Three-and-one method

In American football, the “three-and-one method” refers to a decision-making process employed on the fourth down; in the final of four downs (attempts), a team has to advance the ball 10 yards. If a team has failed to obtain the required yards after three downs, they have many alternatives on fourth down:

Punt: The most typical option, particularly if the team is far from the end zone or in their own half of the field. Punishing the ball aims to push the opposition team as far back as possible, making their offensive drive more difficult.

Field Goal Attempt: If the team is close enough to the opponent’s goal post, they may attempt a three-point field goal.

Go for it: A team may use the fourth down to earn the remaining yardage for a first down. This is riskier because failing to get the required yardage hands the ball over to the opposition team at the last down.

The phrase “three-and-one” perfectly describes this decision-making situation. After three downs, the team must evaluate their position, the score, the amount of time remaining in the game, and other strategic elements to determine what to do on the fourth down. This decision can substantially impact the result of the game, especially in tight or high-stakes scenarios.