how to make an paper football

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How to Make a Paper Football

Last Updated: April 20, 2023 Tested

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff . Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 988,199 times. Learn more...

You might not be able to play football in the office or classroom, but you can probably get away with tossing around a paper football —its unique triangular alternative. And you can make a paper football right from your desk in just a minute without a pair of scissors. Just portion and fold your paper and then create your football by folding a series of small triangles together.

Cutting and Folding Your Paper

• Pinch the crease with your thumb and index fingers and run them along it to make it more firm.
• To make the crease even firmer, you can unfold the 2 halves, turn the paper over, and fold them again. This will create a defined crease along both sides of the paper.
• You will only need to 1 strip to create 1 paper football. If you like, you can use the other to create another football later.
• Use scissors to cut your paper into 2 pieces whenever possible.
• Press the crease down after lining up the corners.
• Place the half horizontally in front of you when you're finished—the piece should now be half as wide and twice as thick.

Creating the Inside of the Football

The left and top sides of the triangle should form a 90-degree angle, creating a right-angled triangle (the other two angles should be 45 degrees each).

• Press down on the top and right creases of the new triangle.
• Give the last creases a good rub once you're left with 1 triangle.
• The end result should be a square (or rectangle) attached to a right-angled triangle.
• Don't worry if it's not a perfect triangle—it takes practice to get it right.

Another option is to fold the right tip of the triangle toward the height so you don't have to remove any paper.

Shaping and Coloring Your Football

• At the end of this step, your larger right-angled triangle (created from 2 smaller triangles) should now be the same size as the smaller ones but with double the thickness.

• Brown markers make a great color for football leather, and white or gray works well for the stitches.

Community Q&A

Video . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

• If you don't have the right size of paper for the job, you can cut off the extra pieces or make a smaller football Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 3
• Always use scissors when you can—you'll get better creases and smoother throws when playing games of paper football. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 2
• To make a thicker football, don't rip the paper in half after folding it lengthwise. This means you'll only get 1 football for every 1 sheet of paper. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 4

• Do not flick the paper football at other people's eyes. Thanks Helpful 32 Not Helpful 29

Things You'll Need

• Scissors or paper cutter (optional)
• Colored markers or pens

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.craftsuprint.com/projects/paper-craft/paper-toys/how-to-make-a-paper-football.cfm
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4hd1jigqLs

About This Article

To make a paper football, fold a sheet of paper in half lengthwise and cut along the fold. Next, fold 1 of the strips in half lengthwise, then fold the lower left corner toward the opposite edge. Flip the triangle over to create another triangle and continue folding triangles until you reach the top. Undo the last fold and tuck it into the triangle, then fold the top corner down to create 2 triangles. Trim 1 inch off the right point, tuck the paper into the pocket, and your football is ready to use! For tips on paper size and thickness, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Make a Paper Football

Introduction: How to Make a Paper Football

Start with a piece of lined paper. Printer works too, but lined is easier.

Fold paper in half, hot dog style.

Fold in half again, hot dog style.

Fold in half, top to bottom.

Unfold last fold. A crease should appear in the middle.

Take the bottom and fold to the left until the line.

Fold bottom half upwards.

Fold left strip to the right

Turn it over again.

Tuck the little strip on the right into the triangle.

Fold top part without lines downwards.

Tuck the top into the triangle. Now it should look like a square.

Tuck the half into the triangle and you're done.

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48 Comments

Question 6 months ago

How does it work again? I forgot.

7 months ago

This was helpful

Tip 7 months ago

This is awesome

1 year ago on Step 4

This is asome

2 years ago

I forgot how to make them and you helped me remember how to. YOU ARE JUST LIKE MY FAVORITE SUPERHERO DEADPOOL LIKE YOU ARE AWESOME!! : )

Reply 1 year ago

no, you are awesome fortniteman823!

i made it id did not work

thats on you.

I made it and accidently threw it at my teacher

so funny jake!

Question 1 year ago

Is smaller lined paper still able to be made into one of these?

Answer 1 year ago

3 years ago on Introduction

How do u open it into a ball

Reply 2 years ago

that is the football

7 years ago

there's another way to make it that's way more simple

but small ones are better and its stronger

Reply 6 years ago

but this way is alot cooler

Reply 3 years ago

what is the other way

there's another way to make one with less steps in it

How to Make a Paper Football Tutorial + Football Game Instructions

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy for details.

Keep the kids busy and challenge them to a game of paper football! Instructions on how to fold a paper football and how to make a paper football game below.

If your kids love football then they will love NFL-Opoly Junior and this awesome 2 in 1 Football Zone which is perfect to use inside or outside to play! But for the big game day if you need to keep kids occupied you should definitely spend a few minutes helping them make paper footballs to play with!

It’s also a cheap and easy game to have the kids in your classroom make! Below is a tutorial that will walk you through how to make them, and how to play!

Awesome Game Day Recipes:

Balsamic Baby Back Glazed Ribs Buffalo Chicken Soup / Dip Crumble Burgers Recipe Sausage and Shrimp Kabobs

Paper Football Game Supplies Needed:

• 8 Craft Sticks
• 1 Piece of White Paper
• Brown Crayon
• Styrofoam Ball

How to Setup Paper Football Instructions:

To make the goal post for your paper football game, just follow the steps below!

• Glue three popsicle sticks unto a “U” shape like the picture above. Hot glue is the quickest but you can use any glue that you want to.
• Glue one craft stick at the bottom middle of the “U” shape to complete the main frame of the goal post.

You’ll need to repeat this step twice to create two goal posts – one for each end of the “field”.

How to Fold a Paper Football:

Learning how to fold a paper football is easy, but it’s one of those things I can’t always remember how to make unless you are making them often! Above is a great visual step-by-step photo tutorial on how to fold a paper football. But I’ve written the directions out below if needed.

• Grab a piece of paper – any type of paper will do! I typically grab a sheet of line paper or a piece of printer paper. Construction paper can work as well for a bigger football.
• Fold your piece of paper in half long ways.
• Fold your paper in half long ways again.
• Fold your paper over diagonally now.
• Wrap your paper around from one side to the other.
• Tuck the flaps of your paper in to form a square.
• Tuck in your other paper flap to form a square.
• Next, Fold one side in in order to form a triangle.

That’s it! Your paper football is done!

How to Make a Football Goal Post Stand:

Paper Football Game Instructions:

Each player will take turns trying to flick the football into their goal post by using one finger to hold the paper football. With the other hand, flick your paper football and try to aim it and make it through the goal post.

Take turns launching your paper football towards the goal post. If you make a goal it’s worth one point! You can choose a limit to your game before you start to determine whoever makes it to that number will be declared the winner. Or you can even make it a competition speed round where everyone is trying to make their highest goals by working within a specified time limit!

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How to Make a Paper Football

The Spruce / Rita Shehan

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Yield: 1 football and goal
• Skill Level: Kid-friendly

Keep your young children occupied when the adults in the house want to watch football with a kid version of the game. Not everyone is an avid football fan, but almost everyone will enjoy playing the simplified version of table football.

Paper or "flick" football is a game that is loosely based on the rules of American football, and it's an entertaining table game that all ages will love. The object of the game is for two opponents to flick a paper football across a tabletop to make a touchdown. A touchdown is when the ball hangs off the edge of the table without falling. After scoring a touchdown, the player gets to flick the paper football through the goal.

Some versions of the game require you to use your fingers to form a goal. Others suggest making a goal from wood craft or ice pop sticks. It's up to you to decide which version of paper football you want to play. After you make this football, make other footballs for your game-friendly household.

What You'll Need

Equipment / tools.

• Hot glue gun
• Sharp serrated kitchen knife
• Bone folder or ruler

The Football

• 1 sheet 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper
• Black or brown marker (optional)
• 5 Thin wood craft sticks or ice pop sticks
• 2 1/2 inch Plastic foam ball

Instructions

For the football: cut a piece of paper in half.

Fold the 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch sheet of paper in half vertically, from side to side ("hot dog" style).

Best Paper for Folded Footballs

You will have better luck folding your football when using thinner paper, such as computer or lined notebook paper, rather than thicker paper sheets. Often when using thick paper, it becomes almost impossible to fold the paper in the last steps of the project.

Prepare to Fold Your Rectangle

You should now have a paper rectangle that is approximately 4 1/4 inches tall by 11 inches wide. It's ready for folding.

Fold the Rectangle

Fold the paper rectangle lengthwise (bottom to top). Use a bone folder to sharply flatten the crease.

Bone Folder Substitute

Use a ruler to do the job of a bone folder if you don't have that specific tool.

Make the First Horizontal Paper Fold

Starting at the right end of the folded half sheet of paper, fold the upper right corner downwards so that the top right corner is now aligned with the bottom edge.

Why a Bone Folder Helps

Make sure to press each continuous fold down with your bone folder. This tool helps keep your paper football project folded evenly.

Make the Second Horizontal Paper Fold

Grasp the bottom right edge point and fold to the left.

Make the Third Horizontal Paper Fold

Grasp the bottom right point and fold upwards so that the point is aligned with the top edge.

Make the Fourth Horizontal Paper Fold

Grasp the top right point and fold so that the point is aligned with the top edge.

Make the Fifth Horizontal Paper Fold

Grasp the top right point and fold so that the point is aligned with the bottom edge.

Make the Sixth Horizontal Paper Fold

Grasp the bottom right point and fold so that the point is aligned with the bottom edge.

Make the Seventh Horizontal Paper Fold

Grasp the bottom right point and fold so that it is aligned with the top edge.

Make the Last Paper Fold

Fold the leftover paper diagonally onto itself from the bottom left corner toward the right, aligning the corner with the centerfold.

Tuck Into the Triangle Pocket

Tuck the left side of your triangle into the center pocket.

Making Better Tucks

You may have to fold over the left bottom tip to get it to slide easily into the center pocket. It may also help to squeeze the inner pocket open a bit to give you more room to push the left side of the triangle into the paper football.

Decorate Your Paper Football

Though optional, mark up your paper football with black or brown markers to make it look more like an authentic football.

For the Goal: Determine the Size

Determine how big you want your goal to be and use a sturdy pair of scissors to easily cut your craft or ice pop sticks to size.

Make the Goal's Frame

Glue the sticks together to form the goal post with hot glue.

Make the Goal's Base

Cut the plastic foam ball in half with a serrated edge knife. One half of the ball is the goal base, flat side down on the table.

Finish Your Goal

Stick the goal post frame into the top of the rounded plastic foam ball. Your goal stand is finished! If you want, make a simple garland to hang behind your goal.

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How To Make A Simple Paper Football: An Easy 6 Step Guide

Football season is in full swing, and you’re on the search for how to make a simple paper football. I mean, what better way is there to show your team spirit than by making your very own paper football!? This easy DIY project is perfect for tailgates, watch parties, or any time you want to show your love for the game.

All you need is a sheet of paper and a little bit of patience. Follow these simple instructions and you’ll be flicking field goals in no time!

How To Make A Simple Paper Football Video Walkthrough

There you have it! This video I have made should have made it more than easy enough for you to get your very first paper football done and ready for your flicking match! As always, get as creative as you’d like with this.

Use whatever colored paper you’d like and go ahead and decorate your football to make it look as cool as possible! Now, if you’d rather learn how to make a paper football a different way, I have also prepared easy-to-follow illustrated instructions down below.

If you enjoy this design then make sure to check out all my other Origami Items !

How To Make A Simple Paper Football Step-By-Step Instructions

1. selecting and preparing the paper strip: choose thickness and create initial fold.

To begin, you’ll need one strip of paper. If you prefer a thinner paper football, cut a standard sheet of printer paper into thirds and use one of those strips. For a thicker football, fold a full sheet of printer paper into thirds and keep it folded as shown in the image. Start by taking the bottom right corner of your strip and folding it upward to form a triangle at the bottom, as depicted in the provided example.

2. Folding the Triangle Upward: Proceed with the Next Fold

Next, fold the triangle you just created upward, following the example provided.

3. Alternating Folds: Continue Folding Until the Strip is Fully Utilized

Keep alternating between the two types of folds (forming a triangle and folding it upward) until you can no longer continue folding.

4. Final Triangle Fold: Manage the Remaining Length of Paper

Once you reach the top of the strip and have a length of paper that is just a little too small to continue folding, take the top left corner and fold it down into a triangle, as shown in the provided example.

5. Tucking the Excess Paper: Secure the Final Fold

Now, take the top piece of paper from the final fold and tuck it into the pocket created by your previous folds, as shown in the example. If you chose to make a thicker football, this step may be a bit more challenging. If necessary, use a pencil to help push the paper into the pocket.

6. Admiring Your Completed Paper Football: Enjoy Your New Game Piece

Following these steps, you should now have a perfect paper football, as shown in the provided image. Enjoy playing with your new homemade game piece!

You should have at least a couple of paper footballs laying around at this point. As you can see, this really is a pretty simple and easy project to take on! You should have no problem completing this and it should also be relatively easy to memorize all the steps quickly.

But, if you need future help, these easy instructions will always be here! Not only that, but I have put the same instructions as above, below, but in a downloadable and printable format just in case you need them for future reference!

How To Make A Simple Paper Football Printable Instructions

Congratulations! You have now learned how to make a simple paper football. This easy-to-follow process can be completed in just a few minutes, and it’s a great way to show off your creative side!

Who knows, you may even end up being the next Paper Football Champion. Once you master this origami design, make sure to check out my other designs as well! Thanks for reading, and happy folding!

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How to make a paper football.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer .

In today’s post: Learn how to use a sheet of notebook paper to make a paper football so you teach your kids to play flick football. Hours of fun!

You guys remember flick football, right? Anytime we had extra study time back in junior high people would tear out a piece of notebook paper and start folding a paper football. Then they’d flick them across the table at each other, trying to get the footballs to fly through the goal posts someone else would make with their hands. I’m guessing our teachers HATED paper footballs, but they sure were fun!

Nowadays kids have so many electronic distractions that they don’t tend to get bored as often. That means they don’t spend time doing things like folding a piece of paper into a football to flick across the room. That makes me a little sad, so I spent a few minutes last week teaching my 11 year old how to fold a paper football. He had a blast!

If you’re looking for an easy, non-electronic game your kids can make and play, teach them how to make paper footballs!

How to make a paper football

You can watch this video to see how to make a paper football and play a game of paper football. Written instructions for folding a paper football follow the video. (Note: if the video isn’t showing up below, that means you are using an ad-blocker. Whitelist this site in order to see the video. I know, ads are annoying, but they support my site and allow me to create tons of free content for you. Thanks!)

Paper Football Folding Instructions

• Fold a sheet of paper in half lengthwise and crease. Tear along the crease and set aside one half, or use a pair of scissors to cut the paper in half lengthwise. The leftover paper can be used to make another football, meaning you can get two footballs from a single sheet of paper.
• Fold the first half of the paper in half lengthwise, creating a long rectangle.
• At one short end, make your first fold: fold the bottom corner up to create a small triangle.
• Tightly fold the triangle up the strip. Crease well.
• Continue folding up the triangles until you have a square.
• Unfold the last fold you made so there is a square on the left side and a triangular shape on the right.
• Fold down the top left corner so you have two mirror image triangles.
• Tear off the tip of the triangle on the left side.
• Open up the “pocket” that the right triangle creates in the center.
• Tuck the left triangle into that pocket. Your paper football is complete.

How to Flick the Football

To flick a paper football, hold it like you see below with one finger. Using the other hand, “flick” your pointer finger against the long straight edge, attempting to get the football to fly up into the air.

Paper football rules

In the video, I explain the basic method of playing a paper football game. The object of the game is to flick a football through goalposts to score a touchdown (I know, that’s technically a field goal, but in paper football we call it a touchdown). Flicking the football through the goalposts is fun, and it’s what most of us remember playing back in school. However, if you’d like to make the game a bit more complicated, you can try to score touchdowns by sliding the football across the table and attempting to get it to stop at the very edge of the table, with part of it actually hanging off the table. (This may be too difficult for most younger kids to do.) That’s a touchdown, and after you make one you can try for an extra point with a field goal “kick”.

Paper football tips

• Have one person flick while the other person makes a goalpost by holding their thumbs and index fingers in a U-shape, as seen above, the create the uprights and crossbar of a goal post. Or if you want to be able to play by yourself, you can make a goalpost out of popsicle sticks.
• Don’t sit too close to your opponent! Paper footballs have fairly sharp corners and you  really don’t want to accidentally flick one right into your opponent’s eyes. If you sit farther apart your football won’t be traveling as fast when it goes through the goalpost. If you’re playing with younger children, make a goalpost with pipe cleaners that you stick into an upside down plastic cup so that no one has to flick a football at anyone else’s face.
• Make sure you’re using thin white paper, like copy paper or notebook paper. If you’d like to make a colored paper football, use colored copy paper (cardstock is way too thick to fold well). Even with copy paper, you may want to split that paper into fourths lengthwise before folding. Origami paper can also be used – just cut it so that it’s 4.25 inches wide before you begin folding.

Have fun! Check out our other fun craft and activity ideas for kids right here, or visit one of the posts below:

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Meet Autumn

Hello there! I’m a busy mom of five who loves to make things. Crafts, recipes, sewing, holiday projects: I’ve tried them all, and you can too! I love EASY projects anyone can make.

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Margot says

Posted on 9/21/19 at 7:48 am

Lol! I remember guys playing this all the time when I was in school! My son never got that interested. I did teach my mom, who was around 90-yo at the time, twofold her plastic shopping bags like this. They take up less room, are pretty tidy, and easy to grab and stick in a pocket or purse to go shopping (here in Chicago the stores charge you for shopping bags so you bring your own).