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Last updated: Nov 14, 2022
Table of Contents
- What is a Goal Post in Football?
- Goal Posts and Scoring
What is a Goal Post in Football?
The goal post in football is a large yellow post located at the back of each end zone on the end line.Goal posts have a horizontal bar called the crossbar and two vertical bars called the uprights. In NCAA and NFL football, the crossbar is 18.5 feet wide and the uprights are 35 feet tall. The bottom post is ten feet tall. The post is also offset from the field, with the base sitting further back than the crossbar and uprights.
Goal Posts and Scoring
The goal post is used by teams to score points on field goals and extra points. During a normal down, teams can decide to kick a field goal instead of running or throwing the ball. The kicker will come into the game and try to kick the ball through the uprights. If the ball goes through the uprights without hitting the ground or another player first, that team gets three points. These kicks can be difficult as the kicker may be far away from the post, making precision a lot harder.
After a team has scored a touchdown, they get the opportunity for an extra point. Again, the kicker comes onto the field and tries to send the ball through the uprights. If they succeed, their team gets one extra point.
