The other day I wrote a piece for the dudes about watching sports with your girl. Today we’re going to go to co-ed group sports viewing. Don’t roll your eyes at me! This is a great friggin’ opportunity to enjoy the game and the company of people that you dig at the same time.
There are a few things that can make all the difference in the world when it comes to co-ed sports viewing parties. I’m not a big fan of claiming that any one of them are more important than the others, that’s for you and your group to decide based on personalities and such, but I wouldn’t skip any of these things if I were putting something together.
Food!
Food is very important in these situations. While it may be cool to order a pizza and some wings when you have the guys over (and for some girls as well) you can do a lot better for the same price (OR LESS). Before you have everyone over hit the grocery store and grab some frozen goodies that you can put together in the oven and serve as the day/night goes on.
I’m talking about everything you love. Chicken wings, nuggets, taquitos, fries, onion rings, sausage rolls, breaded shrimp or anything else that you know and love. But that’s not all! Grab some chips and salsa, they’re cheap, easy and a proven crowd pleaser. Or how about some cheese and pickles, whatever you don’t eat with the gang stays in your fridge and gets eaten later. If you don’t want to do breaded shrimp in the oven you can always go with a shrimp ring. And if you have some time before the crowd comes over I have an appetizer that always goes well – bacon wrapped water chestnuts. It’s crazy easy. All you have to do is open and drain a can of water chestnuts, wrap each one in about a 1/3 of a piece of bacon, stick a toothpick through each piece and let them sit in the oven until the bacon is cooked. Don’t let them get too crispy though, because the bacon will break and ruin the wrapping job. There are a million options that can work for you my friends.
Note: Dudes, having some raw veggies is always a good idea. Makes you look a little more grown up and capable of taking care of yourself.
Booze!
Almost as important as the food is the booze in my opinion. The best low-key get-togethers usually have an element of BYOB to them. This way everyone gets to drink what they enjoy. But if you want to make sure that everything is ready to go you can always pick up a case of beer that you know everyone will enjoy even if it’s not everyone’s fav. Again, like the cheese and pickles, you get to keep the leftovers! If you have wine drinkers in the crowd go out and buy a bottle of something semi-nice. There’s no need to spend a ton, but they’ll be happy (the ladies I’m talking about here).
If there are going to be people drinking liquor remember to have various mix options available to them. There’s little worse than showing up at a party with a great bottle of rum and then realizing that you’ve got nothing to mix it with. You can make sure that doesn’t happen. It is in your power!
Note: Mix also doubles as your non-alcoholic drink options for the designated drivers in the group.
Seating!
Where everyone sits is going to happen organically. Couples will sit with each other. Single girlfriends may end up close on the couch. The dudes who are really into the game may be sitting close so that they can analyze every play. And in most cases the seating arrangements will change throughout the course of the event. That’s the best case scenario. Everyone gets to mingle with the people that they want to see and it’s a grand old time.
The key is making sure that you have seating options available for everyone. If that means bringing chairs into the living room from the kitchen table, so be it. Just make sure that everyone has a spot to be comfortable while they eat and drink and watch the game. If they don’t things can get awkward and people will inevitably be weary of leaving their seats for fear that they are going to be taken while they’re vacant.
You don’t want this shindig to turn into a game of musical chairs.
Fun and Games!
More than anything you want to make sure that everyone is enjoying themselves while the group is together and the game is on. I’m a big fan of making bets within the group. You don’t have to put any money on the line, bragging rights are always a great prize among friends. I also dig small things that can get a smile out of people. I have a red spinning light that I pull out for hockey games so when my team scores (or a friend’s rival team scores) we can turn the light on as part of our celebration. You can do the same thing with foam fingers, touchdown dances, home run calls or anything that you think will get the job done. You want to keep things light and fun. There may be a serious game on the TV that you care totally into – but a serious party is never as memorable as a fun party. Even if you’re just watching the game.
A Sense of Humor!
If you and the people that are getting together to watch the game don’t have this you might as well cancel now. Someone is going to say something stupid. Someone’s team is going to make a terrible play. Someone is going to lose a bet. Someone might even get pretty intoxicated and feel like they have an opportunity to entertain the crowd. In all of these cases the group is going to need to be able to laugh.
If you can put these things together I promise that your coed sports viewing parties will improve dramatically. You’ll look like a great host. Your friends will all be able to relax (game outcome permitting) and enjoy each other’s company. Everyone will eat and drink and be merry. And at the end of the night you’ll know that you were awesome!
Let me know how it works for you. And upload or send your pictures from your home sports viewing parties.
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