A two-point conversion is a tactic used in American and Canadian football to score not one but two points after a touchdown has been scored. Instead of kicking the ball through the goal posts to score one point, the two-point conversion involves throwing the ball to an offensive player in the end zone. This results in scoring eight points for the two-point conversion and touchdown, as opposed to scoring seven points for the touchdown and kick through the goal posts.

The two-point conversion is relatively new to national professional football in the US. Colleges have allowed the two-point conversion since the 1950s. However, the NFL did not begin using the two-point conversion until 1994.

There is often debate about when to use the two-point conversion, and when to let it alone. A two-point conversion is much more difficult to achieve than a one point kick. It is essentially like attempting to score a second touchdown.

Normally the conversion is used either in the early portions of the game, when a team is attempting to put up as many points as possible, or used at the end of the game. At the end of the game, the two-point conversion can mean the difference between winning a game, or tying the game and going into overtime.

For example a minute is left on the board and the offense has just scored a touchdown. The game is now tied at 14-13. The two-point conversion can win the game, but a single point will tie the game. Some teams don’t want the risk, since they will have an additional 15 minutes if the game is tied. On the other hand, a team may take the risk, and a successful two-point conversion ends the game with a score of 14-15.

Occasionally, when a team has a significant lead, they will run two-point conversion plays for the additional practice. If the team doesn’t really need the extra point, this can be a good opportunity for an extra offensive play, which will further secure a lead. Generally as a lead shrinks, players tend to avoid the two-point conversion as too risky.

If the defensive team intercepts the two-point conversion, and the interceptor is able to run the ball back to his or her own end zone, then the defensive team scores two points, not a touchdown. This is quite a challenge, to get 100 yards up the field. However, not only does the player score two points, but also the ball is then turned over to the scorer’s team in a regular kick off. So a two-point conversion that goes very wrong may ultimately end up going very well for the intercepting team.