X Tables
Times Tables Real Life

Football Wins 3 times table adventure

A story-led page turning football wins into a junior adventure for practising the 3 times table.

Quick answer

When you know your 3 times table, you can quickly work out how many goals or points your football team scores if they win a certain number of games.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use the 3 times table to work out how many goals or points a football team scores if they win a certain number of games. Success signs:
  • You can count in 3s up to 36
  • You can solve simple multiplication problems with 3
  • You can use your 3 times table to work out how many goals or points a team scores
  • You can explain how 3 times table facts help in football

Why this matters

Knowing your 3 times table helps you understand football scores quickly. In football, teams usually get 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. If you know your 3 times table, you can work out how many points a team has after winning a certain number of games. This helps you keep track of how good a team is, and it's a useful skill for playing football games, watching matches, or even helping your parents with football betting.

How it works

The 3 times table is like counting in groups of 3. When you multiply a number by 3, you are adding that number to itself three times. For example:
  • 1 x 3 = 3 (one group of 3)
  • 2 x 3 = 6 (two groups of 3)
  • 3 x 3 = 9 (three groups of 3)
You can also think of it as repeated addition:
  • 1 x 3 = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3
  • 2 x 3 = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6
  • 3 x 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 = 9

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine a football team that wins 5 games. If each win gives them 3 points, how many points do they have?
  • 1 win = 3 points
  • 2 wins = 6 points
  • 3 wins = 9 points
  • 4 wins = 12 points
  • 5 wins = 15 points
So 5 x 3 = 15 points. Here’s another example: If you have 4 footballs and each football has 3 stripes, how many stripes are there in total?
  • 1 football = 3 stripes
  • 2 footballs = 6 stripes
  • 3 footballs = 9 stripes
  • 4 footballs = 12 stripes
So 4 x 3 = 12 stripes.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Football Team Challenge You are the coach of a football team that has just played 6 games. Your team won 6 games in a row. You want to know how many points they have. Let’s go on a journey to find out! 1st time: You look at the first game. Your team won, so they get 3 points. You write down 3 points. 2nd time: You look at the second game. Your team won again, so they get another 3 points. Now they have 3 + 3 = 6 points. 3rd time: You look at the third game. Your team won again, so they get another 3 points. Now they have 6 + 3 = 9 points. 4th time: You look at the fourth game. Your team won again, so they get another 3 points. Now they have 9 + 3 = 12 points. 5th time: You look at the fifth game. Your team won again, so they get another 3 points. Now they have 12 + 3 = 15 points. 6th time: You look at the sixth game. Your team won again, so they get another 3 points. Now they have 15 + 3 = 18 points. You can also use the 3 times table:
  • 1 x 3 = 3
  • 2 x 3 = 6
  • 3 x 3 = 9
  • 4 x 3 = 12
  • 5 x 3 = 15
  • 6 x 3 = 18
So your team has 18 points after 6 wins.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking that 3 x 4 = 12, but then confusing it with 3 x 5 = 15.
    Why it happens: The numbers get close together, and children mix up the answers.
    Fix: Use visual aids like counters or draw arrays to show how many groups of 3 there are.
  • Mistake: Counting 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 to get 3 x 12.
    Why it happens: Forgetting the pattern and counting too slowly.
    Fix: Practice counting in 3s with a rhythm or chant to help remember.
  • Mistake: Thinking 3 x 0 = 3.
    Why it happens: Mixing up multiplication by 0 with multiplication by 1.
    Fix: Remember that multiplying by 0 means no groups, so 3 x 0 = 0.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children practice the 3 times table by:
  • Playing games where children count in 3s using objects like counters or blocks
  • Using real-life examples like football points or pizza slices to make the multiplication meaningful
  • Practising with flashcards or online games that focus on the 3 times table
  • Encouraging children to explain how they solved a problem, which helps solidify understanding
  • Reinforcing that 3 x 0 = 0, which is often confusing for children
It’s important to keep practice fun and not make it feel like a chore. Celebrate small wins and encourage children to try different methods to solve problems.

Practice questions

  1. What is 3 x 7?
  2. How many goals does a team score if they win 4 games?
  3. What is 3 x 9?
  4. If you have 5 footballs and each has 3 stripes, how many stripes are there?
  5. What is 3 x 12?
Answers:
  1. 21
  2. 12 goals
  3. 27
  4. 15 stripes
  5. 36

FAQ

What is the 3 times table?

The 3 times table is a list of multiplication facts where you multiply 3 by numbers from 0 to 12. It helps you quickly work out how many groups of 3 there are.

How can I remember the 3 times table?

You can remember it by counting in 3s: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36. You can also use arrays or repeated addition to help.

Why is the 3 times table important?

The 3 times table is important because it helps you solve problems quickly, especially when dealing with groups of 3. It's useful in football, cooking, shopping, and many other real-life situations.

What is 3 x 0?

3 x 0 = 0. This is because multiplying by 0 means there are no groups, so you have nothing.

How can I practice the 3 times table at home?

You can practice by using objects like counters, drawing arrays, playing games, or using flashcards. You can also use real-life examples like football points or pizza slices to make it fun.

Football Wins 3 Times Table Facts
Number of Wins Points Calculation
0 0 0 x 3 = 0
1 3 1 x 3 = 3
2 6 2 x 3 = 6
3 9 3 x 3 = 9
4 12 4 x 3 = 12
5 15 5 x 3 = 15
6 18 6 x 3 = 18
7 21 7 x 3 = 21
8 24 8 x 3 = 24
9 27 9 x 3 = 27
10 30 10 x 3 = 30
11 33 11 x 3 = 33
12 36 12 x 3 = 36