To obtain a first down in football, the offense must gain ten total yards toward the opposing end zone. If the offense does not obtain the ten yards needed for a first down on the first play, it becomes second down. The offense has four chances to convert back to a first down by obtaining 10 yards. If they fail to do so, possession of the ball is given to the opposing team.
Any yards gained on any of the downs cut into the ten yards needed for a first down. For example, if the offense gains six yards on the first down, they'll have three chances to get the four remaining yards they need to convert back to a first down. However, if they lose two yards on the next down, they would then be six yards away.
If the offense gains the 10 yards, it will once again be 1st and 10 from wherever the ball is spotted.
Table of Contents
- 1st and 10
- 1st and Long
- 1st and Goal
- Turnover on Downs
- Automatic First Down
1st and 10
1st and 10 in football refers to the down and yardage needed for a first down.In this case, it is first down and ten yards are needed to gain another first down. Though this is standard in every football game, various penalties will often move the line of scrimmage back or forwards from its default ten-yard position.
1st and Long
Teams won’t always be in a 1st and 10 situation. If the offense commits a penalty on first down, they may have to redo their first down from farther back down the field. Commonly, they can be forced to start from 1st and 15 or 1st and 20. This makes the drive difficult as there’s extra yardage required from the start. This situation may also occur when the offense loses yardage via a sack or a failed run.
1st and Goal
If the offense reaches first down within ten yards of the other team’s end zone, they will start on 1st and goal.Instead of having to gain ten yards in the four downs allotted, the offense must reach the end zone and will lose possession of the ball if they do not within four downs. Penalties in the previous play can also shift this number, so first and goal does not always mean the goal line is ten yards from the line of scrimmage.
Turnover on Downs
A turnover on downs occurs if a team fails to get a first down on fourth down.To avoid a turnover on downs, teams will thus punt or attempt a field goal. If scoring is not a likely option, the offense will do anything to have the opposing team start their new first down from a farther position downfield.
Automatic First Down
Most penalties against the defense call for an automatic first down. These penalties include:
- Holding (Defensive)
- Pass Interference
- Helmet to Helmet Collision
- Horse Collar Tackle
- Face Mask
- Roughing the Kicker
- Roughing the Passer
Additionally, if a penalty moves the football to or past the spot which the offense must reach for a first down, an automatic first down will be awarded.
Here are the penalties that do not guarantee a first down (and that may even push the offense further back):
- Offside
- Encroachment
- False Start
- Holding (Offensive)
- Personal Foul
- Delay of Game
- Neutral Zone Infraction
- Excess Time Out
- Running Into the Kicker
- Illegal Substitution
- More than eleven players on the field before or during the snap
- Illegal formation by the defense
- Ineligible Receiver Downfield
- Block in the Back
Even though these penalties do not warrant an automatic first down, they can still cause a new first down if the yardage awarded to the offense pushes them past the first down line.
