Pom-pom burst on each cheekColor A, color B. Many short strokes from a center point on each cheek, colors mixed.
Wave of dots from temple to templeColor A, color B. Dots rise and fall across the forehead like a crowd wave, colors in turn.
Three paw prints, jaw to cheekbone, pads in color AColor A, color B. Three prints from jaw to cheekbone, pads in A and toe dots in B. No school's own mascot.
Bar fading to dotsBlack. A bar on each upper cheek that breaks into four shrinking dots toward the ear.
Bar that drips into three pointsBlack. The bar on the upper cheek with three short downward points along its lower edge.
Bar with a jersey number scratched out of itBlack. Paint the bar on the upper cheek, then lift the number out with a damp cotton swab before it dries.
Classic bar edged in a thin team-color lineBlack, color A. The classic bar on each upper cheek, edged all around in a thin team-color line.
Double bars, one in each colorColor A, color B. Two thin bars stacked on each upper cheek, A above B, a gap between.
GAME on one bar, DAY on the other, in white capitalsBlack, white. A wide bar on each cheek with white capitals: GAME on the left, DAY on the right.
One bar under each eye, on the upper cheekBlack. A finger-width bar on each upper cheek, well below the lower lashes, flat brush or sponge edge.
Three slanted strokes, thick to thin, on both cheeksBlack, color A. Three slanted strokes on each cheek, thick at the cheekbone and thin toward the mouth.
Three stripes down one cheekColor A, color B. Three short upright stripes from the cheekbone toward the jaw, A, B, A.
Triangle eye black pointing at the jawBlack. A wide bar on the upper cheek that narrows to a point halfway down the cheek, one each side.
X on each cheekBlack or color A. Two short bars crossed like an X on each upper cheek, sponge edge.
Zigzag bar under each eye, edged in the second colorColor A, color B. The bar on each upper cheek drawn as a zigzag of four points in A, a thin B line under it.
Numbers, letters and words 12
Class year on the cheekboneColor A, color B. An apostrophe and two digits along the cheekbone, slanted up toward the temple.
DEFENSE split across two cheeksColor A, white. Capital D on the left cheek, a fence of four upright bars on the right.
Exclamation marks on both cheeksColor A, color B. Three exclamation marks in a row on each cheek, the middle one tallest.
GO on one cheek, the team word on the otherColor A, color B. GO in block capitals on the left cheek, your team's short name on the right.
Hashtag and your numberColor A, color B. A hash sign and one or two digits side by side on the cheek, flat brush.
Hoped-for score along the cheekboneColor A, color B. Two numbers with a dash between them along the cheekbone, your side's in A and the other side's in B.
Initials of the school, one per cheekColor A, white. One block letter on each cheek, outlined in white, same height both sides.
Jersey number on the cheekColor A, white. Two block digits on one cheek, white outline, as tall as the space from cheekbone to jaw.
MVP in a pennantColor A, white. A triangular pennant on the cheek pointing to the ear, three white letters inside.
Number 1 on a foam-finger shapeColor A, white. A pointing hand shape on the cheek with a white 1 on it, thin outline.
Player's number inside a starColor A, white. A five-point star on the cheek, the digits lifted out in white in its center.
WIN across the foreheadColor A, color B. Three wide capitals above the brows, letters in A with a B drop shadow.
Balls, helmets and goalposts 12
Crossed-line goal net, small ball at the top cornerWhite, black, green. A net of crossed lines on the cheek, a small ball at the top corner, green line below.
Football spiraling with motion linesBrown, white, color A. A tilted ball on the cheekbone, three curved lines trailing behind it to the ear.
Football under a banner in color ABrown, white, color A. A ball on the cheek with a blank ribbon curving beneath it for a name.
Goalposts on the forehead with a ball going throughYellow, brown. A tall Y shape above one brow, a tiny ball above the crossbar, dotted path behind.
Kicking tee with the ball about to flyBrown, white, orange. A ball standing on its point on a small orange tee, two motion ticks above.
Laced brown football on the cheekBrown, white. A pointed oval on the cheek, one white line along the top and five short laces across it.
Side-on helmet with a top stripe and three front barsColor A, color B, gray. A side-on helmet on the cheek, one stripe over the top, three gray bars at the front.
Soccer ball of open hexagon outlinesWhite, black. A white circle on the cheek filled with a honeycomb of thin black hexagon outlines, none filled in.
Soccer ball with a color A flame tailWhite, black, color A. A small black-and-white ball on the cheekbone, three flame tongues streaming to the ear.
Two crossed pennants and a ballColor A, color B, brown. Two triangle flags crossed at their sticks on the cheek, a small ball where they meet.
Whistle on a cord looping the cheekSilver gray, color A. A side-on whistle on the cheek, its cord looping up over the cheekbone.
Yard-line field on the cheekGreen, white. A green rectangle with five white lines and a tiny 50 in the middle, flat brush.
Team colors 12
Braided rope of two colors along the hairlineColor A, color B. Two wavy lines cross each other from temple to temple like a twisted cord.
Checkered-flag cheeks in two colorsColor A, color B. A three-by-three grid on each cheek, squares filled alternately.
Diagonal sash from brow to jawColor A, color B. One wide band of A from above one brow to the opposite jaw, a thin B line each side.
Face split down the nose in your two colorsColor A, color B. Sponge A on one half and B on the other, off the eyelids, a clean line down the nose.
Fingertip polka dots, color A left and color B rightColor A, color B. Seven fingertip dots of A on the left cheek and seven of B on the right, no brush.
Forehead band of color A with a color B zigzagColor A, color B. A level band of A above the brows from temple to temple, one zigzag line of B along its middle.
Half-and-half lips with matching cheek dotsColor A, color B. Top lip A, bottom lip B, three dots on each cheek in the opposite order.
Tally of five on each cheek, the slash in color BColor A, color B. Four short upright strokes of A on each cheek, one slanted stroke of B across them.
Team scarf painted along the jaw, fringe at one endColor A, color B. A striped band follows the jaw from ear to ear like a scarf, a fringe of short dashes at one end.
Two-color wave along each jawlineColor A, color B. One rolling wave line of A follows each jaw from ear to chin, a thinner B line riding above it.
Wave of dots from temple to templeColor A, color B. Dots rise and fall across the forehead like a crowd wave, colors in turn.
Zigzag bolt of color B over a sponged color A patchColor A, color B. Sponge a patch of A on each cheek, then a zigzag bolt of B over it.
Spirit day and pep rally 12
Claw marks in your school colorsColor A, color B. Four curved strokes on one cheek, A on top with a thin B edge.
Crown for the homecoming courtColor A, gold. A three-point crown above one brow, a dot of A on each point.
Heart in two halves, one of each colorColor A, color B. One heart on the cheek, left half A and right half B.
Megaphone shouting starsColor A, color B. A cone on the cheek pointing at the ear, five stars flying from its mouth.
Pep rally banner across the foreheadColor A, color B, white. A scroll from temple to temple with the year or one short word in white.
Pom-pom burst on each cheekColor A, color B. Many short strokes from a center point on each cheek, colors mixed.
Row of stars in color A and color BColor A, color B. Five stars along the cheekbone from nose side to temple, colors in turn.
School initial in a shieldColor A, color B. A small shield on the cheek, split in two colors, one white letter over the split.
Small horns at the hairline for a ram or bull schoolColor B, white. Two short curved horns above the brows, white shine line on each.
Spirit stick wrapped in a ribbonColor A, color B. An upright baton on the cheek with a spiral stripe and streamers at the top.
Three paw prints, jaw to cheekbone, pads in color AColor A, color B. Three prints from jaw to cheekbone, pads in A and toe dots in B. No school's own mascot.
Wing spread from the temple for an eagle or hawk schoolColor A, white. Six feather strokes fan back from one temple to the ear.
How it works
These football face paint ideas are 60 designs for a game, sorted by what is painted: eye black and stripes, numbers and words, balls and helmets, team colors. Every color is left to your team, written as color A and color B.
Read the full guide
Pep rally face paint ideas with no ball in them
Spirit day and pep rally holds 12 school spirit face paint ideas: Megaphone shouting stars, Pom-pom burst on each cheek, School initial in a shield. Paws, claws, wings and horns suit the common mascots without drawing any school's own.
Field day face paint ideas for a line of children
Quick, for a field day marks 14 designs of a few strokes: One bar under each eye, on the upper cheek, Three stripes down one cheek, Row of stars in color A and color B.
Questions and answers
Which football player face paint ideas copy what players wear?
The 12 under Eye black and stripes start from what players wear. Eye black is a grease or strip that players wear under the eyes; here the bar is drawn on the upper cheek in face paint, well below the lashes.
Do the team face paint ideas use real logos?
No. No team, league, school, mascot or logo is named or drawn. Team colors holds 12 patterns for any two colors, such as Face split down the nose in your two colors.
Are there face paint ideas for sporting events other than football?
Yes. Three designs use the round black-and-white ball, and the stripes, numbers and color patterns fit any sport: Jersey number on the cheek, Checkered-flag cheeks in two colors.
Is eye black grease the same as face paint?
No. This list uses face paint sold for use on skin, not grease or tape. Follow the paint's label, including any warning about the eyes, and wash it off as the label says.