You can really get into the game when you make origami footballs. These fun projects can be a great Super Bowl party activity or just a fun way to pass the time when things start to drag at the office.
How to Make an Origami Football
Making an origami football is very simple, and it is one of the first shapes many people learn to fold. You can entertain friends with this trick, and it's a great way to make a paper ball for impromptu tabletop football games on slow days at the office.
Because this project uses a sheet of standard copy paper or printer paper, rather than the traditional square origami paper, some die-hard origami fans do not consider it real origami. However, standard copy paper is easy to obtain, and you can create a colorful origami football by using colored printer paper, wrapping paper, or scrapbook paper.
Things You'll Need
- One rectangular sheet of paper (8.5 by 11 inches)
- Folding surface
- Ruler, if desired
What to Do
- Place the paper on the folding surface in front of you, and orient it so one of the long sides is closest to you. Now fold the paper lengthwise to create a long rectangle. Some people prefer to use a ruler to make clean folds. Crease the paper, and unfold it.
- Fold the long sides of the paper in toward the center crease you made in the previous step. Refold the paper along the original center crease. You now have a long, thin rectangle.
- Pick one end of the rectangle, and bring one corner over to create a right triangle. Crease the fold, and then bring the entire triangle up on itself to create another triangle. Repeat this process to wrap the length of the paper around the triangle until there is only a small part of the paper left.
- Hold your folded triangle down with one hand, and fold the remaining paper up almost all the way. Tuck the remaining flap inside your triangle.
- Your football is done! Find a flat surface, and flick it across the table at your office mate.
Paper Football Rules
Now that you've made an origami football, you can use it to play a game with another person. Here's how one version of the game works:
- Flip a coin to see who gets to go first.
- The winner of the coin toss gets the first flick. This player uses her thumb and forefinger to flick the origami football across the table at her opponent.
- The opponent then gets four chances to flick the football so a part of it overhangs the edge of the table. The opponent then receives a touchdown, which is worth six points.
- If the football falls off the table entirely, the opponent gets to flick next. If it stays on the table and doesn't overhang, the first player resumes possession.
- If one player makes a touchdown, then she gets to attempt to shoot the football through the goal posts. The opposing player makes goal posts using her fingers. If the player makes the goal, she receives another point.
- The first person to reach 35 points is the winner.
More Fun Origami Projects
If you still need some projects to pass the time, try these fun options:
- Folded Paper Hats
- How to Do Origami with Rectangle Shaped Paper
- Money Origami
- Business Card Origami
