ORLANDO, Fla. - NFL owners today approved the use of the two-point conversion in an attempt to bring life back into what critics said had become a boring game.

The owners also moved to increase scoring and cut down on field goals by spotting the ball on missed field-goal attempts from the spot of the try rather than the line of scrimmage.

They also attempted to encourage more kickoff runbacks by making kickoffs from the 30-yard-line rather than the 35.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the two-point conversion was approved "overwhelmingly." The rules go into effect this season.

While most coaches opposed the two-point conversion because it was an added decision, many said they didn't think it would have a major effect on the game.

"We'll try it during the game, oh . . . once in every four years or so," Buffalo Coach Marv Levy said. "The only time you'll see it generally is if a team wants to tie late in the game." Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes said, "I don't think you'll ever see it used to win a game at the end of a game. If a team is behind 7-0 and scores a touchdown, the team will kick the extra point - get that one point and go to the overtime."

George Young, New York Giants general manager, said the conversion's greatest appeal is for teams that are behind by eight or 11 points and are trying to get back in a game.