Football Game

The purpose of this game is to retain interest of the students by simulating a football game. Remind the students that any competition is between the two teams, and they (the students) are members of a team and are not competing with other members of their team. This game is a good way to review previous lessons.

In advance of the class, prepare a football field, as follows.

1. A large poster board will is used in landscape mode to represent a football “field”. On the poster board, draw 11 parallel lines across the width of the poster board with a marker pen. These lines represent the yardage lines for each side. Number the lines 0 to 40 on each side with the 11th line numbered 50. I spaced my lines every 2 inches.
2. Tape a piece of yarn, or a string of some type down the middle of the board (length-wise), and use a marker of some kind that will slide along the felt or string. I printed a picture of a football that was not quite two inches in length, and I glued the football to a piece of thin cardboard. I then glued a strip of cardboard rolled into a tube to the back of the football, such that the yarn or string will go through the tube. I placed the yarn or string in the tube and taped the yarn or string to the back of the poster board. The football could thus be moved the length of the “field” as guided by the yarn or string.

Play the game as follows.

1. Make a list of gospel questions that pertain to the lessons involved. You will probably need 40 or 50 questions, depending on how much time is spent playing this game.
2. Divide the class into two teams, and have the teams choose names for the teams.
3. Write the team names on the chalk board. Points will be accumulated by the teams, and the total number of points, at any given time, will be written under the appropriate name. One number can be written representing the total points, or hash marks can be placed under each name, and the total points calculated at the end of the game.
4. Have the teams decide which team will get the first question, and place the marker on the 20-yard line of that team.
5. As each question is answered correctly, move the marker to the next 10-yard line and tell the students in that team they have made a first-down. If that team keeps getting correct answers, and reaches the 0-yard line of the opposing team, tell the students they have advanced into the end-zone and have made a touchdown; give that team 6 points.
6. At anytime, if a question is answered incorrectly, the other team takes possession of the ball at its current location, and that team begins answering questions.

Variation: Have a second list of easier questions from which one question is asked after each touchdown to allow the team to try for the extra point.

Variation: Use a magnet glued to the back of the marker instead of the yarn or string.