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Well, in football, the offense has "four downs" or plays to reach past ten yards. Once the team achieves this the down count restarts. If the team fails to reach ten yards, then the ball is turned over to the other team at that spot.
Conversely, if the team feels that the odds of reaching past ten yards on the fourth play are unlikely, they're allowed to "punt" the ball which consists of kicking it to the other team in hopes of gaining better field position.
They can also attempt a "field goal" on fourth down by trying to kick the ball threw the goalpost, if they are close enough for their kicker.
What an offense does on fourth down is very important and sometimes late in games they're forced to "go for it" or attempt a normal offensive play on fourth down, since their chances or having the ball again after punting would be limited or if a touchdown must be immediately scored to win.
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Devin
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CoachA team has 4 plays, called downs, to advance the football 10 yards. If they succeed, they get another first down, meaning a new set of 4 downs. Fourth down is a team's fourth and final chance to achieve a first down. If the team fails, the opposing team gets the football at the spot where the play ends. Usually on fourth down a team will kick the ball. They can "punt," that is drop kick the ball to the other team. This surrenders possession of the football but usually moves the ball about 40 yards. Or the team can attempt to kick the ball through the uprights for a field goal. A successful field goal is worth three points, but missing the field goal gives the other team the ball from the spot where the ball was kicked. Field goals are usually attempted if the team is within 35 yards of the other team's end zone.
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