Paper Soccer

With this simple paper and pencil game you can simulate a soccer or hockey match between two players. Players take turns "kicking" a ball across a grid by drawing short lines. If you get the ball into your opponent's goal, you win.

To begin, draw the field as an 8x10 grid with a 1x2 goal at either end. Place a dot in the center to represent the ball. Players now take turns drawing a line from the current position of the ball to one of the 8 closest adjacent grid points (horizontally, vertically or diagonally). The ball cannot be moved along a line that has already been drawn and cannot be moved outside the field or along the edges of the field.

Example Paper Soccer game showing the starting position of the field and ball.

If the new position of the ball is on a point that has been previously visited (has at least one other line coming into it), then the player can kick the ball again. Another kick is also taken if the ball lands on the edge of the field.

Example Paper Soccer game showing a game in progress.

You win by getting the "ball" into your opponent's goal, either by moving it there directly or by forcing your opponent to move it there.

Strategy

Because the ball cannot move along any path twice, it is possible to strategically block your opponent by moving the ball in certain ways. For example, if the ball gets close to your own goal, you can attempt to draw a bunch of lines in front of your goal and them move the ball away. All these lines will form a barrier that your opponent will have difficulty getting around.

Because you get to take another turn every time the ball bounces, you can use this to your advantage by intentionally making a chain of bounces and moving the ball a long distance on a single turn.