CAS Blog – Running a Football Stall at Global Odyssey

Global Odyssey was an amazing opportunity for my friends and me to test our business skills, sales techniques, and sports abilities all at the same time. We set up a football stall where customers could play a 1v1 match against us. The challenge was simple—if they won, we had to give them double the entry fee of 100 Rupees, but if they lost, we kept their money. This event was not just about making a profit; it was a learning experience in both business and sports. We had to figure out how to attract customers, manage money, and also improve our football skills while competing. Throughout the day, we learned the importance of teamwork, strategy, and adaptability, which helped us improve in both fields.

LO1: Identify Own Strengths and Develop Areas for Growth

At first, I wasn’t sure how to handle both the business and playing aspects of the stall. On one hand, I had to convince people to participate, and on the other hand, I had to focus on winning matches. I realized that I was good at talking to customers and explaining the challenge, which helped attract more players. However, I noticed that my football strategies needed improvement, especially when facing unexpected playing styles. By the end of the event, I had improved in both areas—I became more confident in selling and also learned new defensive techniques in football. This experience helped me recognize my strengths in communication while showing me that I needed to work on my quick decision-making during matches.

LO2: Demonstrate That Challenges Have Been Undertaken, Developing New Skills

The biggest challenge was balancing business and gameplay at the same time. Sometimes, we got overwhelmed when too many people wanted to play at once, and we had to quickly figure out how to manage the crowd while keeping the game fair and fun. Another challenge was dealing with unexpected losses—losing meant we had to pay double the entry fee, which affected our profits. However, I learned how to stay calm under pressure, negotiate with customers, and adapt my football skills on the spot. By the end of the day, I had gained better financial management skills, improved my sports strategies, and learned how to handle pressure in a fast-paced environment.

LO3: Demonstrate How to Initiate and Plan a CAS Experience

Even though Global Odyssey was a school-organized event, setting up our stall required planning and preparation. We had to decide on pricing, figure out the rules of our challenge, and set up an engaging stall design to attract players. We also had to prepare for situations where we might lose too much money and figure out how to keep the game fair and exciting. I realized that good planning is crucial in both business and sports—without proper planning, we could have easily lost all our money or struggled to manage our customers. This experience showed me how preparation and organization play a huge role in success.

LO4: Show Commitment and Perseverance in CAS Experience

Running a stall for an entire day was physically and mentally exhausting. At times, we wanted to take breaks or stop playing, but we had to keep going to maintain the flow of customers. Even when we lost matches and had to pay double the money, we didn’t let it discourage us. Instead, we adjusted our strategies, learned from our mistakes, and kept trying to improve. This experience reinforced the importance of perseverance—whether in business or sports, setbacks should be seen as learning opportunities, not failures.

LO5: Demonstrate the Skills and Recognize the Benefits of Working Collaboratively

Running the stall alone would have been impossible. Each team member had different strengths—some of us were better at playing football, while others were better at handling customers and money. We had to delegate responsibilities and trust each other to keep things running smoothly. If one person was busy in a match, another would take care of marketing and collecting money. This experience showed me how teamwork makes everything more efficient—by splitting tasks and working together, we were able to maximize profits and create a better experience for customers.

LO6: Demonstrate Engagement with Issues of Global Significance

This event made me think about the connection between sports, business, and global economics. Around the world, sports industries generate billions of dollars and provide employment to millions of people. Our small football stall was a mini version of how real-world sports businesses work—attracting customers, handling financial risks, and competing in a challenging environment. I also realized how sports bring people together, whether for competition or just for fun. This experience made me appreciate how entrepreneurship and sports can be powerful tools for economic growth and social engagement.

LO7: Recognize and Consider the Ethics of Choices and Actions

Throughout the event, we made sure that everything was fair and transparent. If we lost, we paid the prize money without complaints, and we didn’t try to manipulate the rules to avoid losing. We also made sure that no one felt cheated or discouraged—if a player was struggling, we encouraged them instead of taking advantage of their weaknesses. Maintaining honesty and integrity in business is just as important as in sports. This experience taught me that fairness and ethics should always come before profits or winning, as they help build trust and a positive reputation.

Conclusion

Global Odyssey was a unique experience that combined sports, business, teamwork, and problem-solving. Running a football stall taught me valuable skills in marketing, financial management, and strategic gameplay, while also improving my teamwork and perseverance. Most importantly, it showed me how business and sports are deeply connected, both requiring planning, adaptability, and ethical decision-making. This event was both a fun and educational experience that I would love to take part in again.