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Football Unit Study

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Football Unit Study
Neatness Unit Study

 

Those of you who know my family personally know how much they love football! My son wants to do something concerning football when he is older but what... well he just doesn't know yet. However, I am trying my best to help support him in this endeavor so we have created a Notebook for Football. Look for updates on pages to add as we learn about this sport in depth, close up, and behind the scenes! Please note: we are focusing solely on the NFL (National Football League) with our study. A donation of $20 is suggested to help support this website. Please note, this is a multi-year study for us.

 

First thing you will need is a big binder, 31 index tabs, and lots of page protectors. We have the type of binder where you can add your own spine and cover. Have your child decorate it any way they wish. They Chapters of their book will be:

  1. Introduction to the NFL

Make a football shaped book.  Print out the copy of the pattern and then on lined paper cut out the same pattern. Our book has 15 pages. The title of the book is Football Definitions. On each page, write 1 word, look up the definition in the dictionary and copy it in your book. Some of the words my son has defined include football, defense, offense, and NFL.

What are the ASL signs for football? tackle? throw? punt?

History of the NFL and/or Football - create a timeline

Why is football important to American Culture?

The Touchdown Dance. How did this start? Who has the best dance? The worst? Create your own special touchdown dance!

Downloads:

Least Favorite Team

Favorite Team  

NFC Teams

AFC Teams

Websites:

The NFL

The NFL for Kids

Books:

  By My Brothers Side This isn't really about football but is written by twin brothers who grew up to be football stars. It is also great character book and just a fun read for football.

  Game Day Another fun football book by the Barber Brothers. My boys love these books. I hope they come out with more! Only thing better would be if we could get an autographed copy of these! : -)

  My Football Book Yes, even the babies around here have books about football! DK makes several board books about NFL Football. We have several of these and they have always been a favorite around here. 

  NFL Greatest Upsets

  1. The Rules

What are the rules? Find and print them out and add them to your book. 

Fines and Suspensions

Retiring A Jersey

Off the Field Rules: What are the NFL rules about DUI, Spousal Abuse, etc? Do the players have a moral code that they must follow?

Books:

Football Rules Illustrated

  1. The Teams

Have your child make a list of the NFC Teams on One Piece of Paper and the AFC teams on another. The best way to do this is to list all the NFC teams on Blue and all the AFC teams on Red. Why does each division have its own color? Who chose the colors?

On a map of the US, have your child locate where each team is located and write the name of that team on their map.

When studying each team make sure you use this opportunity to learn about the city where the team is from. What is the population? Demographics? Places of Interest?

Find a Map of the City. Mark the Location of the Stadium, Practice Facilities, and Team Offices.

For each team, have your child make a list of the current players, position, number, and stats.

What are the overall team stats? 

Draw a picture of the field each team plays on.

Add 1 each of the following pages per team. Have your child fill in the answer by either drawing a picture or cutting out a picture to go with the questions on the first page.

Download:

Team Worksheet 1

Team Worksheet 2 

  1. Officials

Who are they? What Training do they need to have? What do they do? Do they have a Union?

  1. Call Signs

Print out the referee demonstrating a call sign on one piece of paper and the name of the sign on another sheet. If you make 2 copies this way -- its even better as I have 2 different activities for you to use with these.

1. Laminate the first set and place all the pieces (when done) inside a page protector for use for later. Play memory with the pieces. Match the referee to the name of the sign he is demonstrating.

2. With the second set have your child cut out the referee and place in the middle of another sheet of paper. Then have him write the name of the sign and what it means on either side or beneath the referee. Some call signs have more than one meaning. 

  1. The Combine & Draft

Define the combine. Sample of the test all players must take to play. What happens if you score to low? Can you score to high?

How to get in the draft? who goes to the draft?

Record your predictions, others predictions, and the outcome of the upcoming draft.  

  1. Training Camp

Are they required for everyone? How long is the camp?

Where are the camps. Make a list of where each team has their training camp them make a map of each location.

What do you do while you are at camp? 

What are the league requirements? Can you be fined for not showing up?

Which members of the team go? Coaches, coordinators, trainers, doctors, scouts, owners, player, player families? 

Do they get paid for going to camp? Who gets paid and how much?

  1. Pre-Season

 What happens during pre-season? Do the players still train? If so, with who?

  1. The Hall of Fame

What is the Hall of Fame? Where is it located?

Who should be in it that is not currently? Who is in the Hall of Fame that you think shouldn't be? Why?

Include information about the Hall of Fame Game.

Download:

Why Should I Visit the Hall of Fame?

  1. The Superbowl

Learn Roman Numerals

Who is Vince Lombardi? What is the name of the Superbowl Trophy? 

Find a picture of the Superbowl Trophy and add it to your notebook.

Find the Logos, Locations, and other information for each of the past Superbowl Games and add it to your notebook.

Books:

  Superbowl  

  Superbowl Heroes

Websites:

Superbowl Website 

Downloads:

Superbowl Research Paper

Superbowl Print out one copy of this for each Superbowl your child is researching.

  1. The ProBowl

 Define the ProBowl.

Who goes? When did it begin?

List where the ProBowl is and who played each year. Can you find/create a list of the MVP of each game ever played?

  1. The Plays & Playbook

 How are plays created? Who creates them?

What are the different kinds of plays?

Create your own playbook.

Can you find the playbook on the internet for your favorite team? If so, where? If not, why?

  1. Uniforms & Personal Equipment

Uniforms: How are they made? Where are they made? 

List manufactures for helmets, pads, uniforms, shoes.

List and Define the different types of shoes/cleats used in football.

  1. Stadiums & Field

There are three different types of fields. Turf, Real Grass, and a special planning surface. Describe each type. Compare and Contrast the different types of fields using a graph.

What is the oldest stadium still in use today? What is the newest stadium? What was the cheapest one to build? The most expensive?

List the stadium names, cities, and what team uses the facilities. Make sure you include a picture of each stadium. Can you find the address for the stadium? How much it cost to build it? To remodel it? What are some interesting facts about the stadium?

  1. The Football

Write an essay explaining how to make a football. Illustrate your report.

 What are the different types of footballs?

  1. Other Training Equipment

 What do they use in the training facilities?

What is kept on the side lines for use during the games?

  1. Player Positions

List the different types of players/positions.  Write a definition for each one. One are the numbers that go with each of the various positions.

What are the current records that are held? Who was the best? Who was the worst? Who is the current best/worst in the league?

What are the salary ranges for each position?  

Books:

  Whiz Kid Quarterbacks

  Rumbling Running Backs

  1. Coaches, Coordinators, & Assistants

 Salary Ranges

Types of and Definitions. What does each person do? What training was required for that position?

What is the tradition of dumping something cold on the winning coach? How did this begin? Why did it begin? What do the coaches think of it?

  1. Owners

 List the names of the Owners for each team.

How can you buy an NFL? How can you create a new one?

Team Finances: Naming Rights, Concession, Ticket Prices, Advertising in Stadium all these things bring income to the team. What if that isn't enough? Tell about how each of these things affect the teams finances.

  1. Scouts

Hired by Teams. How can you be hired as one? What training is required for this position? Can you find a resume for a scout?

Salary Range

Watch high School & College Games. How do they know where to go?

  1. Announcers & Broadcasters

Training. Salary ranges. 

Prepping for game day.

Materials used. What's inside the booth?

Pretend you are an announcer for a game. Videotape your announcement with the game playing behind you.

Write a script for the TV news telling the highlights of a game you just watched. Record the game and have a video clip of one of the highlights ready to play. Record yourself hosting a 30 sec broadcast for the 10 o'clock news.

  1. Agents

Who are they? What do they do? What training is required? What are is the salary range for this position?

How do you find an agent? Hire one?

The Interview

  1. Contracts

 What is in it? Can you find some sample copies and add it to your notebook? 

Write your own player contract. 

What about negotiations? Who negotiates contracts?

  1. Sports Medicine

Health and Nutrition of players and in general. What can you do to prepare yourself to be a great player, coach, etc.

What do football players eat? Do they exercise? How?

Exercise and Diet regiment per team. Does one work better than the others? Why? How are they alike? How are they different? 

Common Injuries: list types, define injuries, what is the treatment.

List most common/least common injuries.

Map injuries on picture of a body or skeleton

Careers: Physical Therapist, Trainers, Doctors, Specialists. What does each one do? Salary Ranges? How do you become employed by a team?

How do drugs/alcohol effect play?

Downloads:

Steriods

  1. Merchandising

By League

By Team

Official Vs. Unofficial Items

Things with logos -- make a list

What is a new product would you introduce to increase sales?

  1. Public Relations

By Team

By League

Community Events

Public Service

Is there a requirement per team and/or per player for volunteering/public service acts in the communities which they represent?

Websites:

NFL Partnering with the Community

  1. Other Careers in Football

Downloads:

10 Jobs Article

  1. Biographies

Who is John Madden?

Books:

Peyton Manning This is a DK reader that could also serve as a biography. I love books that do double duty!  

  Troy Aikman

  Terrell Davis

Downloads:

Favorite Player

Least Favorite Player

Football Player = Hero?

Websites:

Packers Coloring Pages

Cardinals Coloring Pages

Quarterback Paper Doll

  1. Creative Writing & Other Things

Websites:

Football Crossword

AFC Football Crossword

NFC Football Crossword

Football Word Find

Football Word Find

Football Teams Word Search

Football Word Search

Football Coloring Page

Football Coloring Page

Football Coloring Page

Football Coloring Page

Football Coloring Page

Football Printables

  1. Design Your Own Team

When designing a new team there is a lot to think about. Here are some things to get you started: logos, colors, stadium design, stadium budget, location, uniforms, players,  and the yearly budget.

Websites:

Design a Helmet  

Downloads:  

Team Finances

  1. References

Many of the resources and references for this are listed above. Below you will find more books on this subject that we have not yet read but are hoping to get to in the future.

Catch That Pass! By Matt Christopher

Undercover Tailback By Matt Christopher

The Great Quarterback Switch by Matt Christopher

 


 

Copyright © 2006 Tuscan Sun Academy
Last modified: June 26, 2006