Two-point conversion
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In American football and Canadian Football, a two-point conversion is an extra point attempt where a team that has just scored a touchdown starts a play at the opponent's two- or three-yard line and tries to cross the goal line. If the team succeeds they earn an additional two points on top of the six points for the touchdown.
The two point conversion rule has been a rule of college football since 1958 and more recently in Canadian amateur football and the Canadian Football League, and was one of many professional football innovations featured by the American Football League during its existence, but the National Football League did not adopt it until 1994.
In American college and Canadian football, an intercepted two-point attempt, or one otherwise recovered by the defense, can be returned to the other end zone to give the defensive team two points. Although rare because of the infrequent use of the two-point conversion and because of the difficulty in returning the ball the full length of the field, this has proven the winning margin in football games. The National Football League and National Federation of State High School Associations do not allow this, and a two-point attempt resulting in recovery of the ball by the defense is merely 'no good', although it can score a 1-point safety.
See users.bestweb.net/~robgood/football/try.txt for history.