touchdowns

Touchdown is a scoring play most commonly associated with gridiron football, including American and Canadian football. It is scored when the ball is possessed and the ball crosses into the opponent’s end zone, or when a player gains possession in the end zone as the play ends there. A touchdown is worth six points and is typically followed by an opportunity to add extra points through a kick for one point or a two‑point conversion. In modern rugby union and rugby league, the scoring act that most closely resembles a touchdown is called a try rather than a touchdown.

In gridiron football, touchdowns can be achieved by running the ball into the end zone, catching a forward pass in the end zone, or recovering a loose ball in the end zone after a turnover. Defenses can also score a touchdown by returning an interception or a fumble into the opponent’s end zone. After scoring, teams usually attempt an extra point and then receive a kickoff to begin the ensuing drive.

In rugby codes, the corresponding score is a try. In rugby union, a try is worth five points (with a subsequent conversion worth two points); in rugby league, a try is worth four points (with a conversion worth two). The terminology differs by sport, but the underlying idea is similarly to advance the ball into a defined scoring area and gain a subsequent opportunity to add extra points.

History and context: The concept of advancing the ball into the end zone has long been central to gridiron play, and the current six‑point value has been established in most leagues since the early 20th century as the primary means of scoring a touchdown.