Rule 11 — Scoring
Section 1 — Value of Scores
Article 1 — Winning Team
The team that scores the greater number of points during the entire game is the winner.
Article 2 — Types of Scoring Plays
Points are scored as follows:
- (a) Touchdown: 6 points
- (b) Field goal: 3 points
- (c) Safety: 2 points
- (d) Try after touchdown: 1 point (field goal or safety) or 2 points (touchdown)
Section 2 — Touchdown
Article 1 — Touchdown Plays
A touchdown is scored, and the ball becomes dead when:
- (a) The ball is on, above, or behind the plane of the opponent's goal line and is in possession of a runner who has advanced from the field of play into the end zone.
- (b) A ball in possession of an airborne runner is on, above, or behind the plane of the goal line, and some part of the ball passed over or inside the pylon.
- (c) A ball in player possession touches the pylon, provided no part of the player's body (except hands or feet) struck the ground before the ball touched the pylon.
- (d) Any player who is legally inbounds secures possession of a loose ball that is on, above, or behind the opponent's goal line.
- (e) The Referee awards a touchdown to a team that has been denied one by a palpably unfair act.
Section 3 — Try
Article 1 — General Rules
After a touchdown, a Try is an opportunity for either team to score one or two additional points during one scrimmage down. The game clock will not run during the Try. The team that scored the touchdown shall put the ball in play:
- (a) anywhere on or between the inbound lines;
- (b) 15 yards from the defensive team's goal line for a Try kick; or
- (c) two yards from the defensive team's goal line for a Try by pass or run.
Article 2 — Results of a Try
During a Try:
- (a) If a kick results in a field goal, one point is awarded.
- (b) If the Try results in a touchdown by either team, two points are awarded.
- (c) If the Try results in what would ordinarily be a safety against either team, one point is awarded to the opponent.
- (d) If any play results in a touchback, the Try is unsuccessful.
- (e) The Try ends when either team scores or the ball is dead by rule.
Article 3 — Fouls Committed During Try
Comprehensive rules govern fouls during the Try including: fouls before the signal, fouls before the snap, fouls by Team A, fouls by Team B, and fouls by both teams with or without a change of possession.
Article 4 — Kickoff After Try
After a Try, the team on defense during the Try shall receive the succeeding free kick.
Section 4 — Field Goal
Article 1 — Successful Field Goal
A field goal is scored when:
- (a) The kick must be a place kick or drop kick made by the offense from on or behind the line of scrimmage or from the spot of a fair catch.
- (b) After the ball is kicked, it must not touch the ground or any player of the offensive team before it passes through the goal.
- (c) The entire ball must pass through the vertical plane of the goal, which is the area above the crossbar and between the uprights or, if above the uprights, between their outside edges.
Article 2 — Missed Field Goals
If there is a missed field goal attempt that crosses the line of scrimmage, and the ball has not been touched by the receivers beyond the line:
- (a) If the spot of the kick was inside the receivers' 20-yard line, it is the receivers' ball at the 20-yard line; or
- (b) If the spot of the kick was from the receivers' 20-yard line or beyond, it is the receivers' ball at the spot of the kick.
Article 3 — Fair Catch Kick
The rules for a field goal attempt from scrimmage apply to a field goal attempt following a fair catch (a fair catch kick).
Article 4 — No Tee
An artificial or manufactured tee shall not be permitted to assist in the execution of a field goal or Try kick attempt.
Article 5 — Foreign Articles
No article of any type may be placed on the field to assist a player in the execution of a field goal or Try kick attempt.
Article 6 — Ball Next in Play
After a field goal, the team scored upon will receive the succeeding free kick.
Section 5 — Safety
Article 1 — Safety
It is a safety:
- (a) when the offense commits a foul behind its own goal line and the defense elects to enforce the penalty at that spot; or
- (b) when an impetus by a team sends the ball behind its own goal line, and the ball is dead in the end zone in its possession, or the ball is out of bounds behind the goal line.
Exceptions: It is not a safety if a forward pass from behind the line is incomplete in the end zone; or if a defensive player intercepts a pass or catches a fumble/kick and his original momentum carries him into his end zone where the ball is declared dead in his possession.
Article 2 — Ball in Play After Safety
After a safety, the team scored upon must put the ball in play by a free kick (punt, drop kick, or place kick) from its 20-yard line.
Section 6 — Touchback
Article 1 — Definition
It is a touchback if the ball is dead on or behind the goal line a team is defending, provided that the impetus comes from an opponent, and that it is not a touchdown or an incomplete forward pass.
Article 2 — Touchback Situations
When a team provides the impetus that sends a loose ball behind its opponent's goal line, it is a touchback: (a) if the ball is dead in the opponent's possession in its end zone; (b) if the ball is out of bounds behind the goal line; (c) if a scrimmage kick has not been touched by a player of the receiving team beyond the line of scrimmage, and the ball touches the ground on or behind the receiver's goal line; (d) if any legal or illegal kick touches the receivers' goal posts or crossbar; (e) if kickers interfere with an opportunity to catch a kick behind the receivers' goal line; or (f) if a player of the kicking team illegally catches or recovers a scrimmage kick and touches the goal line.
Article 3 — Ball Next in Play
After a touchback, the team awarded the touchback shall next snap the ball at its 20-yard line (or 35-yard line as applicable for free kicks).