American football teams can score points by carrying the ball over the opposing goal line, possessing the ball or tackling an opposing ball carrier in the opposing end zone, or kicking the ball through the opposing goal posts. A touchdown is worth six points, a field goal is worth three points, a safety is usually worth two points, and a try is worth one or two points. After a touchdown, the scoring team can attempt a try, which is worth one or two points. Field goals are attempted when a team can’t score a touchdown, and safeties are scored by the defense. A one-point safety is a rare way of scoring that can only occur on a try attempt.
There are three primary ways for a team to score points in American football: by carrying the ball over the opposing goal line, by possessing the ball or tackling an opposing ball carrier in the opposing end zone, or by kicking the ball through the opposing goal posts. It is also possible for a team to score runs under certain circumstances when the opponent commits a penalty in their own end zone or loses the ball out of bounds in their own end zone. Each scoring mode has a name and is worth a certain number of points. A touchdown is worth six points, a field goal is worth three points, a safety is usually worth two points, and a try is worth one or two points.
touchdowns
A touchdown is scored when a player has possession of the ball and crosses the opposing team’s goal line or when a player gains possession in the opposing team’s end zone. When the ball is held in the field of play, any part of the ball that touches an imaginary plane beyond the goal line results in a touchdown. For example, a player who is tackled near the goal line may reach out with the ball and score a touchdown if he crosses the goal line before the player is down. When a player already in the end zone gains possession of the ball, such as by catching a pass or recovering a fumble, it is a touchdown as long as the player was legally in the field when he gained possession of the ball.
Fence
After a touchdown, the scoring team is allowed one play to score again near the goal line. This is called a try and is worth one or two points, depending on how the team scores. In most levels of football, kicking the ball through the goalposts during a try (called an extra point kick or point after-touchdown (PAT)) is worth one point, and running or passing the ball into the end zone is worth two points and usually it is called a two-point conversion.
In some leagues, such as youth leagues, the points awarded for tries are swapped, because kicking the ball through the posts is considered a more difficult task for young players. Other leagues might award one point for a run and two for a pass. At many levels, it is also possible for the defensive team to score a two-point conversion by gaining possession of the ball during a try attempt and driving the ball into the opposing end zone.
Field goals
If the team that has the ball — the offense — doesn’t score a touchdown, they may be able to kick a field goal. This is the same as an extra point kick, but is usually from a greater distance. A team will usually only attempt a field goal after it has exhausted its chances to score a touchdown while still in possession of the ball. An exception is when the team is trailing by three points or less near the end of the game. For example, in the final minute of a tied game, the offensive team may not attempt to score a touchdown if they are already close enough to attempt a relatively easy field goal.
Safeties
A safety is the least common scoring play in soccer, and is usually scored by the team not in possession of the ball: the defense. Occurs when an offensive player with the ball is tackled or goes out of bounds in their end zone, when a ball that has been fumbled or batted by a team goes out of bounds in their end zone, or when the offensive team commits a penalty in their end zones. It is no guarantee, however, if a player gains possession of the ball in their team’s in-goal and is tackled or goes out of bounds before advancing out of the in-goal.
One-point safety
Another little-known way of scoring can only occur on a try attempt and is known as a one-point safety. This occurs when the play would normally result in a safety against the defense. For example, if the team attempting the try misses the ball and a defender knocks the ball through the defense’s end zone and out of bounds, the attacking team would be awarded a safety run. Another example would be a defensive player who intercepts a pass on a two-point conversion attempt, then runs into his own end zone and gets tackled. One-point safeties are extremely rare, and some leagues don’t even allow them.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
