Creating a Smoothie Wars Club: Guide for Schools and Communities

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You're a teacher, youth worker, or community organizer thinking: "There should be a Smoothie Wars club. Kids would love it, they'd learn business skills, it'd be a great enrichment activity."

Great idea! But then: How do you actually start a club? Get institutional approval? Recruit members? Run sessions that keep kids engaged week after week? Sustain it beyond the first enthusiastic month?

I've helped launch 15 Smoothie Wars clubs across UK schools and community centers. Seven are still thriving 18+ months later (that's a high survival rate for school clubs). Three folded within 6 months. I've learned what works.

This guide provides everything you need: 12-week startup checklist, pitch template for school leadership, session structure frameworks, equipment budgets, recruitment strategies, and long-term sustainability tactics.

Whether you're starting a primary school lunchtime club, secondary school after-school enrichment, or community center youth program, this covers you.

Step-by-Step Startup Checklist (12 Weeks)

Week 1: Concept and Buy-In

Tasks:

• [ ] Define club vision (casual play? competitive tournament? educational?)
• [ ] Identify target audience (which year groups? Age range?)
• [ ] Draft proposal for leadership (see template below)

Week 2-3: Securing Institutional Support

Tasks:

• [ ] Present proposal to head teacher / community center manager
• [ ] Address concerns (cost, supervision, space, insurance)
• [ ] Get written approval

Week 4-5: Logistics Planning

Tasks:

• [ ] Book venue/room (confirm weekly availability)
• [ ] Set meeting schedule (which day, what time, how long?)
• [ ] Calculate budget (equipment, materials, admin costs)
• [ ] Submit budget request to school/center

Week 6: Equipment Procurement

Tasks:

• [ ] Order Smoothie Wars games (minimum 2 sets for 8-10 members)
• [ ] Purchase supplementary materials (scoresheets, storage boxes)
• [ ] Arrange storage (dedicated cupboard for club materials)

Week 7-8: Promotion and Recruitment

Tasks:

• [ ] Create poster/flyer
• [ ] Assembly announcement (if school allows)
• [ ] Classroom visits (speak in form time about club)
• [ ] Online promotion (school website, parent newsletters)
• [ ] Registration form (collect names, year groups, parental consent)

Week 9: Pre-Launch Preparation

Tasks:

• [ ] Confirm founding members (aim for 12-20)
• [ ] Send welcome email to members/parents
• [ ] Prepare Week 1 session plan
• [ ] Brief any volunteer helpers

Week 10: Launch!

First session:

• Welcome members
• Explain club structure and expectations
• Teach Smoothie Wars rules
• Play first games
• Collect feedback

Weeks 11-12: Iteration and Stabilization

Tasks:

• [ ] Adjust based on Week 1 feedback
• [ ] Establish routine (consistent session structure)
• [ ] Set term goals (tournament, league table, skill progression)

Building the Case to School Leadership

Proposal Template

To: [Head Teacher / Community Center Manager] From: [Your name, role] Subject: Proposal for Smoothie Wars Club

Overview: I'm proposing a weekly Smoothie Wars club for [Year Groups X-Y / Ages X-Y]. Smoothie Wars is an educational strategy board game that teaches business concepts (supply-demand, cash flow, competitive strategy) through play. 200+ UK schools currently use it for enrichment and curriculum support.

Educational value:

• Curriculum links: Business Studies, Economics, Mathematics (financial literacy), PSHE (decision-making)
• Skills developed: Strategic thinking, quantitative reasoning, collaboration
• Aligns with school priorities: [Ofsted areas, school improvement plan objectives]

Format:

• Weekly sessions: [Day], [Time], [Duration—60 or 90 min]
• Location: [Room/space]
• Capacity: 12-20 students initially, expandable to 30+

Budget:

• Equipment: £60 (2 game sets × £30 each—one-time cost)
• Materials: £20/year (scoresheets, storage, printing)
• Total Year 1: £80

Supervision:

• Led by: [Your name]
• Supported by: [Volunteer teacher / parent volunteers if applicable]
• Insurance: Covered under school's existing public liability

Expected outcomes:

• Student engagement in business/economics concepts
• Enrichment opportunity for students (especially those interested in business/entrepreneurship)
• Potential tournament participation (local/regional)

Request: Approval to launch club in [Term], with budget allocation of £80.

Next steps: If approved, I'll finalize logistics and begin recruitment.

Addressing Common Leadership Concerns

Concern: "Is this just playing games, not real education?"

Response: "Game-based learning is evidenced pedagogy. Research shows 75-90% retention vs. 20-30% from lectures. Smoothie Wars specifically aligns with Business Studies and Economics curricula—students learn supply-demand, pricing strategy, cash flow through experience."

Concern: "What if only 4 students sign up?"

Response: "Minimum viable is 4-8 students (enough for 1-2 games). We'll start small, grow organically. If interest is insufficient after one term, we'll reassess."

Concern: "Who supervises?"

Response: "I will, with [volunteer support if applicable]. Sessions are low-maintenance—once rules are taught, students play independently with minimal intervention needed."

Recruitment Strategies and Promotion

Target Audience Identification

Primary school (KS2):

• Target: Years 5-6 (ages 9-11)
• Pitch: "Fun strategy game, learn money skills, play with friends"

Secondary school (KS3-4):

• Target: Years 7-10 (ages 11-15)
• Pitch: "Competitive tournament, master business strategy, represent school in competitions"

Community center:

• Target: Ages 10-16 generally
• Pitch: "Free weekly club, make friends, learn skills, compete in tournaments"

Promotion Materials

Poster text example:

SMOOTHIE WARS CLUB

Love strategy? Want to learn business skills? Join our new Smoothie Wars club!

What: Play a business strategy game, compete for top scores, maybe enter tournaments When: Tuesdays, 3:30-5pm Where: Room 12 Who: Years 7-10 welcome, beginners encouraged

First session: [Date] Sign up: [Room X at lunch / Online form link]

Verbal pitch (assembly or classroom visit):

"Hi everyone, I'm starting a Smoothie Wars club. It's a strategy board game about running smoothie businesses—you compete to make the most money. It teaches business skills like pricing, budgeting, competition. But mainly, it's fun.

If you like strategy, competition, or just trying something new, come to the first session [Date, Time, Room]. Beginners totally welcome—I'll teach you the rules. See you there!"

First Session Critical Success Factors

Week 1 makes or breaks the club. If first session is chaotic or boring, members don't return.

Week 1 plan:

Minutes 0-10: Welcome, introductions, explain club format Minutes 10-15: Teach Smoothie Wars rules (quick overview) Minutes 15-50: Play first games (groups of 4) Minutes 50-60: Quick debrief ("What did you think? Who won? Want to come back next week?")

Key: Keep energy high, rules brief, gameplay central, send them home wanting more.

Club Structure Options

What type of club do you want?

Model A: Competitive Ladder

Format:

• Maintain league table (track cumulative scores across weeks)
• Top players earn ranking (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
• End-of-term championship (top 8 players compete)

Pros:

• Highly engaging for competitive students
• Clear progression (you can see improvement via ranking)

Cons:

• Discouraging for weaker players (always finish bottom)
• Creates pressure (some students don't want competition)

Best for: Secondary schools, students motivated by competition

Model B: Casual Play

Format:

• Open play each session (just come and play games)
• No rankings or scores tracked beyond individual sessions
• Social/fun focused

Pros:

• Low pressure, inclusive
• Anyone can drop in

Cons:

• Less structure (can feel aimless after a few weeks)
• Harder to show "progress"

Best for: Primary schools, younger students, social/friendship building

Model C: Educational Focus

Format:

• Skill-building curriculum (Week 1 teach basics, Week 2 intermediate tactics, Week 3 advanced strategy)
• Discussion-based (play, then analyze strategically)
• Connect to curriculum (use as extension for Business Studies)

Pros:

• Clear learning progression
• Appeals to academically-minded students
• Easy to justify to leadership (curriculum links)

Cons:

• Feels more like class than club (might reduce fun factor)

Best for: GCSE/A-Level students, enrichment clubs, gifted & talented programs

My Recommendation

Hybrid: 60% casual play, 30% competitive (termly tournaments), 10% educational (occasional strategy discussions).

Provides structure without being too rigid, competition without being too stressful, learning without being too classroom-like.

Session Structure Templates

60-Minute Session (Lunchtime Club)

12:00-12:05: Arrival, settle in 12:05-12:10: Announcements (upcoming tournaments, rule clarifications) 12:10-12:55: Gameplay (1 full game) 12:55-1:00: Quick wrap-up, record scores (if tracking league), remind about next week

Works for: Quick lunchtime slots

90-Minute Session (After-School Club)

3:30-3:40: Arrival, snacks 3:40-3:45: Warm-up discussion (strategy tip of the week) 3:45-4:30: First game 4:30-4:35: Break 4:35-5:20: Second game 5:20-5:30: Debrief, cleanup, dismissal

Works for: After-school programs, allows 2 games per session

Long-Term Sustainability

How to keep club thriving year 2+.

Succession Planning

Problem: Founding organizer leaves (teacher moves schools, volunteer stops), club collapses.

Solution:

• Train student leaders (Year 10-11 students can run sessions with Year 7-8 members)
• Recruit co-organizer (share responsibilities, provides backup)
• Document processes (session plans, equipment lists, so successor can continue)

Keeping Members Engaged

Strategies:

Variety: Rotate between casual play, competitive tournaments, variant rules, team formats

Progression: Skill-building curriculum (beginners → intermediate → advanced tracks)

Social: End-of-term pizza party, celebrate achievements

External connection: Enter regional tournaments, visit other schools' clubs

Recognition: Certificates for achievements (Most Improved, Club Champion, 50-Games Played)

Budget Management

Year 1 costs:

• Equipment: £60-90 (2-3 game sets)
• Materials: £20 (printing, storage)
• Total: £80-110

Year 2+ costs:

• Materials: £20/year (ongoing)
• Equipment expansion: £30 (one additional game set if membership grows)

Funding sources:

• School budget allocation
• Fundraising (bake sales, sponsored walk)
• Parent donations
• Local business sponsorship

Measuring Success

Quantitative metrics:

• Attendance (week-by-week, aim for 70%+ regular attendance)
• Retention (how many Week 1 members still attending Week 10?)
• Growth (total membership over time)

Qualitative metrics:

• Student feedback ("I love coming to club")
• Skill development (beginners winning games after 10 weeks)
• Broader impact (students discussing strategy outside club, applying concepts to class work)

Downloadable Club Startup Pack

Free at club resources page:

1. Proposal template (Word, editable—pitch to leadership)
2. Parent consent form (for under-16 clubs)
3. Registration form (Google Forms template)
4. Session plan templates (60-min, 90-min, 2-hour formats)
5. League table tracker (Excel—tracks cumulative scores)
6. Promotional poster (editable Canva template)
7. Rules quick-reference (1-page laminated handout)
8. Achievement certificates (printable, editable)

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About the Author: Sarah Mitchell has launched 15 board game clubs in schools and communities across the UK, with 7 still active after 18+ months.

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Start your own Smoothie Wars club. Download the complete Club Startup Pack (free), order educator-priced game sets, and join our Club Organizers Network for ongoing support and shared resources.