This has been a great year for football fans in the state of Iowa, with both Iowa State and the University of Iowa qualifying for bowl games. If you’re a Cyclone or Hawkeye fan, this bowl season may have you doing a little party planning in anticipation. If you plan on hosting a bowl game party this year, we have some suggestions to keep the kids safely entertained while the bigger kids (like your s.o.) yell at the refs on TV. Here’s a few fun ideas for bowl game day play.
Pinstripe Bowl
University of Iowa football fans are headed to the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City. The Hawkeyes will take on Boston College on December 27, 2017 in Yankee Stadium. Kick-off is at 4:15 pm CST and the game will be aired on ESPN.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
ISU fans will be ready to party, since this will be their first bowl game since 2012. The Cyclones will play the Memphis Tigers in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN on December 30, 2017. The game will be shown nationally at 11:00 am CST on ABC.
10 Fun Ideas for Bowl Game Day Play
Show Your School Spirit
2-4-6-8 Decorate!
Of course, you’ll want to show your school spirit by hanging up a few fun decorations. Keep in mind that you don’t have to go overboard with team paraphernalia to make the party fun and festive. We’ve helped you out with a few fun FREE ISU and UofI party printables: 09.07.16 ISU Cyclones Tailgate Printables and 09.07.16 UofI Hawkeyes Tailgate Printables.
Deck the halls.
Tis the season. Think holiday paper chains, but for football fans. Cut out colored strips of paper in your school’s colors (red and yellow or black and yellow) and then have your kids staple the links together to create the chains before game day. You can use the decorative paper provided in the links above to create the chains.
Who’s the biggest fan?
Hold a contest to see which kid and adult is the biggest super fan of the bowl game party. Fans can come to the party dressed in their team colors, or you can supply them with plain, white shirts and fabric markers to design their own football jerseys. You can award a prize for the biggest super fan, or give out honors in several categories, such as the funniest sign, best jersey or most creative use of face paint.
Cheering competition.
Once everybody is showing their school spirit, divide the kids into teams of two to four and see which team can cheer the loudest. Of course, this might be something to do during commercials or at half-time, maybe not during a big play.
Keep Little & Big Football Fans Busy
Set up a coloring station.
Got crayons? Set out cups of your team’s favorite colors alongside free ISU and UofI football themed printables, and you’ve scored an easy craft station for the tot lot. Add in a coloring contest to sweeten the deal!
Get moving.
Add a little giddy-up to your game watching routine when you turn common football calls into a game akin to Simon Says. Here’s how it works. Come up with a list of plays, calls or words often heard during a game (think: quarterback, penalty, first down). Then assign an action for each word, like jump three times or touch your toes. Whenever the kids hear a “buzz” word, they do the action. The best part? Join in to get a workout in while you watch.
Play Punter 500.
This backyard game is a fun way to get kids (and adults) out for some fresh air during halftime. Players line up behind a designated receiving line. Choose one player to be the kicker. The kicker will head to a punting line, several feet away from the receiving line (the distance can be determined according to the age of the players). As the punter kicks the football, they call out an even number, from 10 to 300. The receiving players attempt to catch the ball. The player who catches it scores the number of points that were called out by the kicker. Play continues until one player reaches 500. That player then becomes the kicker.
Bowl Game Smackdown.
Print out copies of the 12.13.17 Bowl Game Smackdown worksheet and have the guests fill it out before the game begins. It asks them to guess what will happen during the game, like what the final score will be and which team will win the coin toss. Award small prizes after each answer is determined and then the child and adult with the most correct answers at the end wins the grand prize.
Provide Sustenance
Snack station.
To keep everybody fed and to avoid meltdowns (from the big and littles) create a fun drive-by snack station. Throw out raisins, crackers, grapes, dry cereal, popcorn, M&Ms etc. Provide small cups or bowls for guests to serve themselves.
Potluck challenge.
Get out of the cooking by asking your guests to bring a dish to the party. Hold a taste test and have everyone vote for their favorites.
Do you have a favorite fun idea for bowl game day? Tell others about it in a comment.
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