American Football Overtime Rules

American football is a sport that is full of excitement and suspense. One of the most exciting parts of the game is overtime. Overtime is a period of extra play that is used to determine the winner of a game that is tied at the end of regulation. There are a few different overtime rules that can be used, depending on the league and the level of play.

Basic Overtime Rules

The basic overtime rules are as follows:

• Each team gets one possession of the ball.
• Each team has 10 plays to score a touchdown.
• If a team scores a touchdown, they win the game.
• If the game is still tied after both teams have had a possession, the game goes to sudden death.

Sudden Death Overtime Rules

Sudden death overtime is a period of extra play that is used to determine the winner of a game that is tied after the basic overtime rules. The rules of sudden death overtime are as follows:

• Each team gets one possession of the ball.
• The team that scores first wins the game.
• If the game is still tied after both teams have had a possession, the game goes to a second sudden death period.

Variations of Overtime Rules

There are a few different variations of overtime rules that can be used. Some of the most common variations include:

• 10-minute overtime: In this variation, each team gets 10 minutes to score a touchdown. If the game is still tied after 10 minutes, the game goes to sudden death.
• 15-minute overtime: In this variation, each team gets 15 minutes to score a touchdown. If the game is still tied after 15 minutes, the game goes to sudden death.
• 20-minute overtime: In this variation, each team gets 20 minutes to score a touchdown. If the game is still tied after 20 minutes, the game goes to sudden death.

Conclusion

Overtime is a exciting and suspenseful part of American football. The rules of overtime can vary depending on the league and the level of play. However, the basic rules of overtime are the same: each team gets one possession of the ball and the team that scores first wins the game.