Don’t be deceived by the name; this post will teach you how to make an origami toy featuring a football and a cute mini football field. To play with this toy correctly, after you’ve made it, place the football at the bottom of the field. Press down on the bottom edge of the football field and then release it. The football will bounce away and may land in the basket at the top. Create one and enjoy a football game with your friends!
If you are new to origami, start here from our beginner guide to know the basics and how to read the step-by-step instructions.
- Folding time: 20 minutes
- Paper: 15cm x 15cm , 7.5cm x 7.5cm
- Difficulty: Middle
Material
Get a piece of 15cm x 15cm origami square paper and a piece of 7.5cm x 7.5cm origami square paper to create an 8.5cm x 1.5cm origami football. You are free to choose any color of paper you like.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Place the 15cm x 15cm paper with the desired display side face down, fold it in half vertically, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 2
Fold the left and right edges to align with the vertical crease.
Step 3
Fold the top left and right points along the dotted line, crease them well, and unfold them.
Step 4
Fold down the top edge, aligning it with the black line connecting two red spots, leaving a crease, and unfolding it.
Step 5
Flip the paper over from left to right, then fold the left and right edges to align with the vertical crease, leaving two creases, and unfold them. Finally, flip it back.
Step 6
Expand the paper to make the green side face up and draw a grid on the top.
Step 7
Turn over the paper from left to right, and fold the left and right edges to align with the middle vertical crease.
Step 8
Step 9
Mountain fold the two creases of the top layer indicated by the red dotted lines, then open the top pocket and push the top left and right points toward the center. Flatten the fold to get a square on the top side.
Step 10
Flip the paper from left to right, fold the left and right edges to align with the middle vertical crease, and finally, turn the paper over.
Step 11
Mountain fold the two creases indicated by the red dotted lines and open the pocket, as the first picture shows. Bring up the top point along the crease indicated by the black dotted line, as you can see in the second picture. Then, lift the two corners and squash them [pictures 3 to 5]
Step 12
Lift the top edge along the black dotted line and press down the left and right layers along the red dotted line.
Step 13
Flip the paper over from left to right.
Step 14
Fold the right flap to the left side along the dotted line, and unfold it.
Step 15
Mountain fold the crease you made in the previous step, shown by the red dotted line.
Step 16
Press the right flap to the left and tuck its left tip between the layers below it.
Step 17
Fold the left flap to the right side along the dotted line, and unfold it.
Step 18
Mountain fold the crease you made in the previous step, shown by the red dotted line.
Step 19
Press the left flap to the right and tuck its right tip between the layers below it.
Step 20
Rotate this model 180 degrees from left to right.
Step 21
Fold up the bottom edge, then fold it back to the bottom side to create a zigzag.
Step 22
Fold the two points in the middle of the bottom edge along the dotted lines.
Step 23
Flip the model from left to right. Next, fold up the bottom left and right points along the dotted lines. This will cause the two flaps to lift up slightly. Then, turn the paper over; the bottom of the paper will form a slight incline.
Step 24
Draw a circle and a horizontal line.
Step 25
Crumple another piece of paper into a round ball to use as a football.
Step 26
Place the football at the bottom of the football field, the small layers standing up on the left and right will prevent the football from rolling down. Press the bottom gently with your fingers, then release it. The football will likely bounce into the basket above.
Our origami jumping frog has gameplay similar to that of this football, once you finished making it, press its butt and release it, and it will jump away.
If you’re looking for more origami toy ideas, our origami spinning top is also adorable and entertaining. Thanks to its balanced and symmetrical design, it spins smoothly. You can also use different colored paper to enhance its appearance as it rotates.
Origami Frog – Jumping Frog
Origami Spinning Top – Modular Origami with 3 Pieces of Paper
What’s Next
Congratulations on finishing your origami cactus! If you want more different origami, then explore our other interesting origami toy ideas. Enjoy folding!
