Teaching Finance with the NFL

Now that football season has kicked off, it’s the perfect time to highlight an educational game based on our favorite pigskinned pastime. VISA and the NFL have teamed up to create Financial Football, a free program that combines personal finance questions with a football video game to teach students about money management.

The game is available at http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/football and it is also offered in mobile format for the iPhone and iPad.

Personal finance is one of the most practical lessons students receive in school, but it can also be one of the least interesting. Financial Football turns learning about finances into a game. The questions cover debt, credit cards, savings accounts and financial planning all while using a wide range of economic terminology. When students answer correctly, they gain yards and score touchdowns, just like in real football. But incorrect answers cost penalties and lost yards.

The game can be adapted for all grades, with difficulty levels arranged in three categories based on age: rookie (11-14), pro (14-18) and hall of fame (18+). There is also an option to play a full game (20 minutes) or shorter half (10 minutes) or quarter (5 minutes) sessions.

Colorful graphics, sounds and action give the feel of a regular video game. The action begins by selecting a team from the 32 NFL franchises. Once the offense and opposition are selected, a coin toss kicks off the event. Next, the player chooses a difficulty level for the first question. The level determines how many yards a correct answer will earn. After choosing a multiple choice response, the student watches his players either make a winning play or fall back based on his accuracy in answering.

Financial Football is part of Practical Money Skills for Life, a free financial education program that, according to Visa, reaches millions of people worldwide each year.

Launched in 1995, the program is now available in 10 languages in more than 30 countries.  The program offers educators, parents and students free educational resources including personal finance articles, games and lesson plans.