Nur’s Nook: Game On! Make a Foosball Game
You and your friend are playing an intense game, testing the plays you’ve practiced. Your next shot feels awesome—you’re one point away from the win. Suddenly, your friend scores three. Your confidence dives. Do you quit playing? Accuse your opponent of cheating? Or praise them for a great game?
Being a good sport is a real victory. It’s more fun for everyone when you treat others as you like to be treated. Instead of taunts and trash talk, be encouraging. When you win, don’t gloat, and if you lose, congratulate your opponent with a smile.
If competition gets too stressful, practice and beat your own record. Share your skills and cool moves with other kids learning your sport.
Make this portable game, and bring laughter and friendship wherever you go!
You’ll Need:
Paint in two colors, paintbrush, water, ten 3 1/4" (8.3 cm) wooden clothespins with springs, shoebox about 8" x 10" (20.3 x 25.4 cm), wrapping paper, scissors, glue, ruler, eight 10" (25.4 cm) wooden skewers, pencil, craft or utility knife (and an adult to help), duct tape, table tennis ball
Step 1: Paint five clothespins one color and five another color. Make sure clips still open.
Step 2: Cover box in wrapping paper and secure with glue. Wrap lid separately (use to store game).
Step 3: Clip two clothespins to a skewer and stand pins up. Place skewer against long side of box. Use ruler to draw a line across box, 3/4" (1.9 cm) above skewer. Repeat on opposite side of box.
Step 4: On line, mark box’s center. Draw dots 1" (2.5 cm) and 3" (7.6 cm) to left and right of center. Repeat on opposite side of box.
Step 5: With an adult’s help, poke knifepoint through each dot. Insert pencil and twist to widen holes.
Step 6: Put a skewer through holes on each side of box, with points inside. Each pair of skewers should overlap about 6" (15.2 cm). Secure pairs with duct tape, leaving 1" (2.5 cm) from box’s sides tape-free.
Step 7: For goals, ask an adult to help cut a 2" x 3 ¼" (5 x 8.3 cm) hole centered at each end of box.
Step 8: Clip three pins of same color to each central skewer. Add two pins to each remaining skewer so row colors alternate. Space pins evenly along tape.
To Play: Each player picks a pin color. Drop ball in middle. Rotate or shift skewers to control ball and score goals. If ball stops outside of reach, nudge it to nearest pin. The winner scores five goals first.
For a printable version, download a PDF.
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