Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Penalty Shootout Scoreboard: Free Printable Game for Year 3
- ForYear 3
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Penalty Shootout Scoreboard is a free printable game for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). Children play penalty rounds with a ball, then record each goal in a table. They add up the goals for each player and compare the totals to see who won and by how many.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the players and keep page 2 for the grown up. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play five penalty rounds and use the table on page 1 to keep score. The table has a column for the round, one for Player 1 and one for Player 2. After each round they write down what happened. At the end they count each player's goals, compare the two totals and say who won. A tie is settled with a sudden death round.
- Round
- Player 1
- Player 2
Worked example: a different shootout
In a game of four rounds, Player A scores in three rounds. Player B scores in one round. Who wins, and by how many goals?
This is a different game from the one on your sheet. It shows two ways to find the difference between two totals.
Method 1: count on from the smaller total- Player B has 1 goal. Player A has 3 goals.
- Start at 1 and count up to 3: two, three.
- That is 2 steps, so the difference is 2.
- Start with the bigger total, 3.
- Take away the smaller total: 3 take away 1.
- 3 take away 1 leaves 2.
Setting up your shootout
Choose the goal
Mark a goal with two cones, bags or jumpers. Mark a spot a fair distance away for the kicks. Keep it the same for every player.
Agree the rules
Decide who kicks first and who is goalkeeper. Take turns in the goalkeeper role so everyone has a go in both jobs.
Fill in the table
After each round, one person writes the result in the table. Taking turns as the scorer keeps everyone involved.
Add and compare
When the rounds are done, count each player's goals aloud. Then compare the totals and say who won and by how many.
Why keep score on paper?
A penalty shootout is a way of deciding a football match when the score is level. Players take turns to kick from a marked spot while a goalkeeper tries to stop the ball. The player or team with more goals wins. Children see this on television and in the park, so the idea feels familiar and exciting before they begin.
Keeping score is real everyday maths. Children must record each result in the right place, add the goals and compare two totals. A written table also settles arguments, because everyone can see what happened. It shows children why numbers are useful, which makes the adding feel purposeful rather than like a worksheet task.
Play in a safe open space, away from roads, car parks and windows. Check the ground for hazards before you start. Take turns kicking so nobody is in the way of the ball, and stop the game if anyone gets hurt.
Penalty shootout facts
- A penalty shootout is used in some football matches to decide a winner when the score is level.
- Each penalty is taken from a marked spot in front of the goal.
- The goalkeeper tries to stop the ball, and the kicker tries to score.
- In a shootout, the two sides take turns to kick.
- A written score helps everyone agree who has won.
Skills and curriculum link
- Keeping score
- Adding small numbers
- Comparing totals
- Finding a difference
- Fair play
- Taking turns
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Maths | Addition and subtraction | Year 3 |
What children will be able to do
- I can keep score in a tally or table.
- I can add up goals for each team.
- I can compare totals to see who won and by how many.
Ideas to help with scoring
- Tally marksA tally is one mark for each goal. Groups of marks are quick to count, and they leave a clear record on the page.
- Count aloudSaying each player's goals out loud, one at a time, helps children keep their place and stops them missing a round.
- Compare totalsPut the two totals side by side. The bigger number wins. The difference tells you how far ahead the winner is.
- Check togetherAsk a second person to count the goals again. If you both get the same total, you can trust the score.
Key words
- RoundOne turn of the game. Each player takes a kick in a round.
- GoalA point scored when the ball goes into the net.
- TotalAll the goals added together.
- TallyA mark made for each goal. It helps you count.
- DifferenceHow much bigger one number is than another.
- Sudden deathAn extra round after a tie. The game ends once one player scores and the other does not.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the players. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Read the rules aloud together. Choose a safe open space and mark the goal.
- Play the first round and write the result in the table. Take turns being the goalkeeper.
- Play the rest of the rounds. Then count each player's goals aloud and compare the totals. Ask who won and by how many.
- Come back another day and play again. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Count each player's goals aloud, one at a time, and point to each result in the table as you say it. Use tally marks to make counting easier. Play just a few rounds first, then add more once scoring feels easy.
To stretch confident children
Write a sentence saying who won and by how many goals. Then ask what the total would be after two more rounds if each player scored in both. Try predicting the final score before you play.
Make it a game
Play a sudden death round if there is a tie. Players take one kick each. If one scores and the other misses, that player wins. If both score or both miss, play another round until someone is ahead.
Talk about it
- How did you work out the difference between the scores?
- Why is it helpful to write the score down?
- What would the total be after two more rounds?
- Was it fair that everyone took the same number of kicks? Why?
- How did it feel to be the goalkeeper? What did you try to do?
- What could we change to make the game fairer or more fun?
Take it off the page
Paper football
Flick a small paper ball across a table towards a goal made from two books. Keep a tally of goals for each player and compare the totals.
Score cards
Make a score card for any game you play, such as skittles or beanbag toss. Record each round in a table and add the totals.
Predict the score
Before a round starts, each player guesses how many goals they will score. Play, then compare the guess with the real total.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first round, then let them lead. Let them be the scorer and read out the totals. Praise good sportsmanship as well as goals, and keep the mood light.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary or table activity linked to addition and comparing totals. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups. Check you have a safe space for the ball.
Home educators
Home educators can pair this with outdoor play, a PE session or a lesson on tallies and tables. Print it again for brothers and sisters, or replay it for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits
Before this, children practise counting, using tallies and adding small numbers within 20. They also learn to read simple tables. Keeping score brings those skills together in a game that has a real reason for the numbers.
After this, children add larger numbers and find differences using subtraction. They also work with tables, charts and graphs to show results. Comparing two totals is an early step towards solving problems about how much more or how many fewer.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- How did you work out the difference between the scores?
- Why is it helpful to write the score down?
- What would the total be after two more rounds?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Penalty Shootout Scoreboard for?
It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. It suits children who can add small numbers and are ready to compare two totals. Younger or older children can join in with the support and stretch ideas.
- What will children practise?
Children practise keeping score, adding goals and comparing totals. They also practise fair play and taking turns. The sheet links to the addition and subtraction strand of the National Curriculum for England in Year 3.
- What do we need to play?
You need the printed sheet, a pencil, a ball and a safe open space. It works for 2 to 6 players. Mark a goal with cones, bags or jumpers, and take turns being the goalkeeper.
- What if there is a tie?
Play a sudden death round. Each player takes one kick. If one scores and the other misses, that player wins. If both score or both miss, play another round until one player is ahead.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Make sure you have a safe space for the ball.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, a pencil and a ball, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children get to move, talk and write by hand without a screen.
- Can I use it for home education?
Yes. Home educators and tutors can use it on its own or as part of a wider plan. It is free to print again for brothers, sisters or revision.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.