Throw a Basketball Party for James Naismith

Basketball Party Supplies

Since I grew up in Indiana, today is a special day of celebration—it is James Naismith’s birthday! Woo hoo!

James was born in 1861 and is the inventor of the game of basketball. Let’s all celebrate with a little basketball party by shooting a free throw in his honor—one for each year coaches?—and eating a little basketball birthday cake while singing a little happy birthday tune. The whole peach basket idea was pretty lame, but we finally got it right. And, we all know the Duke Blue Devils have perfected the game. Go Devils!

 Happy Birthday to Sally Field, too. You rock, girlfriend.

Shep Moyle

ShindigZ, Mad Ants Basketball Want to Party

Join the Fort Wayne Mad Ants Kids Club

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants and ShindigZ will have free birthday parties for kids this season.

Thanks to ShindigZ, all participants will receive FREE tickets to a Mad Ants basketball home game, name recognition on the giant video board, participation in a high five tunnel, and a spot on the court for the ShindigZ Fourth Quarter Dance Party. They will also get to meet a Mad Ants player and have their picture taken with The Mad Ant and the Madame Ants dancers.

“ShindigZ’s mission is to ‘bring people together to make life more fun,’ and our new ShindigZ Birthday Spectacular is the perfect combination of great fun at a basketball game along with a very special and unique birthday celebration,” said ShindigZ President and CEO, Shep Moyle. “We look forward to being a part of many special celebrations and helping to create memories for kids throughout northeast Indiana with the Mad Ants.”

“We could not think of a better partner than ShindigZ to bring fun to the families of Fort Wayne. The Shindigz Birthday Spectacular allows the Mad Ants to not only make their family friendly product available to more kids in the area, but it also allows the team to provide an unforgettable birthday experience that the birthday boy or girl will not soon forget. We are incredibly thankful to ShindigZ for making this generous offer possible,” remarked Mad Ants President and General Manager Jeff Potter.

To add even more excitement to birthday parties, the team will offer additional options in their premium birthday packages, which include locker room tours, a special gift from the team, a pre-game clinic, and a chance to be the team’s honorary captain for the night (based upon availability).

Fans can call the Mad Ants office at 260-469-4667 to schedule a party.

State Basketball Tournament Banners

Proud Parent Funtoo

The excitement is mounting for the upcoming basketball girl’s Semi-state game Saturday, March 1st. High School basketball in Indiana is more than a sport – it is a major event. After two wins in the Regionals this past weekend, the girl’s advanced to the Semi-State competition. (My oldest, Madison, plays on her High School Varsity basketball team. Last year, they won the state championship in Division 1A.) There are now only four teams left in the State – Division 1A girl’s high school basketball. So, back to the drawing board to create another basketball banner!

The coach’s saying is “just do what we do” so I am using that as the main line on the banner. The coach is awesome at keeping the girl’s focused on one game at a time.

I’m pulling a few spirit items together for the big game. My check list follows:
1. Blue, green and white basketball beads,
2. Sports cowbells,
3. Feather necklaces in blue and white,
4. Clacker necklaces, and
5. Parent funtoos.

Looking forward to the game on Saturday.

State Basketball Banner

Set the Starting Line-up with Basketball Invitations!

After selecting this basketball theme for your party, choose a slogan to use in your invitations, and to use in tying in decorations and personalized favors to your super sports theme. Try one of the following, or brainstorm with the birthday boy or girl to come up with the perfect slogan for your party:

• ”Slam Dunk Party!”
• “Hoop It Up…at Cole’s Basketball Bash!”
• “Get ready for some “in your face fun”…at Jacob’s Hoop Dreams party!”

Invitations:

Choose one of the following invitations to let your young guests know that they’ll have some cut-down-the-net fun at this hoop party:

A Championship Basketball Ensemble contains an invite that is perfect for this theme. Address each envelope to “All-Star Josh” (each child’s first name.)

Attach a stop watch from the basketball favor pack with curling ribbon to the invite with the wording, “Hustle to Blake’s Basketball Party before the buzzer sounds!”

Be sure that the invitation notes that kids should come dressed to participate in sporting activities, including the right kind of footwear.

Create a Party Arena with Basketball Decorations

You won’t have to wait for the finals to experience the madness this basketball party is sure create! We’ve gathered everything you’ll need to decorate, and celebrate in hoop it up style, and to guarantee all-star action for everyone!

Decorating for this party can be fairly simple, because typically this party will be held at a gym, a park, schoolyard, cul-de-sac or backyard and the focus will be on playing the game. Try to greet guests with a festive welcome, and create over-the-top tables for eating, and for food and gift display!

Outdoor decorations:

Line a walkway with a royal blue Shimmer Stars, writing each guest’s name on a star. Tape the stars with masking or duct tape to the sidewalk, walkway or exterior walls leading to the site of the party. The stars can also be used on the food table and as place cards.

Attach a bouquet of helium filled balloons to a light post or mailbox so there will be no mistaking where the fun will be that day!

Indoor Decorations:

Start your decorating with a Championship Basketball Ensemble. This ensemble contains balloons, streamers, curling ribbon, a cascading centerpiece, pennant cutout, molded basketball candles, and even a Basketball Piñata to match your theme!

A Basketball Entrance is the perfect prop for a gym or basement party setting. It makes an awesome photo backdrop for some all-star keepsake photos, and a winning entrance for hooped-up player introductions!

Stand life-sized cutouts or posters of sports heroes around the table…Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Kevin Garnet or Yao Ming would all be welcome guests.

Pay tribute to your child’s favorite pro or college team by adding logoed pennants, caps, autographed balls…anything you have around the house.

Baseketball balloons can economically transform any room or yard into a festive space in a matter of minutes by using some of the following ideas:

Use a helium tank to fill balloons. Tie curling ribbon to balloons, and group them together. (Odd numbers look best: 3, 5, or 7) Place groupings of balloons around the party site.

Tie a bunch of helium filled balloons to the birthday child’s chair, or tie one balloon to the back of each chair.

If your party is indoors, or if you are eating in a separate room, streamers offer an economical way to splash lots of color around the site of the party. Create a fun and colorful effect by draping printed streamers from the center of the ceiling to the walls on each side of the room. The streamers can be twisted after they are anchored to a ceiling wall or table for a more dimensional look. They also look terrific hanging from doorframes or cascading vertically down walls.

Table Decorations:

Setting a table with the party ware, including the tablecloth, cups, plates, napkins, and cutlery is the fastest way to create a focal point in a room. Start by setting your table with all the goodies in a Championship Basketball Ensemble, creating a place setting at the table for each birthday guest. Setting the table with all the tableware creates a much more dazzling effect.

Add one or a few of the following touches to personalize your table:

Place one 12 X 12 “ linoleum square (select one that looks like hardwood floor) under each plate as a “placemat”.

Set a personalized cheerphone at each place setting as a place card.

Display your birthday cake in the center of the table…the kids will love the close up view!

Hang personalized Vinyl Pennants down the back of each chair around the table. A treasured pennant will hang in the birthday boy or girl’s bedroom for many years to come!

Add other personalized items, such as a stadium cup, to each place setting to let the birthday boy or girl know just how special he/she is. These items will stir fond memories of the “best birthday ever” for many years to come.

Shoot and Score with Basketball Activities

A basketball party just wouldn’t be complete without some jammin’ activities!

Purchase an inexpensive colored tank top for each guest from a discount store (such as Wal-Mart- approximately $3.00-$4.50/tops). On the back of each “jersey” write each guest’s last name, and add a large number under it using fabric paint. Let the kids suit up, and then take lots of pictures of your child’s team…the kids will love it!

If the party is being held in a gym or on an outdoor court, add portable basketball hoops. Plan time for the kids to play as they choose. They will enjoy this as much as anything you might organize.

Using a metal whistle and some orange cheer phones (sport cones) run organized basketball drills or create a few fun “Skill-Seeking” games; see who can dribble the ball for the longest time, while standing still with eyes closed; line the kids up at the free throw line, and see who can sink the most consecutive shots; line the kids up in pairs and have them stand about 15 feet apart in two rows (see who can complete the most consecutive bounce passes, while having them back up a step with each pass); instead of playing HORSE, play PARTY!

Divide the party guests into two equal groups. Each team should have a regulation-sized basketball. About 25 yards away, place mounds of inflated balloons by two cones. Balloons should be over-inflated to make popping easier. At the sound of a whistle the first two relay contestants, one from each team, dribbles a ball to the cones and removes one balloon. Each must sit on it until it pops. Once the balloon pops, the players dribble the ball back to the starting line, and tag the next player in line. The first team to complete the course wins. Not a quiet game…but a guaranteed favorite!

Set the stage for an all-star finals game complete with dazzling player introductions, pumped up music, and play-by-play commentary. Moms and dads can be invited back to the party early to witness this spectacle, and you’ll definitely want the video camera running!

All the finest sports venues use great special effects for player introductions. If the party is being held at a gym or indoors, add a Basketball Entrance, Party Lights, and a Fog Machine to create the biggest and best basketball bash ever! Think of this as a small investment, as you’ll use these fixtures at different theme parties for kids and adults for years to come.

A karaoke machine is the perfect tool for a sports commentator to call the play-by-play! Recruit dad or another sports nut for the job. Give the announcer the kid’s names and numbers, and some pre-scripted notes. Give each child equal airtime, despite the fact that some may be gifted athletes, while others will have had little or no experience with the game.

Ya’ll ready for this? Pump up the jam with some great sports arena music and sound effects. The ESPN Jock Jams and Jock Rock series of CDs are great. The background sound will relax the kids who might be a little intimidated, and fire up the whole team! Let the “G” rated trash talk begin!

We offer a wonderful basketball piñata and we’ve yet to find a child who doesn’t want to take a swing at one at a party.

Take guests to a high school, college or pro game if a basketball court isn’t available…or if being a spectator is the first choice of the birthday boy or girl.

Award the Champs with Basketball Favors

Create favor packs for your basketball party by filling a Black Mesh Bag with an awesome selection of treats for your hard-working hoopsters at prices that will fit any budget.

Whether the bottles are filled with Gatorade or water throughout the party, athletes need to constantly replenish their liquids. Let the little sports heroes do so in style with super cool water bottles! Each bottle contains a removable squeeze basketball…making it a slam dunk hit!

Every sporting venue filled with frenzied fans needs some Sports Fanatic Cap Masks, foam We’re #1 Mitts, Pom poms, and personalized Vinyl Pennants to wave to cheer on the home team.

Basketball Funtoos will get players ready for some in-your-face fun!

Glow items and fiber optic wands are a universal favorite of all-stars everywhere!

Create memories that will last long after the party ends by giving personalized favors. Check out stadium cups, acrylic frames and much more…all personalized with your child’s slogan and name.

Have inexpensive personlaized bubbles imprinted with your party slogan… a must for any birthday party!