What is silent football?
In silent football, everyone sits in a circle and has to stay completely silent for the rest of the game. Players take turns using special hand signals to pass an imaginary ball to someone else. If you don’t keep the ball moving or if you make any sound, you could get called out and earn an infraction. If you ever get 3 infractions, you’re eliminated from the game and everyone else wins! Players: 5-15+ Age: 12 and up Time: 15-30 minutes
Silent Football Rules
Choose someone to be the Grand Master. The Grand Master doesn’t play the game, but they watch over everyone to make sure they follow the rules. The Grand Master can also allow people to talk during the game if a player catches someone else breaking the rules.
Sit silently in a circle facing each other. All the other players sit in a small circle so they can see each other. From this point on, no one is allowed to talk for the rest of the game unless the Grand Master allows them to. To start a game, some groups also pretend to take off an imaginary hat and throw it into the middle of the circle. Have the Grand Master stand or sit outside of the circle where they can easily see everyone.
Tap your leg or point your elbow at someone to pass the ball. The Grand Master chooses the player who starts with the “ball.” Whenever someone has the ball, they have to pass it using 1 of the 3 different offensive plays and make the matching hand signal. Keep in mind that during a game, the same pass can’t be used more than 2 times in a row. These are the possible hand signals you can use to pass a ball: Fwap: Tap your left leg with your left hand to move the ball 1 person to the left or Tap your right leg with your right hand to move the ball 1 person to your left. It’s against the rules to “cross-fwap,” or tap your leg with the opposite hand. Double fwap: Tap your left leg twice with your left hand to move the ball 2 people to the left or Tap your right leg twice with your right hand to move the ball 2 people to the right. Tapping your leg 3 or more times is against the rules. Zoom: Point your right hand on your head and point your elbow at the person you want to pass the ball to.
Shrug or tap your forehead to send the ball back to the passer. To trip up the passer, you can use a defensive move instead of catching the ball to make the passer throw it again. If 2 defensive moves are used in a row or against the same passer, the next person who gets the ball has to continue passing it. Here are the allowed defensive moves: Shrug: Quickly lift your shoulders up and lower them back down. Schmotus: Grab your left bicep with your right hand, and put your left hand on your forehead. Note: You can shrug in response to a shrug, or schmotus in response to a schmotus, but you can never do one in response to the other.
Raise your hand to tattle on someone breaking the rules. Whenever you catch breaking a rule, like talking, passing when they don’t have the ball, or repeating a signal more than 3 times, put your hand up and wait for the Grand Master to point at you. Then, tell the Grand Master what you saw. When you’re talking, put your hand in front of your mouth so no one sees your lips moving. If the Grand Master disagrees with you, they can ignore your accusation and restart the game.
Vote to give a rulebreaker an infraction. If the Grand Master lets the accusation stand, then everyone in the circle votes on if they think the person broke the rules. Each player either gives a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. If the majority of the group gives a thumbs-up, then the person who was tattled on earns 1 infraction. If the votes were mostly thumbs-down, then the player is safe. The game resumes with the person who had the ball last. If you can’t remember, the Game Master picks a new player to start with the ball.
End the game when someone gets 3 infractions. Keep passing the ball and calling out players who screw up or break a rule. As the game progresses, people start to focus more so they make fewer mistakes. Once someone gets their 3rd infraction, they lose the game and everyone else wins! Alternatively, if the game has gone on too long, the Game Master can end it whenever they decide.
Silent Football Game Variations
Give players different names to call each other during the game. Before you start the game, go around the circle and make up names for yourselves and say them out loud. Whenever someone wants to tattle on a person, they have to use their made-up name. If they use the wrong name, then they get an infraction instead! For even more of a challenge, have everyone use a funny voice when they introduce themselves. Whenever you say a person’s name, you have to copy the voice they used too.
Play without smiling or laughing for a harder challenge. Keep a straight face throughout the entire game. If you smile, show your teeth, or start laughing, another player can tattle on you for breaking the rules. These games are usually quicker because people are more likely to get infractions faster.
Have the loser do a punishment to get back in the game. If someone gets 3 infractions and wants to keep playing, have them do something funny, like talk in a silly voice, break out a dance move, or sing a song like “I’m a Little Teapot.” When the player is finished, they get to come back into the game with no infractions. Avoid choosing punishments that are intentionally embarrassing or that someone feels uncomfortable with.
Try to make other players break once you’re eliminated. Once one player is eliminated, keep the game going. The eliminated player can now go around the circle and try to distract the other people still playing so they get eliminated too. The last person standing is the winner!
Use wormholes to connect 2 players. At the start of the game, the Grand Master chooses 2 people in the circle to connect with a wormhole. Whenever a person on one end of the wormhole gets the ball, it immediately goes to the person on the other end of the wormhole.
How to Win at Silent Football
Pay attention to who has the ball. Always keep your focus on the ball and who currently has it in their possession. The ball can get passed to you at any time, so stay aware at all times and be ready to catch it. If you ever get caught with the ball and don’t pass, someone could tattle on you and get you an infraction.
Use a different type of pass than the last player. Doing the same type of pass 3 or more times in a row is against the rules and will earn you an infraction. To avoid it, always try to do a different move when you get the ball.
Be on the lookout for people who are breaking the rules. People will get away with talking or making a mistake if they aren’t called out for it. Stay aware of what the people around you are doing and don’t be afraid to raise your hand if you catch a rulebreaker. Fight the urge to blurt out when someone is breaking a rule because someone might tattle on you instead.
Benefits of Playing Silent Football
Silent football can help break the ice and make groups work together. On top of just being a fun activity, silent football is a good team-building exercise for larger groups. It can help everyone loosen up and get comfortable around each other in just a few minutes. Silent football can also help improve people’s observation skills and make everyone focus on the activity together.
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