How to Make a Paper Football (Plus Rules for How to Play)

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Bring the NFL indoors with this easy origami craft
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If you want to play an exciting game of football without leaving home or getting equipment, paper football is the perfect choice. All you need is a sheet of paper to make the ball and a tabletop to use as the field. Paper footballs are easy to fold and make in just a few minutes, and we’ll walk you through how to do it step by step. Keep reading for all the instructions you need, plus how to play paper football once you’re finished!

Paper Football Folding Steps: Quick View

  1. Cut a sheet of paper in half lengthwise.
  2. Take one half of the cut paper and fold it in half lengthwise.
  3. Fold one of the lower corners of the strip into a right triangle.
  4. Continue folding the triangle up the length of the strip.
  5. Undo 2 folds and fold another triangle on the opposite end of the strip.
  6. Cut the corner off of the new triangle.
  7. Tuck the cut triangle into the folds of the other triangle to finish the football.
Section 1 of 2:

How to Make a Football with Paper

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Paper Football
    Take any 8.5 in × 11 in (22 cm × 28 cm) piece paper and fold it in half lengthwise so it looks long and skinny. Origami expert Rob Homayoon says to place the paper on a flat surface and use your thumbnail to make a crease at the fold. Unfold the paper once you've made a defined crease. Then, use scissors to cut along the vertical crease. [1]
    • If you don’t have any scissors, tear the paper in half by holding the left and right sides and gently pulling them in opposite directions.
    • When you’re finished, you’ll have 2 strips of paper that are 4.25 by 11 inches (10.8 cm × 27.9 cm), but you’ll only need 1 of them to make your paper football.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Paper Football
    Lay the strip of paper on a table so a long edge faces you. Start by folding the bottom left corner up toward the top left corner. Afterwards, bring the bottom right corner up to the top right corner. Make sure the long edges are flush before flattening the fold. [2]
    • To get nice crisp folds, origamist Coco Sato says to press the crease down with your fingernail. If you want a tighter fold, she recommends using a bone folder , ruler, or butter knife.
    • The strip will now be 2.13 in × 11 in (5.4 cm × 27.9 cm) and twice as thick.
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  3. Turn your paper so one of the short edges is closest to you. This fold should form a triangle. Make sure the right side of the triangle is flush with the long edge on the right. The top edge of the triangle will be perpendicular to the paper’s long edges. [3]
    • The triangle corners on the left side and bottom will be 45° angles, while the top right corner will be a 90° angle.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Paper Football
    Use the top edge of the triangle as a guide on where to make the next fold. Bring the bottom corner of the triangle up so the right edge of the triangle and paper stay flush. Crease the new fold along the bottom. After this step, the triangle will become thicker and the 90° corner will be in the bottom right. [4]
    • Keep the folds tight so your paper football keeps its shape and doesn’t fall apart.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Paper Football
    Next, fold the triangle along the angled side to bring the 90° corner to the left edge of the paper. Keep folding the triangle by its top edge up toward the top of the strip until you run out of paper. [5]
    • It’s okay if there’s a little bit of excess paper on the top of the strip that doesn’t fold into a triangle.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Paper Football
    Unfold the triangle a couple of times so excess paper at the top of the strip makes a square or rectangle. Leave the creases in the paper to use as guides for the next step.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Paper Football
    Start a fold from the end of the paper you just unfolded in the last step. Follow the creases you already made to make a second triangle that’s a mirror image of the original triangle.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Paper Football
    Use a pair of scissors to cut off the 45° corner on the end of the second triangle. This makes it easier to fold and tuck the end in to finish the paper football.
    • Alternatively, carefully tear the corner off by hand if you don’t have scissors.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Paper Football
    Gently squeeze the sides of the original folded triangle and look for the opening in the paper. Fold the second triangle over and tuck the cut or torn end into the pocket. Push the paper in as far as it will go so the paper football looks like a large right triangle. [6]
    • If the fold isn’t tight and there’s still excess paper sticking out, untuck the triangle and trim off a little bit more paper from the end.
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Paper Football
    Smooth down the creases of the triangle until you have a flat paper football. If you can’t get a good crease or tight fold, press down on the edges with a butter knife or ruler.
    EXPERT TIP

    Robert Homayoon

    Origami Expert
    Robert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.
    Robert Homayoon
    Origami Expert

    Use clear Scotch tape to hold the football together if it's loose. Even though tape isn't normally allowed in origami, clear tape will hold the football together a little bit better. Just avoid using glue because it doesn't set very quickly.

  11. If you'd like to give your paper football a personalized touch, use a marker or pen to draw stitch marks, designs, or any other art before you start playing with it. [7]
    • Brown markers are perfect for making your paper football look like leather, and white or gray works well for drawing in the stitches.
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Section 2 of 2:

How to Play Paper Football

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  1. All you need to get started is a large flat area to play paper football , such as a table, desk, countertop, or any other space you have available. Clear everything off the surface so the paper football doesn’t bump into anything while you’re playing. Have the players stand on opposite sides of the table so they’re facing each other. [8]
    • Paper football is normally a 2 player game, but you can split into teams and alternate who takes turns if you have a larger group.
  2. Flip a coin to see who goes first or choose a random starting player. Whoever starts the game does a “kickoff.” They place the paper football flat in their palm. Move your hand up quickly so the tips of your fingers hit the bottom edge of the table and the paper football flies out of your palm onto the table. [9]
    • Wherever the paper football lands on the table is where the starting player begins the game.
    • If the paper football falls off the table, then do another kickoff.
  3. Keep the football flat on the table. Use your thumb and forefinger to flick the football so it slides across the table toward the other player. Try to get the football as close to the edge of the table without it falling off. [10]
    • If the paper football falls off the table, then the opposing player does a kickoff and takes a turn flicking the football.
  4. If a player flicks the paper football so part of it hangs off the edge of the table without falling off, then they earn a touchdown and add 6 points to their score. Write the score down on a sheet of paper to keep track. [11]
    • If a player doesn’t score a touchdown after flicking the ball, then the other player takes a turn flicking the ball.
  5. After each touchdown, whoever scored takes the paper football and stands it up on one of the 45° corners. The other player makes “goal posts” by making L-shapes with their thumbs and forefingers. To “kick” the ball, flick the back of the paper football to try and get it through the goalposts. If the player makes it, they earn 1 extra point. [12]
    • If you want to make your own goalposts, cut out a U-shape from a piece of cardboard and glue it to the bottom of a red party cup.
  6. After a touchdown or extra point, the other player gets possession of the ball. They’ll do a kickoff from their end of the table and then take a turn trying to score.
  7. Keep playing the game and alternating turns for 5 minutes. After the time runs out, whoever scored the most points is the winner! [13]
    • If you want to play a longer game, set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes instead.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I make the fold curvy when making a paper football?
    Coco Sato
    Origamist and Contemporary Artist
    Coco Sato is an Origamist and Contemporary Artist based in Brighton, UK. She is an award-winning contemporary artist specializing in origami and geometric sculptures. With a multidisciplinary practice encompassing sculpture, performance, psychology, and geometry, she explores shifting perspectives through the intricate art of origami. Coco’s work bridges cultures by combining traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary concepts, inviting audiences to reconsider their relationship with the world.
    Coco Sato
    Origamist and Contemporary Artist
    Expert Answer
    Making curves on your paper football takes a little creativity, but it’s totally doable! To create those rounded shapes, you can try lightly dampening the paper by using a spray bottle to mist it gently—just enough to make the paper a bit more pliable without soaking it. This gives you control and helps the paper bend smoothly instead of folding sharply. Start with a tiny amount of water and see how the paper reacts; too much can make it soggy or prone to tearing. Once the paper is slightly damp, you can mold it into curves by pressing and shaping it with your fingers or rolling it over a rounded surface, like a pen or your palm. The key is to work slowly and evenly so the paper doesn’t crease unintentionally. Let it dry in place to hold its curved shape, and you’ll end up with a unique paper football that has a sleek, rounded look!
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  • Question
    What are the rules of paper football?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Paper football is simple. You flick the football across the table and try to get it to stop partway over the edge of the table to score a touchdown. If the football goes all the way over the edge of the table, “kick off” by placing the paper football on your palm and hitting your fingers on the underside edge of the table to launch it. If you score a touchdown, kick a field goal by flicking the football between the other player’s hands, which are held with the thumbs together in the shape of goal posts.
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  • Question
    How do you make a paper football goal?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    In a typical paper football game, the goal is made with one of the players’ hands. Have them place their hands together, palms out, with their thumbs touching to form a goal shape. Alternatively, you can make a goal out of toilet paper rolls. Tape a flat piece of paper or cardstock over the top of one roll, then tape 2 more rolls on the ends of the flat piece to make the goal posts.
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      Tips

      • To make a thicker and sturdier football, use the full sheet of paper. Instead of cutting it in half at the beginning, just fold it again lengthwise.
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      Warnings

      • The corners of a paper football can be sharp, so be careful not to flick it toward someone’s face or eyes.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • 8.5 in × 11 in (22 cm × 28 cm) paper
      • Scissors

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about origami, check out our in-depth interview with Coco Sato .

      References

      1. ↑ https://newtonma.myrec.com/documents/paper_football_game.pdf
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/jxkt0ddWmpQ?t=33
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/jxkt0ddWmpQ?t=36
      4. ↑ https://newtonma.myrec.com/documents/paper_football_game.pdf
      5. ↑ https://newtonma.myrec.com/documents/paper_football_game.pdf
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/jxkt0ddWmpQ?t=46
      7. ↑ https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branch-out/paper-football
      8. ↑ https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branch-out/paper-football
      9. ↑ https://newtonma.myrec.com/documents/paper_football_game.pdf
      1. ↑ https://newtonma.myrec.com/documents/paper_football_game.pdf
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/jxkt0ddWmpQ?t=58
      3. ↑ https://monocacybrewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Paper-Football-Rules.pdf?utm_source=Paper-Football-Website-Listing&utm_medium=Paper-Football-Website-Listing-Rules&utm_campaign=Paper-Football-Rules&utm_content=Paper-Football-Rules
      4. ↑ https://monocacybrewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Paper-Football-Rules.pdf?utm_source=Paper-Football-Website-Listing&utm_medium=Paper-Football-Website-Listing-Rules&utm_campaign=Paper-Football-Rules&utm_content=Paper-Football-Rules

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      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!

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