by Christyl Rivers

Created on: January 08, 2011

A great super bowl party is more about good friends, good food, and good times for you and your family, then it is about sports.

Still there are things you can do in advance to make an annual party a huge, and boistrous win, even if your team misses the mark. These include, planning, food choices, setting the stage, including the right mix of people, and not being "controlling" about how things go.

Plan a few days ahead to have all the ingredients you need to have both nutiroutrious and junk food quality snacks. Both are valued by game watchers.  Don't forget the beverages, too.  Most of all, have others pariticpate so all the work does not fall upon one person.  Too often, it is the woman of the home who is assigned to purchase, prepare, and even present the treats.  If you are having a gathering, you will find the most people are very willing to contriubute.  Their contribution helps the party success, because people need to feel they are recognized and helpful.  Let them be helpful!  Everyone will enjoy this more.

Assign one person to go out and purchase the treats, be they chips, crackers, cookies, cheeses and veggies, or entire meals.  Make it a mix of things, and do not be shy to ask others to each take a food assignment, even if it is something as simple as grabbing some soda on their way over. All of this early participation will ease people into feeling included. It will take the load off of just one person who is typically over-burdened, and it will ensure variety.  There will always be at least one new thing you may not have tried, such as Aunt Mildred's spinach dip, that will add great memory, flavor, and involvement to the mix. 

Setting the stage means making sure the set is working, the cable is on and paid, or satellite is set.  Clean everything as much as you can, but do not go over-board.  You are not out to make a magazine cover for Martha Stewart, you are having a party that could wreak some havoc upon your otherwise organized home.  Be ready for everything. If you decorate, find out which team is supported by who and at least make a minimal effort to put up at least one sign or banner for both sides.  If everyone is all on one side only, your party will not be as lively, but it will be fun nevertheless, with your dedicated enthusiasm.  If something approaches a conflict arises, change the subject, mood, and offer some treats all around.  Of course you do not have to be expected to put up with truly rude, crude, or offensive behavior on the part of any guests.

Having the right mix of people is tricky.  Some may invite freeloaders.  Some drunks or addicts you had hoped not to see may show up as major fans, even if they had never seemed interested in the game before!   In such a situation, the best one can do is politely suggest they come over another time, or more often and most graciously, just accept their presence and give them a meaningful assignment.  This could be as simple as wiping tables, or entertaining the kids.  Remember of course you would most like to encourage sobriety and supervision at all times if you have a real trouble maker in your midst.

Aside from a few "undesirables" you will find that although most people seem to have little in common, they are well behaved and enthusiastic at game time. If not, they can have a separate room for a more quiet gathering in anoher part of the house.  This is important to not create conflict and resentment bewteeen those who are die hard fans, and those who just want to hang out.

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