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The extra point reduces the chance of tie games. The two point conversion was added for the same reason. The extra point was once the only purpose of scoring a touchdown, as the touchdown itself granted no points. That's because the emphasis in the early game was on scoring by means of kicking the ball, rather than running it past the goal line. The origin of the extra point lies in the game of Rugby. In that sport, when a player carries the ball into the end zone, he has to press the ball down to the ground -- which, incidentally, is where the term "touchdown" comes from. His team then has to kick the "extra point" from a spot directly out on the field from where the ball was touched down. In the early days of rugby, the touchdown didn't count for any points -- it merely gave the attacking team the opportunity to take a kick at the goalposts. That's why rugby's version of a touchdown is called a "try" -- it originally meant "try for goal."

American football borrowed this concept from rugby. Just as in rugby, the touchdown originally conferred no points; it only granted the right to kick a goal. The emphasis on scoring by kicking continued to be emphasized for several years -- in 1883, touchdowns were worth 4 points and the extra point worth 2, but the field goal still counted for 5 points. It wasn't until 1904 that the touchdown by itself conferred more points than kicking a field goal. By that time, the "extra point" was an established part of the game, and so it remained.

So basically, the extra point is a relic of a game that once emphasized kicking.

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Q: What is the reason for the extra point after a touchdown is scored in football?
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Related questions

What is a extra point?

An extra point is a football term. It is the field goal made after a team has scored a touchdown.


Can you score a field goal without a touchdown in the NFL?

Scoring a field goal in American football cannot be done in conjunction with a touchdown. They are two independent ways of scoring. You may have meant can you score an "extra point" without a touchdown. In American football, extra points (1 or 2 depending on type of play), can only happen in conjunction with a touchdown. In Canadian football, they may be scored under circumstances not related to a touchdown.


What is the difference between a touchdown and an extra point in football?

touchdown = 6 points extra point is 1 point but comes after a touchdown


In football what is an extra point worth?

An extra point is scored by kicking the ball through the uprights after scoring a touchdown. It is worth one point. PaymonM


When a defensive touchdown is scored does the offense get credit for the extra point or does the defence get credited with the whole 7 points?

The defense gets credited with six points because they scored the touchdown and they didn't kick the extra point.


What number cant be scored in nfl?

You cannot score a single point in football. Yes, you can get one point from the extra point after a touchdown, but that requires you to score six points in the first place.


How do you get 1 in football?

An extra point will get you one point. (the kick after a touchdown).


Do you kick the extra point if you score a touchdown at the end of the game?

The PAT (point after touchdown) is required after a team scores in regulation play. The NFL uses points scored as a tie-breaker so the extra point has to be attempted. This is not the case in Sudden Death Overtime. If the game has gone into OT, and each team has had a chance to score, the PAT is not kicked.


What are the points in football?

2 for a saftey, 3 for a field goal, 6 for a touchdown, 1 for the extra point


How many points are earned in college football when the defense blocks an extra point and returns it for a touchdown?

2


Penatly for excessive celebration after touchdown in college football?

fifteen yards either on the extra point of kickoff


How many yards is football placed on fg attempt?

after a touchdown is scored, the ball is placed on the two yard line and the team attempts an extra point field goal. on extra point and field goal trys, the ball is hiked back seven yards to the holder and the kicker kicks it.