When a game is tied at the end of regulation, we play overtime to decide a winner. It's quick, exciting and a little different from what you see on TV.
Getting started
- The home team calls the coin toss. The winner chooses whether to go first on offense or defense.
- The referee picks which end of the field to use.
- There are no timeouts in overtime.
- All regular rules and penalties still apply, and interceptions can be returned for 2 points.
1st overtime: your choice, 1 or 2
Each team gets one play. The offense chooses:
- 1 point from the defense's 5-yard line, or
- 2 points from the defense's 10-yard line.
Both teams always get their chance, even if the first team scores or doesn't.
Example: Team A goes first and scores a 1-point try from the 5-yard line. Team B can:
- score a 1-point try to tie and send the game to a second round, or
- go for 2 from the 10-yard line to win.
If the second team fails to beat or match the first team, the first team wins.
2nd overtime: everyone goes for 2
If it's still tied, both teams must go for 2 from the 10-yard line. The team that lost the first toss now chooses offense or defense first, and the choice alternates every round after that.
3rd overtime: most yards wins
Still tied? Each team gets one play from its own 5-yard line, going out of the end zone. The team that gains the most yards wins and gets 1 point added to its final score.
The final score
The final score includes every point scored in regulation and overtime, plus the extra point for winning a 3rd-overtime round.
Questions about scoring? See the rules.