Football is a universal language. Children are brilliant at finding patches of grass or dirt to start a game using bags, shoes or stones to form goal posts. And when it comes to sourcing a ball the creativity doesn’t stop. We’ve seen kids use banana leaves, rags, and plastic bags to make their own handmade balls.

This summer, why not have a go at making your own homemade football. This is a great activity to run as part of a youth group, holiday club or with your own kids. With the Premier League starting soon, why not hold a football tournament with the children using your homemade ball?

To make a football you will need:

• 20 plastic bags
• A newspaper
• String or garden twine
• Scissors

1) Scrunch up some newspaper to form the centre of your football (about the size of a large orange).

2) Place the paper ball in the first bag. Pull the bag around your paper ball and twist a couple of times.

3) Wrap the remaining part of the bag over the ball again, twisting to secure. For larger bags you may need to repeat this process a few times.

4) Tie the ends off neatly, trying not to create any lumps.

5) Repeat adding more and more bags until you’re happy with the size. Try to space out the tied-off ends so you keep a circular shape.

6) Use a thicker plastic bag for the last layer as this will make your ball durable.

7) Wrap your string or twine around the ball a couple of times and knot to secure. Then turn the ball 90 degrees and repeat. Continue to do this until you’ve worked your way around the ball. For added strength try weaving the string in and out.

8) Tie off the string in a final double knot and you’re ready for a game!

We hope you have fun this summer making and playing with your homemade football.

How your sponsored child might spend the holidays

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