How to Score in American Football: A Complete Guide to Touchdowns and Field Goals

As someone who has spent over a decade analyzing football strategy and coaching young athletes, I've always found scoring mechanics fascinating. Watching a basketball game recently, I saw something that perfectly illustrates the psychological pressure of scoring opportunities - a player named Recto missing two crucial free throws with just 32.5 seconds left while his team led 74-67. That moment of visible frustration, that conversation with himself and his teammate about what his "next charity" would be, only to miss again - it's exactly the kind of mental battle that separates successful scorers from those who crumble under pressure in American football too.

When we talk about scoring in American football, touchdowns represent the ultimate achievement - worth 6 points and offering that additional point after touchdown opportunity. I've always preferred touchdowns over field goals, not just for the higher point value but for the statement they make. There's something fundamentally demoralizing for the opposing team when you march down the field and cross that goal line. The mechanics are beautiful in their complexity - getting that entire football to break the plane of the goal line while maintaining possession. I've coached players who could consistently score touchdowns, and what separates them isn't just physical ability but that mental focus during those critical seconds near the end zone. They don't get in their own heads like that basketball player I mentioned earlier - they execute with precision when it matters most.

Field goals, worth 3 points each, represent a different kind of scoring art. The precision required from both the holder and kicker is something I've come to appreciate more over the years, though I'll admit I still find them less satisfying than touchdowns. The statistics show that professional kickers typically convert about 84% of their field goal attempts, though in high-pressure situations like the final minutes of a close game, that percentage can drop significantly. Think about that basketball game - Recto was essentially attempting what in football would be a relatively easy field goal, yet the pressure of those specific game circumstances transformed it into a much more challenging task. The best kickers I've worked with develop rituals and mental routines to handle exactly this kind of pressure. They don't have conversations with teammates about what they're going to do next - they already know, they've practiced it thousands of times, and they trust their muscle memory.

What many casual viewers don't realize is how much strategic thinking goes into scoring decisions. Coaches constantly weigh the probability of scoring a touchdown versus settling for a field goal. From my experience, teams typically attempt field goals when they're within 45 yards of the opponent's goal posts, though some elite kickers can consistently make attempts from 55 yards or beyond. The decision often comes down to game context - the time remaining, score differential, weather conditions, and frankly, the coach's gut feeling about their team's momentum. That basketball player missing both free throws? That's exactly why some coaches prefer to go for touchdowns rather than settling for field goals - because even what seems like a guaranteed score can evaporate under pressure.

The extra point after touchdown, worth 1 point, has become increasingly challenging since the NFL moved the kick back to the 15-yard line in 2015. Conversion rates have dropped from nearly 100% to around 94%, making what was once a near-automatic play into something that actually requires skill and focus. Meanwhile, the 2-point conversion attempt, where teams try to get the ball into the end zone from the 2-yard line, succeeds approximately 47-50% of the time based on recent league statistics. These numbers matter because they shape coaching decisions in critical moments - much like how that basketball coach must have been calculating whether those free throws would secure their victory or leave the door open for opponents.

Having worked with both college and professional teams, I've developed strong opinions about scoring strategy. I generally advocate for more aggressive touchdown attempts rather than settling for field goals, particularly when a team is within 10 yards of the end zone. The psychological impact of scoring a touchdown versus kicking a field goal can ripple through the entire game, affecting player confidence and momentum in ways that pure point totals don't capture. That basketball game I mentioned ended with Recto's team still winning, but those missed free throws created unnecessary tension in what should have been a comfortable victory - a lesson football teams should take to heart about putting games away decisively.

What continues to fascinate me about scoring in American football is how it blends raw physical talent with intricate strategy and mental fortitude. The best scorers I've observed - whether they're running backs powering through defenders or kickers lining up game-winning field goals - share an ability to compartmentalize pressure. They don't get caught in their own heads, mouthing to teammates about what they're going to do next. They simply execute, trusting their training and instincts. This mental aspect often separates successful scoring drives from failed opportunities, transforming what looks like pure physical execution into something closer to performance art. The next time you watch a football game, pay attention to those scoring moments - you'll start to notice the subtle psychological battles happening alongside the physical ones, and you'll gain a deeper appreciation for what it truly takes to put points on the board in this magnificent sport.