Trying to start a local youth travel basketball team..I have Donations & NonProfit questions, please help!?

I live in a small town where most families are not very well off. I would like to start a travel basketball team for 5th graders. I am thinking about trying to raise between $1,000 - $5,000 dollars for the team. I was wanting to open a separate checking account (we will call the account XYZ Basketball) to keep track of the funds(that I will be in charge of). I really do not want the hassle of becoming an official nonprofit (even though we are) but I am curious if I am liable for the claiming the money on my taxes since the bank account will be in my name. All of the money will be used for travel basketball. What will be the easiest way for me to fund raise money and keep myself out of any-sort of major liability. Bottom line is that I want to raise money for lower income local kids to play competitive basketball.