Down (American and Canadian Football) - Three-and-out

Three-and-out

Further information: 1905 Washburn vs. Fairmount football game

Three and out is a situation in American football in which a team, after starting an offensive possession, executes three plays and fails to get a first down, thereby in most cases forcing them to punt or if close enough, attempt a field goal. This is comparable to "three strikes you're out" in baseball.

The term comes from the rule that an offensive unit only has three "real" plays before they are expected to punt. While, in theory, a team is allowed a fourth play, this usually does not apply, as using the fourth down to execute a play is a risky move under most circumstances. If they fail to convert to a new first down on a fourth down play, the opposing team will be allowed to take over possession at the stop where they left off, giving them better field position than if the ball is punted farther toward the opposing team's end zone. Typically, a team will only attempt a play on 4th down if they are trailing late in a close game, are close enough to the first down marker (usually a yard or less) and in the opposing team's territory, or are deep enough where a punt likely results in a touchback, but just out of field goal range.

Punting following a three-and-out is unlike a turnover on downs. Punting after a three-and-out allows a team the opportunity to set their opposition farther back in field position. On a turnover on downs there is no punt, and the opposing team takes over possession of the ball at the spot of field where the 4th down attempt failed.

In Canadian football, since there are three downs instead of four, the term "two and out" is used in this situation.