Touchdown facts for kids
A touchdown is a main way to score points in American football and Canadian football. When a team scores a touchdown, they get 6 points. After scoring a touchdown, the team also gets a chance to earn 1 or 2 more points, which is called an extra point.
Contents
What is a Touchdown?
A touchdown happens when a player successfully gets the football into the opponent's end zone. The end zone is a special area at each end of the field.
How Do You Score a Touchdown?
There are two main ways to score a touchdown:
- Running into the end zone: A player carrying the ball runs with it across the goal line and into the end zone.
- Catching the ball in the end zone: A player catches a pass while standing inside the end zone.
The player must have control of the ball when it crosses the goal line or when they catch it in the end zone.
After the Touchdown: Extra Points
After a team scores a touchdown, they get an extra chance to add more points. This is called a "point after touchdown" or "extra point." There are two options:
- Kicking for 1 point: The team can try to kick the ball through the uprights of the goalpost. If successful, they get 1 extra point.
- Running or passing for 2 points: The team can try to run or pass the ball into the end zone again from a short distance. If successful, they get 2 extra points. This is often called a "two-point conversion."
Teams choose which option to try based on their strategy during the game.
Images for kids
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A player from Texas High School crosses the goal line with the ball during a game against Highland Park High School to score a rushing touchdown worth six points.
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A touchdown celebration
See also
In Spanish: Touchdown para niños
