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Maths Adventures

Football maths quest: ratio

A story-led junior maths adventure using scores, tables and stadium measures to mix recipes, scale drawings and compare quantities.

Quick answer

Football maths quest: ratio is about comparing quantities using ratios, like how many goals are scored compared to how many passes are made, or how many fans are in the stadium compared to how many players are on the pitch.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to use ratios to compare amounts in football, such as how many goals are scored compared to how many shots on target, or how many fans are in the stadium compared to how many players are on the pitch. Success signs:
  • You can explain what a ratio is using football examples
  • You can compare two quantities using a ratio like 3:2 or 10:1
  • You can find equivalent ratios by multiplying or dividing both sides
  • You can solve simple ratio problems using football situations

Why this matters

Ratios help us understand how things relate to each other in football. When you watch a match, you might notice that for every 10 shots on target, there are 3 goals. This ratio helps coaches and fans understand how well the team is performing. Ratios also help you make fair shares of snacks, plan how many players to bring to a game, or even decide how to design a football pitch or stadium.

How it works

Ratios compare two or more amounts. In football, we might say the ratio of goals to shots on target is 3:10. This means for every 3 goals, there were 10 shots on target. The first number (3) is goals, and the second number (10) is shots on target. You can write ratios like 3:10 or 3 to 10 or 3/10, but the most common way is with a colon (:).

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're helping plan a football party. You have 12 friends coming to watch the game, and you want to make sure everyone gets an equal share of snacks. Example 1: Snack sharing If you have 12 friends and 24 cookies, the ratio of friends to cookies is 12:24. This can be simplified to 1:2 (1 friend for every 2 cookies). This means each friend gets 2 cookies. Example 2: Team scoring In a football match, Team A scored 3 goals and Team B scored 2 goals. The ratio of Team A's goals to Team B's goals is 3:2. This means for every 3 goals Team A scored, Team B scored 2 goals. Example 3: Stadium visitors If a football stadium has 50,000 fans and 22 players (11 per team), the ratio of fans to players is 50,000:22. This can be simplified to about 2,273:1 (2,273 fans for every 1 player).

Try it as a mini adventure

The Football Math Quest You are a young coach preparing for a big football match. You need to solve several ratio puzzles to make sure your team is ready for the game. Step 1: You have 15 players on your team and 45 footballs. What is the ratio of players to footballs? Answer: 15:45 = 1:3 (1 player for every 3 footballs) Step 2: Your team scored 6 goals and had 18 shots on target. What is the ratio of goals to shots? Answer: 6:18 = 1:3 (1 goal for every 3 shots) Step 3: In the stadium, there are 3,000 fans and 22 players. What is the ratio of fans to players? Answer: 3,000:22 = 150:1 (150 fans for every 1 player) Step 4: You want to make a special football snack mix. For every 4 pieces of fruit, you add 2 pieces of chocolate. What is the ratio of fruit to chocolate? Answer: 4:2 = 2:1 (2 pieces of fruit for every 1 piece of chocolate) Step 5: You need to make 100 portions of this snack mix. If each portion needs 2 pieces of fruit and 1 piece of chocolate, how many pieces of each do you need? Answer: 200 pieces of fruit and 100 pieces of chocolate

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Confusing the order of numbers in a ratio
    Why it happens: Children may mix up which number comes first in a ratio
    Fix: Always think about what the ratio is comparing. For example, if comparing goals to shots, write goals first, then shots
  • Mistake: Not simplifying ratios
    Why it happens: Children may think ratios must be written as the original numbers
    Fix: Look for common factors to simplify ratios. For example, 6:12 can be simplified to 1:2
  • Mistake: Thinking ratios are the same as fractions
    Why it happens: Children may confuse ratio notation with fraction notation
    Fix: Remember ratios compare quantities, not parts of a whole. 3:5 is different from 3/5
  • Mistake: Forgetting to use the same units when comparing
    Why it happens: Children may compare apples to oranges without converting units
    Fix: Always make sure both quantities are measured in the same way. If comparing meters to centimeters, convert one to the other

Parent and carer guide

To help your child with football maths ratios, you can:
  • Ask them to find ratios in real football matches they watch
  • Create simple ratio problems using their favourite snacks or toys
  • Use everyday situations like sharing food or planning a party to practice ratios
  • Encourage them to simplify ratios by finding common factors
  • Play ratio games using football cards or team statistics
What to say:
  • "Let's look at how many goals your team scored compared to how many shots they took"
  • "Can you find the ratio of your friends to your snacks?"
  • "What happens if we double the number of goals and shots? Does the ratio change?"
What not to worry about:
  • Your child doesn't get the ratio perfectly right away - this is a skill that develops
  • They might mix up the order at first - that's normal
  • They may not understand simplification immediately - it's okay to start with basic ratios

Practice questions

  1. There are 8 goals and 24 shots on target. What is the ratio of goals to shots?
    Answer: 8:24 = 1:3
  2. There are 15 players and 45 footballs. What is the ratio of players to footballs?
    Answer: 15:45 = 1:3
  3. There are 30 fans and 22 players. What is the ratio of fans to players?
    Answer: 30:22 = 15:11
  4. There are 5 goals and 15 shots on target. What is the ratio of goals to shots?
    Answer: 5:15 = 1:3
  5. There are 12 players and 36 water bottles. What is the ratio of players to water bottles?
    Answer: 12:36 = 1:3

FAQ

What is a ratio in football?

A ratio in football compares two or more quantities, like the number of goals to shots on target, or the number of fans to players.

How do I simplify a football ratio?

To simplify a football ratio, find the greatest common factor of both numbers and divide both sides by that number.

Can ratios be more than two numbers?

Yes, ratios can compare more than two quantities. For example, a snack mix ratio might be 4:2:1 for fruit, chocolate, and nuts.

Why do we use ratios in football?

Ratios help us understand performance, plan resources, and compare different aspects of the game like goals to shots, fans to players, or scores to time.

How can I practice ratios at home?

You can practice by comparing your snacks, planning party supplies, or looking at match statistics and finding ratios in the scores and players.