Planning a party for Super Bowl Weekend? Here are some simple ideas and tips that might make your get-together more fun (and easier on you as well):

1. Invest in a few foam “bad-call bricks” or foam footballs to throw at the TV so your guests can express their feelings about the refs — without doing damage to your house.

2. If you’re going to have guests who are rooting for different teams, consider establishing an imaginary line (or for fun, “draw” one with masking tape) down the center of the room. Decorate each side in one team’s colors or other team paraphernalia.

3. Make it easy on yourself and convenient for your guests: pick up dip veggies, dip, pizza, cheese and cold cut plates and a six-foot long sandwich or two from a grocery or deli and have all the food laid out on a table within sight of the TV. Don’t make your guests choose between eating and watching the game. If you’re ordering pizza, consider the frozen “gourmet” pizzas that can be picked up ahead of time ready-to-bake – try to get hot pizza delivered to your home on game day and you could be eating it long after the game is over.

4. Buy a variety of several six-packs of soft drinks and/or beer. Keep drinks in a cooler close by so you don’t have to run to the fridge when it’s third and inches. Restock the cooler at halftime. If alcohol is being served, you may want to offer “free pick-up and delivery” so no one has to worry about drinking and driving. Arrange to have everyone picked up before the game and drop them off after it’s over.

5. Have everyone write down who they think will win and what the final score will be before the game starts. Award a small but fun prize to the person who comes the closest. If your gang enjoys the commercials, have everyone write down their top three, then gather the votes and announce the winners at the end of the game – this can help keep things going during the commercial breaks.

6. Kids (and yes, even a few adults) may not be as wild about football as everyone else. You may want to set up a kids’ room in the back of the house that’s stocked with treats, games, a TV and VCR. For adults looking for a break, designate a room or area as a “football-free” zone.

7. Be sure to move any fragile or breakable items out of the room before the game starts. You don’t want someone to leap up yelling, “You call that interference? ” and breaking a vase or lamp.

Sources: Compiled from various websites & newspaper/magazine articles