American Football Basics: Downs, Scoring & Positions
The four-down system, every way to score, and how a team is built — the foundations of the NFL, explained.
American football can look chaotic, but it’s built on one simple engine: keep gaining ground, four plays at a time. Understand that and the rest falls into place.
The four-down system
The offense has four downs (attempts) to advance the ball ten yards. Gain ten, and you get a fresh set of four downs — a “first down.” Fail, and the ball turns over to the other team. Because of this, teams usually punt the ball away on fourth down if they’re too far from scoring, trading field position rather than risking a turnover.
How you score
- Touchdown — 6 points. Get the ball into the opponent’s end zone. Followed by a bonus try: a kicked extra point (1) or a riskier two-point conversion (2).
- Field goal — 3 points. A kick through the uprights, usually on fourth down when a touchdown looks unlikely.
- Safety — 2 points. The defense tackles the ball-carrier in his own end zone — rare but momentum-shifting.
Three teams in one
Every club really fields three units: the offense (which tries to score), the defense (which tries to stop the other offense), and special teams (the kicking and punting units). Players are specialists — the quarterback who leads the offense never plays defense. That specialization is why NFL rosters are so deep.
Quick answers
How does the four-down system work?
The offence has four downs to advance the ball ten yards. Gain ten and it earns a fresh set of four — a first down. Fail, and the ball turns over.
How many points is a touchdown worth?
Six, followed by a bonus try: a kicked extra point or a two-point conversion. A field goal is three points and a safety is two.
What are special teams?
The kicking and punting units. Every club really fields three groups — offence, defence and special teams — rather than one squad that plays throughout.