The little ones love football, but there is no way you are going to allow a game to breakout in the middle of the house! Plus, the equipment is packed away for the winter and there is nothing lying around but some little nerf-esque plush balls. Here is a game that allows you to use those balls you already have inside and enables your family to safely play indoors, a hallway tends to be best, without fear of major injury or shattered mementos (assuming you do not display your cherished keepsakes in the hall).
Here is what you will need, most of which can be found in any normal bathroom:
1) 1 Soft ball – does not even have to be a proper football. Any plush or bouncy ball will work perfectly.
2) A roll of toilet paper
3) Cardboard tubes from empty rolls of toilet paper (if you do not have a couple laying around already, from previous crafty/art projects, you may need to think ahead and prepare to play this game)
4) An audience – gather up the stuffed animals, action figures and baby dolls!
5) Writing utensils (markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc)
6) A fertile imagination
Hallways make the perfect indoor football field. They are rectangular, usually, and do not often feature breakables at a child’s level.
1) Lay down a line of toilet paper at either end of the hallway, these will act as the end zones.
2) If you are feeling extra elaborate, go ahead at take ten additional squares and lay down hash marks every “10 yards” for a more “authentic” feel.
3) Line up the audience members along the sides of the field.
4) Write letters, numbers and/or funny symbols on the cardboard rolls. Get crazy and draw stick figures, team logos, etc.
5) Use the cardboard rolls as the quarterback’s playbook/cheat sheet. These of course, will only fit over your smaller child’s hand, but you can slice the roll and place/clamp one on a bigger kid/adult arm as well.
Ok, everything is in place – let the game begin!
You can be as official or casual as you want with this game. This writer prefers a silly game of catch with plenty of “hot potato” style fumbling, hugging and rolling around in lieu of tackling and goofy touchdown dances and celebrations.