What is a safety in football?
Question: What is a safety in football?
Answer:
A safety in football is a scoring play that occurs when the offensive team is tackled, goes out of bounds, or commits a foul in their own end zone. This relatively rare scoring event results in two points for the defensive team and possession of the ball. Safeties can happen in various ways, such as when a quarterback is sacked in the end zone, a running back is tackled behind their own goal line, or when an offensive player commits a penalty in their own end zone.
The aftermath of a safety is unique in football. After the two points are awarded, the team that scored the safety receives possession of the ball via a free kick from the team that gave up the safety.
This free kick is typically a punt from the 20-yard line, although it can also be a placekick or drop kick. This turnover of possession, coupled with the point swing, makes safeties a potentially game-changing play.
While safeties are not as common as touchdowns or field goals, they can have a significant impact on the game’s momentum and outcome. Teams may intentionally take a safety in certain strategic situations, such as when punting from deep in their own territory late in the game.
This calculated risk sacrifices two points but allows the team to kick the ball away from a more advantageous position, potentially preventing the opposing team from scoring a touchdown.
