Extra point

In American football, the extra point or PAT, is the act of lining up to attempt a one-point field goal from the opponent's 2 yard line, immediately following a touchdown. If the kick goes through the uprights, the team is awarded 1 point.

History
The extra point is among the oldest parts of the game of gridiron football and dates to its soccer roots. In its earliest days, scoring a touchdown was not the primary objective. Scoring a field goal was worth 5 points, scoring a touchdown was worth 1 point, and the extra point would be worth 4. By the start of the 20th century, touchdowns had become more important. By this time, the point value for the P.A.T. kick had reduced to its current value, one-point The touchdown was now worth five. In 1912, the touchdown was increased to six.

Description
If two points are needed or desired, a two-point conversion try may be attempted by running or passing from scrimmage instead of the extra point kick. A successful two-point conversion is worth 2 points (hence the name).

In the National Football League, the scrimmage for point after touchdown takes place from the two-yard line. In American high school and college football, it is from the three-yard line. In Canadian football it is from the five-yard line. The game clock does not run during an extra-point attempt, except for some rare circumstances at the high-school level.

In the NFL, the play is over once either the attempt fails or the defense takes possession. In many other levels of football, including the Canadian Football League and college football, the play continues until the ball is otherwise dead. This allows the defense to recover the ball to return it to the opponent's end zone for two points.

In the NFL, the extra point attempt is required after a touchdown during regulation, because points are used for some tiebreakers in the standings. Rarely, this can result in such an attempt having to be made at the end of the game when it cannot change the outcome of the game. If the game is in sudden death overtime, there is no extra point.

Other Names

 * Convert
 * Conversion
 * Try
 * Point After Touchdown
 * Point-after Try
 * PAT