It’s fourth down. Three points are there if you want to take them.

Do you give up the nearly sure three for a try at seven?

How do you weigh that decision if failing to if failing to score anything will put your team in a bind?

The Golden Rule: If you are leading, kick. If you are down but you think you can score again, kick. If you think this is your last chance to get points and you are down by more than three, go for it.

There are always exceptions, but if you need a touchdown and there’s no guarantee of getting the ball back, you have to get in the end zone.

Sometimes, it’s simple math.

0+3=3

1+3=4

2+3=5

4+3=7

7+3=10

11+3=14

See the pattern. No matter where you start, adding three to every differential leaves you significantly better off.

It gets a little more complicated when you are trailing.

-1+2=2

-2+3=1

-3+3=0

Those are easy.

But what about when you are down four, five, six, seven or eight? That’s where the situation and how well you know your team come in.

If there’s plenty of time remaining, you are always better by adding three points. It not only adds to the scoreboard, it gives your offense a sense of accomplishment and morale as they walk off the field.

The choices are simple, but the decisions are tough, and they are ones you should decide before the situation even presents itself. Play each of them out in your head so when the time comes you are ready.

Think about:

How far as you behind or ahead?

How far is it to the end zone or first down marker?

Where would missing the field goal leave you in terms of field position, time and score?

How has your defense been playing?

How strong is your punt return, kickoff coverage and onside-kick coverage?

How is weather affecting play?

How is your two-point play proficiency?

Are you willing to go to overtime?

How fatigued is your team, and what is the psychological state?

When the clock becomes a factor, your choices are further influenced by time remaining and time outs.

Here is an example to consider. Imagine yourself in this scenario. What would you do?

Down by six. It’s fourth-and-4 on the other team’s 9-yard line. Ball in the middle of the field. Two time outs with 2:30 left in the game.

Do you go for it? Probably. Making four yards and going on for a touchdown is likely an eaiser path than kicking a field goal, kicking off, holding the other team, then driving for another field goal and taking your chances in overtime.

What if it is fourth-and-goal from the 9-yard line? Does that change your decision?

Here’s another example.

Down by 5. Fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard-line in the middle of the field. Two time outs with 2:30 remaining.

Go for it or kick a field goal?

In this instance, I’d kick a field goal and take my chances. It’s basically an extra point, and you need one stop to go for the win.

But what if the ball is on the hash? How does that affect your decision?

Conclusion

Football is a game of big moments and momentum. As a head coach, you need to take every factor into account and make an immediate decision on what your team will do.

When deciding between kicking a field goal and going for six, don’t wait until game day to make your decision. Plan for these events ahead of time. Know as much as you can before it happens, then factor in those few variables before making the right call for your team.

Homer Smith was the head football coach at Davidson University (1965-69), University of the Pacific (1970-71) and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (1974-78). He also served as an offensive coordinator at UCLA, Alabama, Arizona and with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.