How to play Paper Soccer

What you need

• A pencil or pen
• Squared paper (or a ruler)
• Two players

How to set up

Draw a pitch 8 by 10 squares with a goal 2 squares wide at each end. The ball starts on the centre point.

1. 1. On squared paper, draw a pitch 8 squares wide and 10 long, with a goal 2 squares wide in the middle of each end.

2. 2. Put a dot for the ball on the centre point. Each turn, draw one step to a neighbouring corner.

3. 3. Landing where a line already touches (or on the edge) bounces: draw again. Reach your rival's goal to win.

How to play

• Move the ball one step to a neighbouring corner of the squares: across, down or diagonally. Draw the line.
• A line may not be drawn twice, and the edge counts as drawn.
• If the ball lands where a line already touches, or on the edge, it bounces: move again.

How to win

Get the ball into your rival's goal. A goal wins (an own goal counts for your rival). A player who must move but cannot loses.

Tip Bounces are free extra moves: look for chains of them toward the goal.

Variants

Full pitch

8 by 10 boxes, goals two boxes wide.

Small pitch

6 by 8 boxes: a quicker match.