A Beginner's Guide to Understanding Football Scoring and Scoreboards

Introduction

Football is a game that is widely celebrated and loved by millions of people across the United States. While the sport's excitement and action-packed nature have garnered fans from all walks of life, the scoring system can be a bit overwhelming for beginners. In this article, we will break down the fundamentals of football scoring and delve into the components of a scoreboard to help those new to the game develop a better understanding of what's happening on the field.

Section 1: Football Scoring Basics

In football, the ultimate goal is to score more points than the opposing team by the end of the game. Achieving this requires a solid understanding of the various methods of scoring points and knowing when to strategically utilize each one. In this section, we will explore the different ways to score points in football, from the highly sought-after touchdown to the rare safety, and provide a detailed explanation of each method's point value.

1.1 Touchdown (TD) - 6 points

A touchdown is the primary method of scoring in football. It occurs when a player carries the ball across the opposing team's goal line or catches a pass in the end zone. A touchdown is worth 6 points.

1.2 Extra Point (PAT) - 1 point

Following a touchdown, the scoring team has the opportunity to attempt an extra point, also known as a point after touchdown (PAT). The kicker of the scoring team tries to kick the ball through the uprights of the goalpost from the 2-yard line. If successful, the team is awarded 1 additional point.

1.3 Two-point Conversion - 2 points

Instead of attempting a PAT, the scoring team may choose to go for a two-point conversion. This involves running a play from the opponent's 2-yard line with the objective of crossing the goal line or catching a pass in the end zone. If successful, the team is awarded 2 additional points.

1.4 Field Goal (FG) - 3 points

A field goal is another way to score in football. The team's kicker attempts to kick the ball through the goalpost's uprights from a specific yard line, typically following an unsuccessful drive towards the end zone. A successful field goal is worth 3 points.

1.5 Safety - 2 points

A safety is a rare scoring play that occurs when the defensive team tackles the offensive player with the ball in their own end zone or forces the offensive team to commit a penalty in their end zone. A safety awards the defensive team 2 points.

Section 2: Understanding the Scoreboard

Team Names

The scoreboard displays the names or abbreviations of the two teams playing. The home team is typically listed on top or to the left, while the visiting team is on the bottom or to the right. More advanced scoreboards will allow the actual names to be shown, otherwise the scoreboard just says "HOME" and "AWAY".

Scores

Each team's current score is prominently displayed next to their name or abbreviation. The scores are updated in real-time as points are scored.

Quarter and Time Remaining

Football games consist of four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes in professional and college football. The scoreboard shows which quarter the game is in, as well as the time remaining in that quarter.

Down and Distance

Football is a game of downs, with each team having four attempts (downs) to advance 10 yards. The scoreboard displays the current down (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th) and the distance (number of yards) the offensive team needs to cover to earn a new set of downs. On scoreboards the distance is often labelled as "TO GO".

The "TO GO" number tells you how many more yards are required for the offensive team to reach that 10-yard goal and earn a first down, which then resets the four-down count.

For example, if it's the offensive team's 1st down and the "To go" shows 8, it means they need to advance the ball 8 more yards to achieve a first down. If the team is successful in reaching the required yardage, they will be awarded a new set of four downs, and the "To go" number will reset back to 10 (or fewer yards, if they are closer to the opponent's goal line).

Ball on

"Ball on" is a term used on scoreboards to indicate the yard line where the ball is currently placed on the field. It shows the position of the ball in relation to the two end zones, providing spectators with a better understanding of the field position and the offensive team's progress. The number displayed for "Ball on" represents the yard line, with each end zone beginning at the 1-yard line and the midfield being the 50-yard line. For example, if the "Ball on" indicates 25, it means the ball is on the 25-yard line of the field.

Possession Indicator

The possession indicator on a scoreboard is a visual cue that shows which team currently has possession of the ball. Possession, in football, refers to the team that is on offense and attempting to advance the ball down the field to score points. The possession indicator is typically displayed as a small illuminated symbol or light next to the team's name or abbreviation on the scoreboard.

The possession indicator helps spectators quickly determine which team is in control of the ball at any given moment during the game. This is particularly helpful for those who may have just started watching the game or momentarily lost track of which team has possession.

Timeouts Remaining

Each team is allowed three timeouts per half, and the scoreboard keeps track of the number of timeouts remaining for each team. Some scoreboards will show this, the one above does not.

Using scoreboard software

By the way: the easiest way of creating your own scoreboard is to use software combined with existing hardware such as a large TV or a projector. This is a great option for small leagues and teams that don't have the budget to purchase an expensive dedicated scoreboard.

We will shortly be releasing our own football scoreboard software, so please subscribe to our newsletter to know when it becomes available!