Touchdowns Prove to Have Value

March 30, 1889 - At the football rules convention, early rules makers voted for a new rule: "A touchdown is made when the ball is carried, kicked or passed across the goal-line and is held either in touch or in goal. We get this info from Parke H. Davis's fine book "Football the Intercollegiate Game," published in 1911.

The point value of a touchdown has evolved significantly since its inception. In 1881, a successful kick after a touchdown became a tiebreaker over a field goal. By 1882, four touchdowns were valued higher than a field goal, and two safeties equaled a touchdown. Points were formally introduced in 1883, with a touchdown worth four points and the kick after worth two. In 1889, the requirement to ground the ball for a touchdown was removed, making possession beyond the goal line sufficient. The touchdown value increased to five points in 1897, with the subsequent kick adding an "extra point." In 1900, the definition expanded to include the ball becoming dead on or above the goal line.

Finally, in 1912, the touchdown was set at its current value of six points, coinciding with the addition of the end zone. Notably, Canadian football retained the five-point touchdown value until 1956 and continued to use the term "try" for the score for a more extended period.