End zone The end zone is a term in both Canadian football and American football . The end zone is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines . It is bordered on all sides by a white line indicating its beginning and end points . Scoring A team scores a touchdown by entering their opponent 's end zone while carrying the ball or catching the ball while being within the end zone . If the ball is carried by an offensive player , across the goal line , it is considered a score as soon as the ball crosses the imaginary vertical plane of the goal line , between the two sidelines . In addition , a two-point conversion may be scored after a touchdown by similar means . The goal post The location of a goal post differs from league to league , but it is always within the boundaries of the end zone . In earlier football games ( both professional and collegiate ) , the goal post began at the goal line , and was usually an H-shaped bar . Nowadays , almost all goal posts are T-shaped , and reside at the back line of the end zone . Decoration The University of Texas Longhorn Band performing on the football field of Reliant Stadium in Houston , Texas , the end zone of which is decorated in colors of The University of Texas at Austin . Most professional teams have their logo and/or team name painted on the surface of the end zone , with team colors filling the background . Many championship games at college and professional level are commemorated by the names of the opposing teams each being painted in one of the opposite end zones . Size The end zone in Canadian football is 20 yards long by 65 yards wide , where the end zone in American football is 10 yards long by 53⅓ yards wide ( Canadian football is played on a longer & wider field ) .The end zone stretches from pylon to pylon on an American football field . Categories : Canadian football | American football 