The end zone is the portion of a gridiron football field where teams can score touchdowns. Each field contains two end zones, one at each end; an end zone lies between the goal line (the edge nearest the playing field) and the end line (the line along the back of the area), and its outer edges are bounded by the sidelines.
Markings and equipment
The limits of an end zone are outlined by painted white lines on the playing surface. Brightly colored padded pylons are typically placed at the corners to help players and officials see the intersection of the goal line and sidelines. Other equipment associated with the scoring area—such as goalposts—may be positioned differently depending on the competition rules.
Dimensions
- In American football the end zone is 10 yards deep (about 9.14 metres).
- In Canadian football the end zone is commonly 20 yards deep (about 18.29 metres), which is 10 yards deeper than the American standard.
Terminology
Some Canadian rulebooks use the terms goal area and dead line in place of end zone and end line. However, the words "end zone" and "end line" are also widely used in everyday Canadian English (Canadian English).
How scoring differs from other goal sports
In gridiron football a touchdown is awarded when any part of the ball crosses the vertical plane of the outer edge of the goal line; the ball does not have to leave the players' hands or touch the ground beyond the end line. By contrast, sports such as association football and ice hockey require the entire ball or puck to pass completely over the goal line or between the posts before a score is counted.