194:
moving a ball or equivalent object into a goal where the whole of the relevant object must cross the whole of the goal line for a score to be awarded. The play is dead and the touchdown scored the moment the ball touches plane in possession of a player, or the moment the ball comes into possession of an offensive player in the end zone (having established possession by controlling the ball and having one or both feet depending on the rules of the league or another part of the body, excluding the hands, touch the ground). The slightest part of the ball touching or being directly over the goal line is sufficient for a touchdown to score. However, only the ball counts, not a player's helmet, foot, or any other part of the body. Touching one of the pylons at either end of the goal line with the ball constitutes "breaking the plane" as well.
29:
45:
130:(NCAA), allow certain types of plays to be reviewed. Among these plays are touchdowns, as well as all other scoring plays, dangerous or unsportsmanlike conduct by players or staff, out-of-bounds calls, the place on the field where the official spots the ball after a play, and turnovers. Coaches can also challenge calls, provided they are made during a play eligible to be reviewed; the only exception is during periods of the game where coaches' challenges are restricted, such as the last two minutes of each half. The NFL and CFL review all scoring plays and turnovers regardless of whether the call was questionable, and therefore do not allow coaches to challenge those plays, either. The NCAA allows
261:
253:. In short, any play in which a player legally carries any part of the ball over or across the opponent's goal line scores a touchdown, as is any play in which a player legally gains possession of the ball while it is on or across his opponent's goal line and both the player and ball are legally in-bounds - beyond this, the manner in which he gained possession is inconsequential. In the
334:
the ball, he could follow with a try for goal from the spot of the catch, or resume play as normal (in an attempt to touch down the ball in a spot more advantageous for kicking). The governing rule at the time read: "A match shall be decided by a majority of touchdowns. A goal shall be equal to four
193:
of the front of the goal line (that is, if any part of the ball is in the space on, above, or across the goal line) while in the possession of a player whose team is trying to score in that end zone. This particular requirement of the touchdown differs from other sports in which points are scored by
329:
to the goal line and passing through the point where the ball was touched down, or through a process known as a "punt-out", where the attacking team would kick the ball from the point where it was touched down to a teammate. If the teammate could
314:
When the first uniform rules for
American football were enacted by the newly formed Intercollegiate Football Association following the 1876 Rugby season, a touchdown required touching the ball to the ground past the goal line, and counted for
369:. The increase from five points to six did not come until much later in Canada, and the touchdown remained only five points there until 1956. In addition, the score continued to commonly be called a
257:, a touchdown may be awarded by the referee as a penalty for a "palpably unfair act", such as a player coming off the bench during a play and tackling the runner, who would otherwise have scored.
217:
to the receiver, who either catches the ball in the field of play and advances it into the end zone, or catches it while already being within the boundaries of the end zone; the result is a
280:
to the opposing team, if there is any time left in the half. In most codes, a conversion is not attempted if the touchdown ended the game and the conversion cannot affect the outcome.
306:
required to be touched to the ground as in rugby, as rugby and gridiron were still extremely similar sports at this point. This rule was changed to the modern-day iteration in 1889.
352:
In 1889, the provision requiring the ball to actually be touched to the ground was removed. A touchdown was now scored by possessing the ball beyond the goal line.
107:. More specifically, a touchdown is when a player is in possession of the ball, any part of the ball is in the end zone they are attacking, and the player is not
645:
37:
325:
of a kicked goal (except in the case of a tie) and allowed the offense the chance to kick for goal by placekick or dropkick from a spot along a line
135:
283:
The officials' hand signal for a touchdown is both arms extended vertically above the head, with palms facing inward—the same signal used for a
464:
298:, and contrary to the event's name, the ball does not need to touch the ground when the player and the ball are inside the end zone. The term
855:
507:
713:
377:
The ability to score a touchdown on the point-after attempt (two-point conversion) was added to NCAA football in 1958 and also used in the
355:
In 1897, the touchdown scored five points, and the goal after touchdown added another point - hence the current terminology: "extra point".
339:
In 1881, the rules were modified so that a goal kicked from a touchdown took precedence over a goal kicked from the field in breaking ties.
365:
was also added. Before the addition of the end zone, forward passes caught beyond the goal line resulted in a loss of possession and a
1440:
131:
349:
In 1883, points were introduced to football, and a touchdown counted as four points. A goal after a touchdown counted as two points.
638:
127:
28:
605:
1455:
151:
1538:
1533:
531:
143:
358:
In 1900, the definition of touchdown was changed to include situations where the ball becomes dead on or above the goal line.
477:
689:
674:
631:
1404:
684:
44:
948:
589:
1472:
1435:
1008:
943:
413:
343:
1182:
1154:
775:
1253:
993:
845:
770:
423:
403:
389:, a professional American football league that operated in 1974 and 1975, gave touchdowns a seven-point value.
166:
260:
1502:
1450:
1283:
1278:
938:
895:
723:
335:
touchdowns; but in case of a tie a goal kicked from a touchdown shall take precedence over four touchdowns."
118:
to make the correct call based on their vantage point alone. Most professional football leagues, such as the
381:
during its ten-year run from 1960 to 1969. It was subsequently adopted by high school football in 1969, the
1425:
1383:
1379:
1375:
1103:
933:
850:
679:
115:
96:
1482:
1394:
1086:
277:
238:
88:
1492:
794:
760:
22:
1258:
1248:
1192:
755:
342:
In 1882, four touchdowns were determined to take precedence over a goal kicked from the field. Two
1273:
1149:
1141:
1069:
1064:
963:
953:
378:
250:
198:
123:
119:
108:
100:
92:
80:
52:
514:
1477:
958:
865:
799:
696:
1507:
1159:
189:. In all gridiron codes, the touchdown is scored the instant the ball touches or "breaks" the
1497:
1344:
1222:
444:
408:
398:
386:
246:
1487:
1313:
1200:
998:
806:
273:
170:
8:
1512:
1318:
816:
765:
268:
A touchdown is worth six points. The scoring team is also awarded the opportunity for an
1462:
1210:
1205:
1164:
735:
613:
1308:
1187:
1131:
1013:
907:
840:
730:
708:
669:
654:
585:
162:
158:
147:
76:
33:
1354:
1293:
1217:
912:
823:
745:
578:
190:
139:
1467:
1126:
1044:
1029:
833:
182:
59:
is seen as the dark strip at the bottom. The vertical yellow bar is part of the
1349:
1339:
1323:
1288:
1054:
1049:
968:
718:
703:
485:
418:
295:
1527:
1430:
1420:
1303:
1268:
1263:
828:
750:
623:
326:
234:
1399:
1359:
1298:
1232:
1227:
1116:
1039:
1034:
811:
230:
225:. However, the defense can also score a touchdown if they have recovered a
202:
84:
134:
teams to review plays throughout the regular season and postseason, while
1445:
1121:
1091:
291:
269:
242:
79:. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether
48:
114:
Because of the speed at which football happens, it is often hard for an
1389:
1174:
1003:
885:
880:
331:
284:
55:(ball carrier in top center) rushing for a touchdown. A portion of the
1081:
1074:
900:
366:
1059:
928:
890:
362:
361:
In 1912, the value of a touchdown was increased to six points. The
186:
104:
60:
56:
513:. National Collegiate Athletics Association. 2006. Archived from
449:
1111:
226:
740:
36:
crosses the goal line with the ball during a game against
465:
NCAA All
Divisions Football Instant Replay Coaches Manual
382:
373:
in Canada until the second half of the twentieth century.
254:
165:, a touchdown is worth six points and is followed by an
302:
is a holdover from gridiron's early days when the ball
16:
Means of scoring in both
American and Canadian football
142:
teams only during the quarterfinals, semifinals, and
126:(CFL), as well as some college leagues, such as the
577:
276:. Afterwards, the team that scored the touchdown
1525:
197:Touchdowns are usually scored by the offense by
653:
508:"2006 NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations"
385:in 1975 and the NFL in 1994. The short-lived
209:, and in the latter, the quarterback throws a
40:to score a rushing touchdown worth six points.
639:
181:To score a touchdown, one team must take the
99:, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the
584:. Newark, NJ: University of Delaware Press.
467:", National Collegiate Athletic Association.
245:, or on a return after a missed or blocked
138:teams can only use it during the playoffs,
646:
632:
598:
500:
571:
569:
567:
565:
563:
561:
559:
557:
555:
478:"NFL Rules Digest: Summary of Penalties"
259:
233:and return it to the opposing end zone.
128:National Collegiate Athletic Association
43:
27:
1526:
575:
627:
552:
150:teams only during the semifinals and
445:"Every TD from Every Game | Week 1"
13:
14:
1550:
205:the ball. The former is called a
776:Rules of gridiron football codes
532:"NFL Rulebook: Official Signals"
346:were equivalent to a touchdown.
524:
470:
457:
436:
404:Conversion (gridiron football)
176:
1:
1539:Canadian football terminology
1534:American football terminology
429:
714:American–Canadian comparison
7:
392:
237:can score a touchdown on a
10:
1555:
309:
23:Touchdown (disambiguation)
20:
1413:
1368:
1332:
1241:
1173:
1140:
1102:
1022:
981:
921:
873:
864:
784:
662:
576:Nelson, David M. (1994).
399:American football scoring
185:into the opposing team's
38:Highland Park High School
1274:Total quarterback rating
379:American Football League
124:Canadian Football League
120:National Football League
264:A touchdown celebration
75:) is a scoring play in
1160:Fourth down conversion
265:
64:
41:
1498:Touchdown celebration
1223:Running out the clock
580:The Anatomy of A Game
409:Touchdown celebration
387:World Football League
263:
47:
31:
1488:Running up the score
1314:Yards from scrimmage
999:Two-point conversion
994:One-point conversion
616:on December 3, 2019.
274:two-point conversion
171:two-point conversion
103:into the opponent's
21:For other uses, see
1319:All-purpose yardage
606:"History 1991-2000"
488:on January 21, 2012
249:attempt or blocked
219:touchdown reception
266:
95:, or recovering a
65:
42:
1521:
1520:
1309:Yards after catch
1132:Turnover on downs
977:
976:
908:Line of scrimmage
655:Gridiron football
520:on June 24, 2008.
215:passing touchdown
207:rushing touchdown
163:Canadian football
159:American football
152:championship game
144:championship game
77:gridiron football
34:Texas High School
1546:
1355:Three-cone drill
1218:Clock management
913:Field goal range
871:
870:
648:
641:
634:
625:
624:
618:
617:
612:. Archived from
602:
596:
595:
583:
573:
550:
549:
547:
545:
536:
528:
522:
521:
519:
512:
504:
498:
497:
495:
493:
484:. Archived from
474:
468:
461:
455:
454:
442:See for example
440:
324:
323:
319:
71:(abbreviated as
1554:
1553:
1549:
1548:
1547:
1545:
1544:
1543:
1524:
1523:
1522:
1517:
1468:Gatorade shower
1409:
1364:
1328:
1284:Receiving yards
1237:
1169:
1136:
1098:
1045:Incomplete pass
1018:
973:
917:
860:
780:
761:Street/Backyard
658:
652:
622:
621:
604:
603:
599:
592:
574:
553:
543:
541:
534:
530:
529:
525:
517:
510:
506:
505:
501:
491:
489:
476:
475:
471:
462:
458:
443:
441:
437:
432:
414:Touchdown Jesus
395:
321:
317:
316:
312:
287:or conversion.
223:touchdown catch
179:
53:Texas Longhorns
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1552:
1542:
1541:
1536:
1519:
1518:
1516:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1490:
1485:
1480:
1475:
1470:
1465:
1460:
1459:
1458:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1417:
1415:
1411:
1410:
1408:
1407:
1405:Instant replay
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1372:
1370:
1366:
1365:
1363:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1350:Oklahoma drill
1347:
1342:
1340:Practice squad
1336:
1334:
1330:
1329:
1327:
1326:
1324:Touchdown pass
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1289:Pass deflected
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1245:
1243:
1239:
1238:
1236:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1214:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1197:Time warnings
1195:
1190:
1185:
1179:
1177:
1171:
1170:
1168:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1146:
1144:
1138:
1137:
1135:
1134:
1129:
1127:"Peanut Punch"
1124:
1119:
1114:
1108:
1106:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1096:
1095:
1094:
1084:
1079:
1078:
1077:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1055:Hail Mary pass
1052:
1050:Drop-back pass
1047:
1042:
1037:
1032:
1026:
1024:
1020:
1019:
1017:
1016:
1014:Single (rouge)
1011:
1006:
1001:
996:
991:
985:
983:
979:
978:
975:
974:
972:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
936:
931:
925:
923:
919:
918:
916:
915:
910:
905:
904:
903:
898:
893:
888:
877:
875:
868:
862:
861:
859:
858:
853:
848:
843:
838:
837:
836:
831:
821:
820:
819:
817:Junior varsity
814:
804:
803:
802:
797:
788:
786:
785:Levels of play
782:
781:
779:
778:
773:
768:
763:
758:
753:
748:
743:
738:
733:
728:
727:
726:
721:
719:Burnside rules
716:
706:
701:
700:
699:
694:
693:
692:
687:
677:
666:
664:
660:
659:
651:
650:
643:
636:
628:
620:
619:
597:
590:
551:
523:
499:
469:
456:
434:
433:
431:
428:
427:
426:
421:
419:Touchdown pass
416:
411:
406:
401:
394:
391:
375:
374:
359:
356:
353:
350:
347:
340:
311:
308:
211:touchdown pass
178:
175:
136:Division I FCS
132:Division I FBS
122:(NFL) and the
87:, returning a
32:A player from
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1551:
1540:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1531:
1529:
1514:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1486:
1484:
1481:
1479:
1476:
1474:
1471:
1469:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1457:
1454:
1453:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1431:Coaching tree
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1418:
1416:
1412:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1385:
1381:
1377:
1374:
1373:
1371:
1367:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1337:
1335:
1331:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1304:Total offense
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1269:Passer rating
1267:
1265:
1264:Passing yards
1262:
1260:
1259:Rushing yards
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1246:
1244:
1240:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1198:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1180:
1178:
1176:
1172:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1155:Three-and-out
1153:
1151:
1148:
1147:
1145:
1143:
1139:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1109:
1107:
1105:
1101:
1093:
1090:
1089:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1076:
1073:
1072:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1027:
1025:
1023:Ball handling
1021:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
986:
984:
980:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
949:Coffin corner
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
930:
927:
926:
924:
920:
914:
911:
909:
906:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
883:
882:
879:
878:
876:
872:
869:
867:
863:
857:
856:International
854:
852:
849:
847:
844:
842:
839:
835:
832:
830:
827:
826:
825:
822:
818:
815:
813:
810:
809:
808:
805:
801:
798:
796:
793:
792:
791:Youth/midget
790:
789:
787:
783:
777:
774:
772:
769:
767:
764:
762:
759:
757:
754:
752:
749:
747:
744:
742:
739:
737:
734:
732:
729:
725:
722:
720:
717:
715:
712:
711:
710:
707:
705:
702:
698:
695:
691:
688:
686:
683:
682:
681:
678:
676:
673:
672:
671:
668:
667:
665:
661:
656:
649:
644:
642:
637:
635:
630:
629:
626:
615:
611:
607:
601:
593:
591:0-87413-455-2
587:
582:
581:
572:
570:
568:
566:
564:
562:
560:
558:
556:
540:
533:
527:
516:
509:
503:
487:
483:
479:
473:
466:
460:
452:
451:
446:
439:
435:
425:
422:
420:
417:
415:
412:
410:
407:
405:
402:
400:
397:
396:
390:
388:
384:
380:
372:
368:
364:
360:
357:
354:
351:
348:
345:
341:
338:
337:
336:
333:
328:
327:perpendicular
307:
305:
301:
297:
293:
288:
286:
281:
279:
275:
271:
262:
258:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
235:Special teams
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
195:
192:
188:
184:
174:
172:
168:
164:
160:
155:
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
117:
112:
110:
106:
102:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:
39:
35:
30:
24:
19:
1508:Trading card
1400:Penalty flag
1360:Film session
1299:Return yards
1233:Garbage time
1228:Untimed play
1117:Interception
1035:Forward pass
988:
944:Neutral zone
846:Professional
614:the original
609:
600:
579:
542:. Retrieved
538:
526:
515:the original
502:
492:November 23,
490:. Retrieved
486:the original
481:
472:
459:
448:
438:
376:
370:
313:
303:
299:
289:
282:
267:
231:interception
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
196:
180:
156:
148:Division III
113:
72:
68:
66:
18:
1513:Twelfth man
1446:Football IQ
1436:Concussions
1369:Officiating
1122:Muffed punt
1092:Onside kick
807:High school
270:extra point
243:punt return
229:or made an
177:Description
167:extra point
140:Division II
49:Vince Young
1528:Categories
1451:Formations
1390:Chain crew
1345:Two-a-days
1254:Completion
1242:Statistics
1175:Play clock
1150:First down
1004:Field goal
886:Hash marks
881:Yard lines
795:Pop Warner
771:Wheelchair
766:Powderpuff
430:References
424:Conversion
332:fair catch
294:scored in
285:field goal
247:field goal
1503:Tuck rule
1483:Positions
1463:Letterman
1441:Equipment
1279:Reception
1165:Dead ball
1104:Turnovers
1082:Drop kick
1075:Touchback
989:Touchdown
939:Dead zone
901:Sidelines
896:Goal line
544:April 29,
367:touchback
300:touchdown
290:Unlike a
278:kicks off
173:attempt.
69:touchdown
61:goal post
1493:Strategy
1473:Overtime
1426:Blocking
1384:Canadian
1380:American
1376:Official
1333:Practice
1060:Hand-off
934:Red zone
929:End zone
891:End line
841:Semi-pro
724:Glossary
709:Canadian
675:Glossary
670:American
657:concepts
393:See also
363:end zone
344:safeties
187:end zone
183:football
116:official
105:end zone
101:football
97:turnover
57:end zone
1414:Related
1395:Penalty
1183:Timeout
1087:Kickoff
1040:Lateral
982:Scoring
851:Women's
824:College
812:Varsity
680:History
610:NFL.com
539:NFL.com
482:Nfl.com
450:NFL.com
320:⁄
310:History
239:kickoff
203:passing
199:running
89:kickoff
85:passing
81:running
51:of the
1211:1 min.
1206:2 min.
1201:3 min.
1112:Fumble
1009:Safety
969:Pocket
922:Spaces
834:Sprint
690:Modern
588:
227:fumble
146:, and
1478:Plays
1249:Carry
1193:Spike
1188:Kneel
1142:Downs
874:Lines
866:Field
756:Touch
746:6-man
741:7-man
736:8-man
731:9-man
704:Arena
697:Rules
685:Early
663:Codes
535:(PDF)
518:(PDF)
511:(PDF)
296:rugby
272:or a
191:plane
1456:List
1421:Ball
1294:Sack
1070:Punt
1065:Rush
1030:Snap
964:Hole
954:Flat
829:Club
751:Flag
586:ISBN
546:2020
494:2012
251:punt
161:and
109:down
93:punt
959:Gap
800:AYF
383:CFL
371:try
304:was
292:try
255:NFL
241:or
221:or
213:or
201:or
169:or
157:In
91:or
1530::
1382:,
608:.
554:^
537:.
480:.
447:.
154:.
111:.
83:,
73:TD
67:A
1386:)
1378:(
647:e
640:t
633:v
594:.
548:.
496:.
463:"
453:.
322:4
318:1
63:.
25:.
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