Every team needs a day where nothing is riding on the result. No fixture, no drills, no league table. Just the group together doing something different.
A day out can be as simple as a few games at the club followed by food and awards, or a full activity day where everything is organised for you. The important part is giving everyone a chance to enjoy each other’s company away from the usual routine.
If you are looking for ideas for your football, GAA, rugby, hockey, basketball team, or for a youth club, or after-school group, here are some activities that work for groups of different ages and budgets, along with a few notes on planning one.
When Is a Good Time for a Day Out?
There is no single right moment. Most clubs and groups find one of these works well:
- Start of the season or term. New members have just joined, groups have been reshuffled, and nobody knows each other yet. A day out early on does more for group spirit than a month of ordinary sessions.
- Mid-season or mid-term. A long block of fixtures or meetings and dark evenings takes its toll. A break in the routine helps keep everyone interested and turning up.
- Christmas. A natural gap in most schedules and a good excuse for something festive.
- After a good run. Winning a league, reaching a final or finishing a project or badge programme is worth marking, whatever happens next.
- End of season or end of term. The traditional one. A last get-together before the break, usually paired with awards.
- When plans fall through. A cancelled match or a mid-term break leaves a gap in the calendar that a group day can fill.
1. Penalty Shootout with the Coaches in Goal
A simple way to turn a familiar football activity into something a little different.
Let every player take a penalty, with the coaches or managers in goal. You can run it as a knockout competition or simply keep a tally of the best scores.
For GAA teams, the same idea can be adapted into a free-taking or points challenge. For non-sports groups, the same format works with any target game, from beanbag throwing to a shooting accuracy challenge.
2. Skills or Novelty Challenge Circuit
Set up a few quick challenges and let the group rotate through them.
For a football team, ideas could include:
- Crossbar challenge
- Weak-foot shooting
- Passing accuracy
- Dribbling course
- Longest throw-in
- Target shooting
For a youth swap these for challenges that need no sporting background at all, such as a balance course, a knot-tying race, a memory game or a build-the-tallest-tower challenge.
Keep the emphasis on fun rather than finding the “best” person. Novelty challenges usually work better than another serious competition.
3. Old-School Sports Day
Sometimes the simplest activities get the biggest reaction.
Try a few classics such as:
- Sack races
- Egg-and-spoon races
- Three-legged races
- Relay races
- Tug of war
They are especially good for group bonding because being the strongest or fastest suddenly matters a lot less.
4. Dodgeball Tournament
Divide the group into smaller teams and play short rounds so everyone gets plenty of turns.
Dodgeball works particularly well when you have a larger group because matches are quick, teams can rotate easily and it brings out plenty of friendly competition.
5. Team Treasure Hunt
Not every activity needs to be based around sport.
Split everyone into small groups and set up clues or challenges around the clubhouse, pitch or venue. Mixing age groups can also encourage people who do not normally spend much time together to work as a team.
You could include questions about the club or group, the year so far, or even the leaders.
6. Bubble Football
If the group spends every week taking football seriously, Bubble Football is one way to make sure nobody does for an afternoon. It also works well for groups who do not play football at all, because nobody has an advantage once they are inside a bubble.
Players climb inside inflatable bubbles and attempt to play football while bouncing, rolling and knocking into each other.
It gives the group something completely different from the usual routine, and it is one of the few activities that is genuinely funnier to watch than to play.
At Astropark, Bubble Football is included in our Gold Sports Team & Youth Group Day Out for ages 7+, alongside Nerf AstroWars, Old School Sports Day, Dodgeball and 5-a-side football.
See the Sports Team & Youth Group Day Out
7. Nerf Team Battle
For groups that want a complete break from their usual activities, a Nerf battle gives everyone a new challenge.
Players work in teams, move around the game area and take part in different missions and battles. It can be particularly good for mixed-ability groups because success is not based on the skills they use every week.
Nerf AstroWars is also included in Astropark’s Gold package for groups aged 7+.
8. Make a Highlights Video
Ask parents and leaders to send in their best photos and clips and put together a short highlights video.
Include the obvious moments such as goals, wins, trips and events, but also ordinary sessions, funny moments and celebrations.
Play it before the awards or at the end of the day. It is a simple way of bringing everything together, and it works just as well halfway through a year as at the end of one.
9. Finish with Awards
Awards do not have to be reserved for the end of the season, and they do not have to be limited to Player of the Year or Top Scorer.
Adding a few lighter categories means more people get recognised for what they bring to the group.
Ideas could include:
- Most Improved
- Best Trainer
- Best Teammate
- Best Celebration
- Most Determined
- Loudest Voice on the Pitch
- Never Gives Up Award
- Funniest Moment
For youth groups and clubs without a competitive season, effort and contribution categories work better than performance ones. Think Most Helpful, Best Idea of the Year, or Always First to Volunteer.
Where possible, say a few words about why the person is receiving the award. A specific memory will usually mean more than simply reading their name from a list.
It is also worth taking a moment to thank the coaches, leaders, volunteers and parents who give lifts, wash kits, organise events and stand on sidelines.
Food: Keep It Simple
Once you have a large group, food can quickly become another job for the organiser.
The easiest options are usually:
- Ask families to bring something and assign different categories
- Order food for the group
- Choose a venue where food can be added to the booking
Whatever you decide, collect dietary requirements and allergy information when you confirm attendance rather than leaving it until the last minute.
Within our Sports Team & Youth Group Day Out hot food can be added for €6 per person, including sausages, chicken nuggets, chips and a cordial drink.
Planning a Group Day Out
You do not need months of planning, but leaving everything until the final week can make it difficult to find a date that suits everyone.
A simple timeline is:
- 3 to 4 weeks before: Agree a date, decide on a rough budget and choose whether you are organising activities yourself or booking a venue.
- 2 weeks before: Confirm numbers, collect payments if needed and start organising awards.
- 1 week before: Confirm final numbers, food and any dietary requirements. Decide who is looking after photos, awards and any equipment on the day.
If you are planning an outdoor event, it is also worth deciding in advance what happens if the Irish weather does not cooperate.
Want Your Day Out Organised for You?
If you would rather leave the activities and organisation to someone else, Astropark’s Sports Team & Youth Group Day Out is designed for sports clubs, youth groups and organised groups looking for a team-bonding day, a reward day or a celebration at any point in the year.
Groups spend two hours rotating through organised activities at Astropark Coolock or Tallaght, with packages including Old School Sports Day, Dodgeball, 5-a-side Football and Volleyball, plus Bubble Football and Nerf AstroWars in the Gold package.
Packages start from €20 per person, with a minimum group size of 25.
There are two options:
Gold – Ages 7+ | €22 per person
- Bubble Football
- Nerf AstroWars
- Old School Sports Day
- Dodgeball
- 5-a-side Football
Silver – Ages 5+ | €20 per person
- Old School Sports Day
- Volleyball
- Dodgeball
- 5-a-side Football
Find out more about Sports Team & Youth Group Days at Astropark
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should we organise a group day out?
For a full squad or group, it is worth starting around three to four weeks beforehand. If you need a particular weekend date or are planning something around Christmas, booking earlier gives you more choice.
What are good day out ideas for a kids’ football team?
Skills challenges, old-school sports days, dodgeball, Bubble Football, Nerf games, volleyball and team awards are all great options. Try to choose something that feels different from a normal training sessionTry to choose activities that feel different from a regular football training session, giving the team a chance to have fun and bond off the pitch.
Do these ideas work for youth clubs too?
Yes. Sports days, dodgeball, treasure hunts, Nerf games and Bubble Football all work for groups who do not play a sport together, because none of them rely on skills learned at training. Astropark’s day out packages are open to youth groups and organised groups as well as sports clubs.
What activities work well for mixed-age groups?
Activities such as dodgeball, sports-day games, treasure hunts and novelty team challenges tend to work well because they are not based purely on sporting ability. If booking a venue, always check the age requirements for individual activities. At Astropark, the Silver package is suitable from age 5 and the Gold package from age 7.
How much does it cost to organise a group day out?
It depends on whether you organise it yourself or book activities and food. A day at your own club can be kept inexpensive, while organised activity packages cost more but require considerably less planning. Astropark’s group packages start from €20 per person.
Did You Know Your Team Can Train at Astropark?
Clubs can train at Astropark throughout the year, with all-weather, floodlit pitches available in Coolock and Tallaght. Clubs bring their own coaches and can book regular training slots, making it easier to keep sessions going through the darker winter months and when grass pitches are less reliable. Learn more about Winter Football Pitch Hire for Clubs here.
