Steal the Football
Build a simple grabbing tool using cardboard, string, and rubber bands to pick up and 'steal' a football from a cone during friendly engineering games.
About this activity
Build a simple grabbing tool using cardboard, string, and rubber bands to pick up and 'steal' a football from a cone during friendly engineering games.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all the materials on a clear table so you can see everything.
- 2
Step 2
Use the ruler and marker to draw two long strips about 25 cm by 4 cm and one short handle strip about 10 cm by 4 cm on the cardboard.
- 3
Step 3
Cut out the two long strips and the short handle strip with scissors.
- 4
Step 4
Lay the two long strips across each other so their ends overlap by about 3 cm near one end.
- 5
Step 5
Wrap a rubber band tightly around the overlapped area to make a hinge point.
- 6
Step 6
Stick tape over the hinge area to hold the rubber band and the two strips in place.
- 7
Step 7
Cut a small semicircle from the free end of each long strip to make scooped gripping tips.
- 8
Step 8
Poke a small hole near each scooped tip using the tip of the scissors or a pencil.
- 9
Step 9
Thread a piece of string through one hole and then through the other so the string runs between the two scooped tips.
- 10
Step 10
Tie the two loose string ends together and leave a small loop in the middle so you can pull it with one finger.
- 11
Step 11
Tape the short handle strip across the middle of the two long strips to make a comfortable hand grip.
- 12
Step 12
Practice using your grabber by pulling the loop to close the tips and letting go to open the tips.
- 13
Step 13
If the tips do not meet when you pull adjust the string length or move the knot until the tips touch when pulled.
- 14
Step 14
Put the toy football on top of the cone then use your grabber by pulling the loop to close the tips around the football and lift it off the cone.
- 15
Step 15
Share your finished grabbing tool and a photo or story about your game on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you play Steal the Football using a cardboard grabbing tool?
To play Steal the Football, first build a simple grabbing tool: cut two long cardboard strips for jaws, join them at one end with tape or a rubber band to act as a hinge, add an elastic band for grip, and tie a string to control the tool. Set a cone with a soft football on top; players stand a short distance away and use the tool to pluck the ball from the cone and carry it back without dropping it. Take turns and keep play friendly.
What materials do I need to build a cardboard grabbing tool for Steal the Football?
You will need cardboard (cereal boxes work), scissors or a box cutter (adult use only), strong tape, rubber bands or elastic, string or yarn, a small cone, a soft football or foam ball, a marker and ruler for measurements, and optional items like a hole punch or clothespin for extra grip. Use non-sharp alternatives for younger kids and always supervise cutting and small parts to prevent choking hazards.
What ages is Steal the Football suitable for?
Generally suitable for children aged six to twelve with adult supervision. Ages three to five can watch or join if an adult builds and controls the tool. Older kids can design advanced grabbers and change rules. The activity requires fine motor skills and safe scissor handling; adjust materials, distances, and supervision to each child's ability. Keep challenges appropriate and ensure adults handle any sharp tools.
What are the benefits of playing Steal the Football?
Playing Steal the Football teaches basic engineering and encourages creative problem-solving as kids design and tweak grabbers. It strengthens fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and planning. The game promotes teamwork, turn-taking, and friendly competition while providing light physical activity. Parents can emphasize cooperation, resilience, and safety by using soft balls, clear rules, and guided reflections after each round.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use instead of a rubber band, string, or cardboard if I can't find them?
If you don't have a rubber band for the hinge you can use a short twist-tie or a tight strip of strong tape wrapped around the overlapped strips as in the 'wrap a rubber band tightly' step, use yarn or dental floss in place of string for threading through the scooped tips, and substitute a cereal box or a thin plastic lid for the cardboard when drawing and cutting the strips (step 2–3 and 8).
The grabber tips don't meet or the tool is floppy—what should I check and fix?
If the tips don't meet or the tool feels floppy, make sure the holes near the scooped tips are aligned and not too large, shorten or re-tie the string loop (step 11–12), and reinforce the hinge by adding more tape over the rubber band so the overlapped strips don't slide (step 5).
How can I adapt this activity for different ages and skill levels?
For younger kids have an adult cut the cardboard strips and pre-poke the holes and tape the handle (steps 2–6 and 9), while older children can use thicker corrugated cardboard, trim smaller semicircles for finer scooped tips, and experiment with string length and knot placement themselves (steps 3, 6, 11–12).
How can we improve or personalize the grabber to make the game more fun or stronger?
To enhance the tool decorate the strips with marker, add small foam or folded tape pads to the scooped gripping tips for better grip, and consider using two parallel strings or a stronger cord to make the tips close more evenly so you can lift larger toy footballs off the cone (steps 6, 8, 11 and 13).