ENRUES
Glossary

Field goal

Terms

What it is

A field goal is a kick through the uprights during a normal play. It is worth three points and is usually tried on fourth down when the team is in kicking range but too far from a touchdown.

In a game

The kicker, holder and snapper take the same positions as on an extra point, but the kick is longer and the defense tries to block it.

More detail

The length of a field goal is the distance from the line of scrimmage to the goal line plus about 17 yards, for the end zone and the distance the holder stands behind the line. After a miss, the other team takes the ball at the spot of the kick, or at its own 20-yard line if that is farther.

Animated play

101020203030404050504040303020201010END ZONEEND ZONEXXXX42 yards25-yard lineGood! +3 pointsThe offense stops on the 25-yard line.Snap and hold, then the kicker steps in.The kick travels 25 + 17 = 42 yards.Over the crossbar and between the uprights: three points.

Blue circles are the team with the ball. X marks the other team. The yellow oval is the ball.

  1. The offense has moved the ball close enough for a kick. Here it is the 25-yard line.
  2. The long snapper snaps, the holder catches and sets the ball down, and the kicker kicks it.
  3. The distance of a field goal is the yard line plus 17: ten yards for the end zone and seven yards for the snap and the hold. So from the 25-yard line it is a 42-yard kick.
  4. If the ball goes over the crossbar and between the uprights, it is three points.