How to Play Paper Football

Set-up

• 1

  Construct a paper football with a single 8 ½ x 11 piece of paper. Fold the paper twice lengthwise, then fold it into a small triangle by folding it over diagonally several times. Tuck the remaining paper into the side of the triangle or secure it with tape.

• 2

  Decide with your opponent how the game will come to its conclusion. You can set a timer and see who can score the most points in that time, or play until a player reaches a certain number of points.

• 3

  Flip a coin. The winner of the coin toss can elect to kick off or receive.

Playing

• 4

  Begin the game with a kickoff. Hold the paper football in the palm of your hand and fling it up and toward the other end of the table. Reaching across the table is not allowed.

• 5

  Take turns pushing the football back and forth across the table. The best ways to do this is to flick it with your finger and thumb or to give it a push with your fingertips. Extended contact when moving the football is not allowed.

• 6

  Score a touchdown for 6 points by getting the football to hang slightly over the edge of the table on your opponent's side without going over. Measure any disputed touchdowns by taking a flat object, such as a book or ruler, and sliding it along the edge of the table to see if the football moves.

• 7

  Kick an extra point after you've scored a touchdown. Your opponent must make a goalpost out of her hands by placing her elbows on the table, making an L with the thumb and index fingers of both hands and touching the tips of her thumbs. Then, place the football the edge of the table closest to you and hold it up on one corner by resting your fingertip on top of the other corner. Flick the ball with your thumb and index finger and try to get it between the goalposts. Score an addition point for your team if the kick is successful.

• 8

  Go for a 2-point conversion if you'd rather do that than kick for an extra point. Place the football at mid-field and give it one push. If the ball is hanging off the edge of the table, score 2 points for your team.

• 9

  Keep track of the number of times each player pushes the ball out of bound--that is, every time he pushes the ball completely off the table. For every 3 times a player goes out of bounds, his opponent may kick a field goal. Field goals are kicked in the same manner as extra points and score 3 points when kicked successfully.