Video:Methods of Scoring in Football

Transcript:Methods of Scoring in Football

Hi, I'm Chris Davis for About.com. Football is an exciting game to watch even if you don’t understand what’s happening.  Let’s review all the ways teams score points in football, so you can sound like a grizzled veteran of the game. 

The Touchdown Scores the Most Points in Football

The most exciting way to score, is the touchdown.  A touchdown is scored when the tip of the ball breaks the goal line of an opponent’s end zone. This can be done by either running the ball across the goal line or receiving a pass within the end zone.  Defenses can also score touchdowns when they recover the ball by intercepting (catching the opponent’s pass) or recovering an opponent’s fumble.  The end zone is any part of the 10 yards at the end of the 100 yards of playing space, including the goal line. Touchdowns are worth 6 points each. 

Extra Points Can Be Scored After a Touchdown

An extra point attempt is tried after a touchdown occurs.  The kicker attempts to kick the ball through goal post. The ball is snapped from the two yard line for this scoring attempt. Kickers do not typically use a tee when making their attempt.  This scoring method is worth 1 point if successful.

Two point conversions after a touchdown are scored by the same rules as a touchdown except they are worth 2 points. If a team elects to go for two extra points, they will start at the two-yard line and make one attempt at either running or passing the ball into the end zone. If they fail to cross the goal line no extra points are awarded.  

The field goal attempt can be tried if a team is close enough for their kicker to kick the ball through the goal post.  When this is successful, a field goal worth 3 points is scored.  Depending on the kicker, a team can attempt a field goal at any distance, but most kickers are more accurate the closer they are to the goal post. A field goal attempt most commonly occurs on fourth down when the kicker is in range. Here is the scoring play that many people have not seen.

A Safety is Scored by the Defense

A safety is scored when the ball does not get out of the offenses own end zone. The sack of a quarterback, or tackle of anyone holding the ball in the end zone results in a safety. This scoring opportunity is worth 2 points. It doesn't matter what scoring method your team uses. The team with the most points as time expires, wins.

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