Football Party Games and Bingo for Families
At most football watch parties, a few people are glued to the screen and everyone else is waiting for the commercials. Party games fix that. A few printed games give kids, non-fans and casual viewers a reason to watch every play, and they add a bit of friendly competition for the die-hards. Here is how to set up a family-friendly game day, whether it is the big game in February or an ordinary Sunday.
Football bingo: the anchor game
Football bingo works like regular bingo, except the "caller" is the game on TV. Each card has squares for things that happen in a game: a touchdown, a field goal, a punt, an interception, a penalty flag, a coin toss, a timeout. When it happens on screen, players mark the square.
- Use picture cards so younger kids can play without reading. A picture and a word in each square works for everyone.
- Give every player a different card. If cards repeat, several people win at once.
- Explain the squares to new fans. A one-page "what counts" sheet settles arguments ("Does a flag that gets picked up count?") before they start. Decide house rules ahead of time and stick to them.
- Play a new card each quarter. One card for the whole game ends too early or never. Four short rounds give four sets of winners.
- Vary the patterns. A line in the first quarter, four corners in the second, a full card for the second half.
Not watching a live game? Bingo still works with calling cards. The host draws a card, reads the play, and everyone marks it. That version suits a classroom, a scout meeting or a tailgate with no TV.
Game-day squares, family style
Squares is a classic. A 10 by 10 grid has one team's name across the top and the other team's down the side. Players write their names in boxes, then the numbers 0 to 9 are drawn at random for each row and column. At the end of each quarter, the last digit of each team's score points to a winning box.
- For a family party, play for candy, chores or bragging rights rather than money.
- Draw the numbers after all the boxes are filled, so nobody can pick the "good" squares.
- Let kids draw the number cards out of a bowl; it is their favorite job.
- Track the score after each quarter on a sheet everyone can see.
Prediction sheets
Before kickoff, everyone fills in a prediction sheet: who scores first, total points, the first penalty, the color of the first commercial's car, the halftime score. Collect them in a bowl and read them out at the end. Silly questions keep non-fans in the running, and a sheet with ten questions means lots of small winners.
Halftime games
Halftime is long, and kids get restless. Have a few quick options ready:
- Football trivia with an answer key, played in teams.
- A word search or scramble for kids who want to sit.
- A backyard throwing game: toss a soft ball through a hula hoop for points.
- Snack judging: everyone votes for the best dip.
Keeping it fun for everyone
- Mix teams. Pair a die-hard fan with a beginner for trivia.
- Prizes for everyone. Hand out small prizes per quarter, and print a few funny awards (Best Touchdown Dance, Loudest Cheer, Most Loyal Fan of the Losing Team) so every kid gets a certificate.
- Keep games simple. Nobody wants to read rules during a two-minute drill.
- Print in advance. Have clipboards or hard surfaces, pencils or bingo markers (cereal, pennies or buttons), and an extra stack of cards for late arrivals.
For classrooms and groups
Teachers and group leaders can run football bingo on the Friday before a big game using calling cards instead of a broadcast. A squares grid also makes a quick math lesson on place value and last digits.
A note on names
Party games like these are generic fan activities. Ours use no league or team names or logos, so they work for any matchup, any season. Your guests can wear all the team colors they like.
Our printable football bingo and game-day games kit has 130 unique picture bingo cards, a "What Counts?" guide to all 40 squares, calling cards for no-TV games, a 10 by 10 squares grid with number cards and a quarter tracker, trivia, a prediction sheet, a word search and award certificates, in color and black and white.
