does the future hold for trans athletes? All these burning questions are tackled by Dave Zirin of The Nation on Edge of Sports, a non-mainstream approach to the intersection of sports and politics, often featuring insightful guests with opinions on the issues.

    View from the Cheap Seats

    The Sklar brothers, comedians Jason and Randy, are back with a spinoff of their previous series, Cheap Seats. The Sklars are able to rein in high-profile guests both in and out of the sports world, including Jim Gaffigan, Ozzie Smith, Bob Costas, and more. If you like sports, comedy, and indie music, chances are you’ll pick up what the Sklar brothers are putting down on View from the Cheap Seats.

    Outside Podcast

    Outside Podcast, as the name would suggest, covers all things outdoor sports. If you’ve never tuned in to hosts Peter Frick-Wright and Robbie Carver, you might be seduced by episode titles like these: The Wrong Way to Fight Off a Bear; Defending Your Home from a Raging Wildfire; and Is Sunscreen the New Margarine? (We just have to have the answer to that last one!) The storytelling nature of the podcast makes the 30- or 40-minute episodes race by, making this a bingeable series for the ears.

  • How to Boost Your Team Spirit

    How to Boost Your Team Spirit

    As a coach, your mandate goes beyond Xs and Os. One of the most important things you can do for your team is to ensure that player morale and team spirit is always high, win or lose.

    Team spirit is not just for lower level youth teams either; even at the highest levels, a happy team performs better. There are many ways to maintain a positive team culture that fosters motivated players. Here are some of the most powerful ways to build and maintain team spirit that we’ve learned from working with so many teams across so many different sports!

    Pro tip: if your team is smaller than average this year, then you should consider putting everyone together on a sprinter van rental. A sprinter van is a type of passenger van that provides comfortable accommodate for up to 15 travelers, as well as their gear.

    Organize team building activities throughout the season

    In the pros, teams host “rookie dinners” every season, where the whole team goes out to a fancy dinner and is sure to rack up a healthy bill — which is left to be paid by all the team’s first-year players. While you might not do this with a youth team, you can take lessons from this big league tactic and come up with a team tradition of your own.

    Going to an escape room is not only a fun activity for a big group — it’s a team-oriented challenge that can teach you a lot about the mental makeup of your players. During the game, natural leaders will emerge from the pack to advance the mission for their team. Problem-solvers will shine in areas where they’re most talented. And as a coach, you’ll learn a lot about who can perform under pressure — and who can’t. Most importantly, however, you’ll see how well your players work as a team.

    One of the best outings for a sports team, though, is going to see a game at the pro level — i.e. watching the very best players at the sport your team plays. It’s always a valuable experience for young, developing players to watch professionals play their sport. And there are little details that you, as a coach, can pick up on and apply to your own team that you might not be able to witness when you watch the game on TV.

    For example, as a baseball coach, you might learn something about what the shortstop does in between pitches? As a football coach, you might learn how to work with your quarterback when the defence is on the field. And as a hockey coach, you can learn something bout facilitating line changes with a bench of 20+ players?

    And when it comes to transporting your team to-and-from the team building activity of your choice, you might want to consider renting a school bus or minibus to ensure everyone gets there safe and in one piece. But make sure to check out a few of these resources before booking transportation:

    Communicate

    Keep those lines of communication open! In order for each player on the team to feel equally valued, it’s important that information is distributed fairly amongst all team members. You never want players to gossip, or for information to trickle through the grapevine, so it’s important to be transparent and up front about many things. Important team matters should be communicated in a professional fashion so that everyone hears the news, lineup, game schedule, or other things at the same time in the same way.

    One method is to hold a weekly info check-in during practice where you can relay important information to your players all at once. That way, questions won’t be repeated and can be answered once and for all.

    Of course, in 2019 and beyond, a lot of our communication is not done face to face — and that’s okay. Oftentimes it can be more effective to communicate via our phones or email addresses. You could start a WhatsApp group, a Facebook message, or a text chain for quick updates. You shouldn’t bombard or spam your players through these channels, though. So make sure to set rules on how often updates are sent, and who can and should respond. No one wants another dreaded group chat flooding their phone every day!

    No matter how you choose to communicate with your team, you should do so regularly and have several methods and channels for doing so. Your messaging should be clear, concise, and organized in a way that you answer as many anticipated questions as possible.

    It’s also important to avoid going outside the boundaries you set. For instance, if your own child is on the team, they might be privy to information before their team mates. That wouldn’t be fair for the other players, so you’d have to make sure to prevent that from happening. When it comes to communication, no one should receive preferential treatment.

    Set realistic team goals

    Maybe you’ve heard of SMART goals: Expectations that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Goals that meet each of these five criteria have a greater chance of being achieved. And goals that are met (and surpassed) can bring teams closer together and set them off to a head start on the next challenge.

    While youth sports are about fun, they’re also a way to prepare kids for real-life situations they’ll encounter later on. One of the ways you can prepare them for the “real world” is to teach them how to attack goals, especially as a team. When they enter the adult world, they’ll often be tasked with goal-setting and teamwork, and they’ll be able to draw from their minor sports experience where they hadn’t even realized they were learning applicable and enduring skills.

    “Have fun”… but actually, have fun

    How many times have you heard a coach say that the number one rule on his team is to have fun? Now, how many times have you seen a coach follow through on that? 

    Often, all it takes is reading players’ facial expressions and/or body language to know whether or not they’re actually having fun. But at the end of the day, as you hear in so many preseason speeches, the goal of youth sports is in fact to smile, laugh, and make memories — along with developing skills and bonding with teammates. If it weren’t fun, we wouldn’t be doing it. So it’s one thing to set fun as an objective for the year — it’s another thing to make sure that sees through during the year. 

    Have post-game treats at the ready

    Who doesn’t love post-game treats? Sure, oranges at halftime are nice, but once the game ends and the physical exertion is over with for the day, a round of popsicles, donuts, or if the players are old enough, beers, is a welcome reward. Everyone loves the coach that surprises her team with a postgame trip to the ice cream parlor! That kind of thing might get tough on the wallet, so you can make a list and take turns among players (or parents) bringing or paying for the post-game snack.

  • Hockey Coach’s Checklist to Planning The Ultimate Away Games

    Hockey Coach’s Checklist to Planning The Ultimate Away Games

    Away tournaments are a big part of every hockey season. Registering for the tournament, booking a hotel, and perhaps even fundraising are all important steps toward getting your team to the big competition. One other step you might not have considered (until it’s too late) is transportation. Having each player find their own ride is not a suitable solution for a team of 15 or so when the tournament is a few hours away.

    The solution? Rent a team bus to get you to and from the overnighter, carry team equipment, and bring the team to each game.

    Transportation

    Travelling to and from an away hockey tournament by bus is an experience players tend to remember fondly for the rest of their lives. The team bus is where memories are formed and bonds are tightened. In order for all that magic to happen, you’ve got to book a reliable bus for your team.

    Start by consulting our Quick Guide to Choosing a Bus Type. Once you’ve reserved your charter bus of choice, your next step should be to ensure the safety and fun of your entire team throughout the trip. Create an attendance list to ensure all players board and debark the bus together every time — you can sort it by jersey number, or by forward lines and defence pairings.

    Psst: if you are planning a trip for a group of smaller than 15 individuals, you may want to consider using a sprinter van. Bus.com offers two types of sprinter van rentals: one that comes with a chauffeured driver, and one that can be driven by any member of your team with a standard driver’s license.

    Equipment

    Hockey players are some of the pickiest athletes when it comes to equipment. Everything has to be just so, from the type of stick tape they use to the way their skates are sharpened. Have your trainers reference our checklist to make sure they don’t forget anything at home.

    Player Equipment

    • Skates & laces
    • Game & practice hockey socks
    • Athletic socks
    • All-in-one jockstraps
    • Shin pads
    • Hockey pants and shells
    • Game and practice jerseys
    • Shoulder pads
    • Elbow pads
    • Neck guards
    • Mouthguards
    • Helmets & cages
    • Hockey gauntlets
    • Sticks
    • Stick tape
    • Hockey tape

    Goalie Equipment

    • Goalie sticks
    • Goalie masks
    • Blocker & trapper
    • Goalie skates
    • Goalie cut practice & game jerseys

    Team Equipment

    • Pucks
    • Pylons
    • Skate sharpeners
    • Shooter tooter

    Accessories

    • Team duffle bags
    • Team tracksuits
    • Headphones
    • Water bottles
    • First aid kit
    • Sports drinks
    • Helmet decals

    Accommodations

    The team hotel is another one of those off-ice memories hockey players hold onto. Who can forget meeting in the hallway for a late-night game of mini sticks? Given that your players might monopolize parts of the hotel, it’s probably best to keep the team together by booking a hotel room block — i.e. a designated number of rooms reserved for your team in one area of a hotel. Before you book, keep in mind that some hotels are better than others at accommodating sports teams. Holiday Inn Express will likely provide a discount for your team if you ask; La Quinta specializes in large groups; and Best Western is known to sponsor youth teams.

    Planned pit stops

    Hockey players like to move, so as fun as the bus ride is, they’re going to need a few pit stops along the way to stretch their legs and burn some energy. Think about leading a short team jog or stretching circle to avoid restlessness. Make sure you factor those stops into your calculated ETA so there are no surprises along the way.

    Get some sight-seeing in

    Depending on the location of your away game, plan some fun activities away from the rink for an unforgettable team bonding experience.

    New York City

    No one ever had any trouble finding tourist activities in Manhattan. Between the Statue of Liberty to Washington Square Park to the Central Park Zoo, New York City never sleeps, or even naps for that matter.

    Hockey arenas in NYC 

    The most famous arena in the world, Madison Square Garden, is home to hockey’s New York Rangers. If the Blueshirts aren’t in town, you can catch the Islanders — but check the schedule, because they split their home games between Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale and Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

    Los Angeles

    LA’s surrounding areas have some of the best hiking around. Take your team on a workout along the Griffith Park or Runyan Canyon trails, or check out the iconic Hollywood sign. 

    Hockey arenas in LA

    At Downtown’s LA Live, the Kings home is the Staples Center, a legendary arena within a bustling complex of restaurants and bars. Make sure to pass by the Wayne Gretzky statue!

    Miami

    Can you think of a better place for a hockey tournament in the middle of January than Miami? Show up to the rink in shorts and sandals, and relax at the beach before the game.

    Hockey arenas in Miami

    The Florida Panthers play at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, about 40 minutes from downtown Miami. Florida’s other NHL team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, play about 4 hours northwest.

    San Francisco

    As one of the hilliest cities in North America, the City by the Bay provides wonders such as the windy Lombard Street and the historic cable cars. 

    Hockey arenas in San Francisco

    The closest NHL rink to San Francisco is found an hour and a half south in San Jose, home of the Sharks.

    Montreal

    Hockey is religion in Montreal, which you’ll learn as you walk the streets and notice all the locals decked out in its home team’s bleu-blanc-rouge (red, white, and blue). Hockey fans should take a walk to the iconic Montreal Forum, home to the city’s pro hockey team between 1924 and 1996, and home to 24 Stanley Cup victories.

    Hockey arenas in Montreal

    The historic 24-time Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens play at the Bell Centre, perfectly located in downtown Montreal. It’s one of the most exciting venues to catch a game at, and it can be mind-boggling to stare up at all the retired numbers and championship banners.

    Toronto

    The Hockey Hall of Fame is downtown Toronto, and a must-visit for any hockey player or fan. Just down the street: Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant, which doubles as an eatery and a shrine to The Great One.

    Hockey arenas in Toronto

    The Toronto Maple Leafs play their home games at Scotiabank Arena, steps from the CN Tower on Bay Street. A Leafs game is one of hockey’s toughest tickets, but you can also check out the minor league Marlies, who play at the Coca-Cola Coliseum just a few minutes west down the Gardiner Expressway.

    *****

    Ready to plan your team’s bus trip itinerary? Get started now.

  • 6 Things Coaches Need to Know Before Kicking Off the Season

    6 Things Coaches Need to Know Before Kicking Off the Season

    First of all, congratulations! You’ve been selected to coach the team! Growing up playing sports, we all had plenty of coaches in so many different sports who influenced us — positively or negatively —- and who left lasting impressions on us.

    Now, it’s your turn to leave your mark on a new generation of athletes. You may have a son or daughter on the team, or you may not. The team may be comprised of kids (and parents) you already know, or you may be dealing with a whole new group of players to whom you’ll have to prove yourself. This may be your first foray into coaching, or you may be a seasoned veteran.

    One way or another, coaching a team is one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have. But it’s also one of the most challenging. As the coach in charge, you’ll have to make tough decisions and deal with a wide range of skill levels and personalities – and that’s just talking about the players. So whether you’re learning on the job or are just in need of a refresher after the offseason, here are six areas to execute on to kick your season off on the right foot. 

    Create realistic team goals 

    What do you want your team to accomplish during the upcoming season? That should depend on the age group and level of your team.

    With older and more competitive leagues, the goal may solely be to win. In that case, you’ll want to set the expectation with your players (and parents) that playing time won’t be equal and lineups will be made based on merit.

    At younger ages, you may simply be looking to develop your players’ playing skills. In that case, you’ll preach equal playing time, a commitment to improvement, and hard work.

    A standard coaching practice would be to host a team meeting at the very beginning of the year with coaches, players, and parents all in attendance. This will be your first chance to address everyone, allow them to get to know you, and set those all-important team goals from the outset.

    It will also be helpful later on. After all, if you’ve already communicated to your team that the only goal of the year is to have fun, then you can reinforce that ideology with that certain inevitably angry parent when they complain about their child’s playing time further on down the road.

    Create playbook and practice plans 

    Whether you’ve set a competitive goal or not, it’s important that as a coach, you’re organized with how you’ll be directing your team throughout the year. Each player is on the team for a reason — be it fun, to learn the game, or to improve their athletic skills. And they’ve also probably paid a good sum of money for league fees, ice or field time, and other team expenses.

    This means you need to make the most of every opportunity you get to spend with your team. Each practice should be carefully planned ahead of time (and even sent to your players in advance) so that nobody’s time is wasted.

    Arrive early to set up necessary equipment and prep your assistant coaches with defined roles so you can run a smooth practice. For games, make sure everyone knows their positions, your game plan, and what’s expected from each player. Use the time before the season starts to practice your playbook with your team so they’re ready to hit the ground running. 

    Organize gear and equipment 

    It’s not as exciting as writing lineups or creating game plans, but this is something you need to get out of the way early. You don’t want to show up to your first games of the season without the proper uniforms or having to borrow baseball bats or basketballs from the other team. Make your orders or pickups from the league equipment centre or local sports store as early as you can.

    Once you’ve made your final cuts and finalized your roster, invite your players to a uniform pick-up night. (And make sure to devise a fair system for choosing jersey numbers!) If you’re providing team shoes, helmets, or off-field swag, collect sizes as early as you can and get those orders in right away. 

    Planning some away games or tournaments this season? It’s best to be prepared and make sure that you’ve got everything organized beforehand, especially with all of the equipment that a football team requires to lug around. Additionally, being away from home typically translates into having to stay overnight elsewhere. Here’s your guide to booking a hotel for your sports team

    Compile a contact list 

    As mentioned earlier in this article, two of your most important tasks as a coach are setting expectations and communicating with your team. Start by collecting contact information for each of your players and/or parents, depending on the age group of your team.

    Do you want to communicate with only your players, only the parents, or both? Do you want to send communications via email, by text message, or do you want to employ a team management platform like TeamSnap?

    These are important considerations that you should lock in early on in the year. You may want to bring all options to your team meeting, and leave it up to a team vote. Once you have the ability to communicate with your team, it will be important to do so regularly. How often? Well… 

    Youth sports coach tips

    Send weekly communications 

    How often should you be communicating with your team? Your players and parents will want to hear from you, but not so often that it gets overwhelming or annoying.

    As long as the game and practice schedule is distributed well in advance, then we suggest a weekly communication plan so you can provide updates on things like team performance, upcoming tournaments or fundraising efforts, and team activities like a Christmas or end-of-year party. A predictable weekly email — say, every Sunday night — will help keep your team in the loop and avoid constant, repeated questions from many different parties. 

    Organize team transportation 

    Once your roster is finalized, the jerseys are doled out and the communications are in place, there’s one more thing to take care of that you may not have considered. Thankfully, it’s just about all we think about: transportation! Every sports team has to do a fair bit of travelling, whether to the local field for a practice or game, or to an away tournament for the weekend. Especially for those longer trips, you should consider chartering a bus to keep the whole team together. With a team bus, you can easily transport team equipment, avoid the stress of carpooling and directions, and build team camaraderie and create lifelong memories. Talk about a win-win-win! Be sure to get in contact with a Bus.com booking specialist so that when the question of transportation arises at your team meeting, you’ll be able to answer confidently.  

    If you coach a team that is made up of 15 individuals or fewer, then a sprinter van rental may be the best choice for you. A sprinter van is a type of passenger van that is designed to efficiently transport travelers and their luggage across distances both short and long.

     And remember, if you’re travelling with minors, there are a few additional things to take care of before you hit the road. We’ve got all the details covered in this post. Now, it’s time to get out there and plan how you’re going to take home the gold!