The red zone in football is one of the most important areas in the field. Teams who convert in the red zone are more likely to win the football game.
The red zone is considered 20 yards before the end zone. This area of the field is where teams are likely to score points. It’s called the red zone, a danger zone for the defense, who must defend against the offense.
In this article, we will talk about the red zone and why it’s so important in football.
- 7 positional courses
- Coach any position on the field
- Instantly improve your current positional group
- Exclusive access to our staff to help answer your questions
- Instantly improve your football IQ
- Grow your football knowledge & outsmart your friends and colleagues
- Learn schemes, plays, formations & more
- Complete breakdown of rules, offensive and defensive concepts
- Best course for beginners to learn football
- Intro courses that provide you the skillset to talk football like a pro
- Engage with your spouse during and after the game
- No more boring Sundays, everyone can enjoy football!
The Red Zone In Football
Areas of the field are divided up so coaches, players, and even announcers can accurately detail where the football is located on the field.
For example, announcers may say the Patriots are on the opponent’s 25-yard line. This tells you that the ball is over mid-field, and the Patriots are close enough to kick a field goal at least.
If the announcer just said the Patriots are at the “25”, listeners wouldn’t be able to tell if it’s the opponents or the Patriots’ 25-yard line.
The same goes for the red zone. There is only one red zone on the field, and it’s in the opponent’s territory.
Scoring Points In The Red Zone
When the offense is in the red zone, it means they’re in a good position to score points. Starting drives inside the opponent’s 20-yard line means that the team is close enough to kick a field goal and possibly score a touchdown.
As offenses get closer to the end zone, it gets harder and hard to score. Teams who run spread offenses rely on horizontal and vertical spacing to get the ball to their athletes in space.
The closer a team gets to the end zone, the harder it is to score because of the limited vertical space. Teams only have less than 30 yards of vertical space to work with, which is why we often see teams struggle in the red zone.
Successful teams convert a high percentage of the time in the end zone and don’t miss opportunities to score points.
Defending Teams In The Red Zone
If the defense allows teams to enter the red zone (their own 20-yard line), it typically means they will give up some points.
The worst-case scenario is the offense scores a touchdown and converts the extra point.
The best-case scenario is a takeaway. In the NFL and other professional leagues, teams will focus on turnovers and taking the ball away from the offense when they’re in the red zone. NFL kickers are terrific and are often automatic within 20 yards.
Youth and high school leagues are less likely to make field goals from a deep distance. More often than not, these teams will elect to go for it on fourth down.
When defending teams inside the red zone, both coaches and players must be prepared to play all 4 downs. This is often the difference between winning and losing football games.
If you want to learn more about how teams compete both inside and outside of the red zone, be sure to check out our football handbook. It includes everything you need to know about football, including more field dimensions.
Be The Smartest Person In The Room
The ultimate football guide will help you transform your knowledge from a casual fan to a football guru!
Why Is It Called The Red Zone In Football?
The red zone, or the red area as it’s called, is named for its relation to danger. The red zone for the defense means that the offense is close to scoring points. This area inside the 20-yard line is where the offense converts the highest-scoring touchdowns or field goals.
For the offense, it’s important to score in these parts of the field, as they often decide the winners and losers of the game. Teams that can convert in the red zone area often win football games.
The defenses that can’t stop teams inside the red zone will tend to lose more than win.
The red zone is one of the most important areas in the field, especially when starting 1st and 10 inside the red zone.
The Importance Of The Red Zone
As an offense, you should always expect to score in the red zone. Field goals are not the goal of getting into the red zone; touchdowns are.
If you’re a coach, emphasize the importance of getting to the red zone and scoring in the red zone.
The difference between kicking a field goal and scoring (with the extra point) is 4 points. Those 4 points are crucial as the game progresses. If you don’t have a strong defense, scoring as many points as possible will help them play more relaxed.
Teams who don’t score any points in the red zone consistently are often ones that rank toward the bottom of the standings. The red zone is one most important parts of the field.
Stay Engaged With The Ones You Love!
Football is complicated, but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve created a beginner’s guide to help you stay connected to every play during the big game.
Show off to your spouse and loved ones with how much football you’ll learn with this guide!
Keep Learning
The red zone is the area inside the 20-yard line on the opponent’s side of the field. This area is called the red area because it’s the area where points are often scored. Field goals and touchdowns are scored when the offense is in this area.
Teams that convert within the red zone are often teams that win football games consistently.
It’s the defense’s job to hold the offense to a field goal or to try to get a turnover when inside of the red zone.
The red zone also called the red area, is an important part of the field that should be practiced daily.
Let’s keep learning! Our learning center is packed with information regarding techniques, schemes, and more!
If you’re looking for more in-depth breakdowns & coaching resources, visit our coaching resource page here.