Rules Regarding the End Zone

For those not versed in football terminology, the end zone refers to the area on the field to which a team is trying to get in order to score. There are two end zones, one on either side of the field. They are easy to spot on TV or from the stands because they are usually painted with the name and colors of the home team.

  1. End Zone Size and Boundaries

    • Each end zone covers the entire width of the field and spans 10 yards from front to back. The beginning of the end zone is called the goal line (or plane) and is marked with a clear white line. Each corner of the end zone is marked with a bright neon pylon. The portion of the field beyond the side and back boundaries of the end zone is considered out of play.

    Scoring Touchdowns

    • An example of field goal posts found behind the end zone.

      A team scores six points (called a “touchdown”) anytime a player crosses the goal line with the ball. In fact, official NFL rules state that only a portion of the ball has to cross the goal line in order for six points to be scored (this is known as “breaking the plane”). Players can run the ball over the goal line themselves, or they can catch a pass in the end zone even if the ball was thrown from outside the goal line. After a touchdown is scored, a team tries for an extra point. A kicker tries to kick the ball through a pair of upright posts behind the end zone.

    Feet in Bounds

    • Just because a player is past the goal line does not mean he has automatically scored. In the NFL--America’s biggest professional football league--a player has to have two feet inside the end zone’s outer boundaries when he comes into possession of the ball in order to score. This becomes most important if a player is trying to catch a pass in the end zone. He must come down with two feet in bounds in order to score a touchdown. In American college football, however, rules state that a player catching a pass in the end zone need only have one foot in bounds in order to score.

    Defensive Scores

    • Offensive players are not the only players who can score. If a quarterback is sacked (that is, tackled) in his own end zone, the defensive team gets two points. This is called a “safety." Likewise, if the offensive team drops--or fumbles--the ball and the ball rolls out of the back of the end zone, it also counts as two points for the defensive team. However, if the offensive team fumbles the ball and the defensive team recovers it in their end zone, the defensive team gets a touchdown. Finally, a defensive player can catch a pass intended for an offensive player--called an “interception." The defensive player can then run the other way down the field and score in his end zone for a touchdown.