Safety
A term whose meaning differs by sport: a two-point score in gridiron football, and a defensive shot in cue sports.
Definition
In American and Canadian gridiron football, a safety is a score worth two points, awarded to the defending team when the ball-carrier is tackled, goes out of bounds, or commits certain fouls in their own end zone; the conceding team must then also kick the ball back to the opponents. "Safety" additionally names a defensive back position in gridiron, so context matters.
In cue sports such as snooker, billiards and pool, a "safety" or safety shot is a deliberately defensive stroke played to leave the opponent without an easy scoring opportunity, rather than an attempt to pot a ball or add points. The two uses are unrelated, so the meaning depends entirely on the sport being discussed.
Scope: Meaning differs entirely between gridiron football (a score) and cue sports (a defensive shot).
Meaning by sport
This term is used differently across sports:
- American football
- A two-point score for the defence when the offence is downed or fouls in its own end zone; also the name of a defensive back position.
- snooker
- A defensive shot played to leave the opponent no easy pot or score, not an attempt to add points.
- pool
- A deliberate defensive shot aimed at limiting the opponent's next scoring chance.
Where you’ll hear “safety”
Sports that use this term:
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Safety in the wider knowledge graph.
Commonly confused with
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Safety to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Positions
- Shooting guardThe shooting guard is a perimeter player whose main role is to score, especially from mid-range and beyond the three-point line.
- Point guardThe point guard is basketball’s primary ball-handler and playmaker, running the offence and setting up teammates to score.
- Centre-backA centre-back is a central defender in football whose main job is to stop opposing attackers and clear the ball from dangerous areas.
Scoring systems
- Basketball scoringBasketball is scored by shooting the ball through the hoop, with baskets worth one, two or three points depending on where the shot is taken.
- Football (soccer) scoringFootball is scored by goals, with each goal worth one point and the team scoring the most goals winning the match.
- Table tennis scoringTable tennis is scored on every rally to 11 points per game, won by two clear points, over a best-of odd number of games.
- Tennis scoringTennis is scored in points, games and sets, using the distinctive 15–30–40 point sequence and a win-by-two margin at every level.
- Badminton scoringBadminton uses rally scoring to 21 points per game, with matches decided over the best of three games.
Disciplines
- Sparring (Kyorugi)Kyorugi is taekwondo's competitive sparring discipline, where two athletes score points by landing controlled kicks and punches on legal target areas within timed rounds.
- ÉpéeÉpée is a fencing weapon with point-only touches valid anywhere on the body and no right-of-way, so both fencers can score at once.
- RecurveRecurve archery uses a bow whose limb tips curve away from the archer, shot with a sight and finger release; it is the discipline contested at the Olympic Games.
- SnatchThe snatch is one of the two Olympic weightlifting lifts, taking the barbell from the platform to overhead in one continuous movement.
Skills
- HeadingThe skill of directing the ball with the head to pass, clear or attempt to score.
- MarkingThe defensive skill of staying close to an opponent to limit their space and options.
- ShootingThe skill of striking or releasing the ball toward the goal or basket to score.
- TacklingThe skill of legally challenging an opponent to win the ball or stop their progress.
- Net playThe skill of controlling points close to the net with volleys and touch shots.
Tactics
- Offside trapA defensive football tactic where the back line steps up together to leave an attacker offside.
- Serve and volleyAn attacking tennis tactic where the server follows their serve to the net to finish the point with a volley.
- Wing playAttacking down the flanks and crossing the ball into the box to stretch the defence and create chances.
Rules
- Direct and indirect free kicksThe two types of free kick awarded in football to restart play after a foul or other stoppage.
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- Shot clockA timing rule that requires the attacking basketball team to attempt a shot within a set number of seconds.
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.