How Long Is Soccor Game? Match Length Explained

How Long Is a Soccer Game?

Alright, let’s talk about soccer (or football, as many people around the world call it)! It’s a super exciting game with lots of running, kicking, and cheering. But how long does all that fun actually last? If you’re new to soccer, or maybe just trying to figure out game times, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to break down exactly how long a soccer match is, what to expect, and what can sometimes make the game go a little longer.

The Standard Length of a Soccer Game

The typical soccer game is divided into two halves. This is true for most levels of play, from kids’ leagues to professional matches. The usual length of each half is 45 minutes. So, a full game of soccer is usually 90 minutes long.

Between these halves, there’s a halftime break. This is usually about 15 minutes long, giving players a chance to rest, talk strategy with their coaches, and maybe grab a quick drink of water.

So, if we add it all up, a standard soccer game looks like this:

• First Half: 45 minutes
• Halftime Break: 15 minutes
• Second Half: 45 minutes
• Total: 105 minutes (approximately)

Keep in mind that the 105 minutes is just a rough guide. The clock doesn’t stop every time the ball goes out of bounds. There are different rules which we’ll explore further, so the actual time of the match can run a bit longer.

Variations in Game Length for Different Age Groups

While 90 minutes is the standard for adult games, the length of a soccer game can vary for younger players. It’s important for kids not to play for too long, as they need time to rest and recover. Here’s how the game length is different for the younger ages:

Youth Soccer (Under 6 to Under 10)

When kids are very young, the focus is on having fun and developing basic skills. The games are shorter so that the kids don’t get too tired. Typically, these games might have:

• Two halves of 20-30 minutes each
• A shorter halftime of around 5-10 minutes
• Total playing time: around 45-70 minutes

Youth Soccer (Under 11 to Under 14)

As kids get a bit older, the game lengths gradually get longer, getting closer to the standard 90 minutes. We usually find that at this stage:

• Two halves of 30-40 minutes each
• Halftime of about 10-15 minutes
• Total game time: 70-95 minutes

High School Soccer

Once kids reach high school, the game length is similar to an adult game, but often slightly shorter, but not always. Typically we would see this format:

• Two halves of 40-45 minutes
• Halftime of around 10-15 minutes
• Total game time: 90-105 minutes.

What is “Added Time” (also called Injury Time or Stoppage Time)?

You might notice that some soccer games go a bit longer than 90 minutes. This is because of “added time,” also sometimes called “injury time” or “stoppage time.” The referee adds time onto the end of each half to make up for any time lost during the game.

Why is time lost?

• Injuries: If a player is hurt and needs attention, the clock keeps running, so the referee adds that time back at the end.
• Substitutions: When players are changed, some time can be lost. This gets added on as well.
• Wasted Time: If the referee sees players deliberately wasting time, they might add extra time at the end.
• Other delays: if the ball goes out of play or there are other unusual delays during the game.

The referee keeps track of the time that needs to be added and adds it to the end of the 45-minute half. This means that the final whistle might not blow exactly 45 minutes after the start of each half. Usually this added time is a couple of minutes, but in some matches it could be 5 or 6 minutes. If there are a lot of injuries, it could even be more!

How Overtime Affects Game Length

Sometimes, soccer games need a winner and a draw isn’t good enough, especially in tournaments. What happens then? The game goes into extra time, also often referred to as overtime!

What is Overtime?

Overtime adds extra periods of play to the end of the standard 90 minutes. The structure of these is different in various competitions, so we need to understand them separately. Here’s what happens:

• Two Extra Periods: Often there are two periods of 15 minutes each, with a short break in between, but generally only a few minutes.
• No Time added: There is very rarely added time at the end of each overtime period. The whistle blows after exactly 15 minutes.
• Golden goal: In some competitions, the first team to score in overtime wins immediately. This is called a golden goal or “sudden death”, but this is very rare in the modern game.

If no team scores during overtime, the game may go to a penalty shootout or if it is a two-legged tie, the away goals rule can come into play.

How Penalties Affect Game Length

If the game is tied after overtime, some games (again mainly in tournaments) go to a penalty shootout. Each team takes turns shooting penalty kicks until a winner is decided. There are no set times for penalties, they take place one after the other. It usually only takes about 10 minutes, but this will depend how many goals are scored.

Factors That Can Influence the Length of a Soccer Game

Besides the set times, several other things can influence how long a soccer game lasts. Some of these include:

• The Referee: The referee’s style of controlling the game can affect how much stoppage time is added. A referee that likes to play a fast, open game might add less stoppage time, whereas a strict referee might have more stops in play, and therefore more injury time.
• The Level of Competition: Professional games are more likely to have more stoppage time than amateur games.
• The Weather: Very bad weather could cause the game to be stopped for a period, which may be added to the game.
• Medical Emergencies: If a serious injury happens, it might take a long time to attend to the player, and this would also lead to more added time.

A Quick Guide to Soccer Game Lengths

Here’s a quick table to summarize what we’ve talked about:

This table provides a general idea. However, always check the specific rules of the league or tournament you’re watching or playing in for exact times.

So, now you know everything about how long a soccer game lasts! From the standard 90-minute game to overtime and added time, we’ve covered it all. Enjoy watching or playing the beautiful game!