How Long Is The Soccer Game: Game Duration

How Long is the Soccer Game?

Okay, let’s talk about soccer! You probably love watching it, maybe even playing it. But have you ever wondered, “How long exactly is a soccer game?” It’s a good question, and the answer isn’t always as simple as saying “90 minutes.” There’s actually more to it than that! So, let’s dive into all the details about the length of a soccer game.

The Standard Match Length: 90 Minutes

The most common length for a soccer game, also called a match, is 90 minutes. Think of it as an hour and a half of non-stop action. This 90 minutes is divided into two equal parts, called halves, with a short break in between. Let’s break it down:

• First Half: 45 minutes of play.
• Half-Time Break: A 15-minute break for players to rest, get instructions from their coaches, and have some refreshments.
• Second Half: Another 45 minutes of play.

So, if you add it all up, 45 minutes + 15 minutes + 45 minutes = 105 minutes. However, when people say the game is 90 minutes long, they’re usually just talking about the time the ball is actually moving.

What About Extra Time?

Sometimes, a soccer game isn’t finished after the regular 90 minutes. It might end in a tie, and in important matches, they need a winner. This is where extra time comes in. Extra time is played in two periods of 15 minutes each, with a very short break between them. If there is no winner in extra time, there is a penalty shootout. Penalty shootouts are sudden death. If the match is still tied after that, there is typically a golden goal or other rule that will decide the winner.

• Extra Time First Half: 15 minutes.
• Very Short Break
• Extra Time Second Half: 15 minutes.

The extra time is not common for all the matches. It is usually played in elimination matches in tournaments. You may wonder if they are tied after extra time? Yes, they can, and the winner is decided by a penalty shootout.

Understanding Added Time (Injury Time or Stoppage Time)

You’ll often see referees holding up a board showing a few extra minutes at the end of each half. This is called added time, injury time, or stoppage time. It’s not planned ahead of time but rather added as the referee sees fit, after considering the various stoppages in the match. These can be for injuries, substitutions, celebrations, or sometimes time wasting.

• Injuries: If a player gets hurt and needs medical attention, that time is added on.
• Substitutions: Each time a player is substituted, the time it takes is added.
• Time Wasting: If a team tries to waste time, the referee might add time to the end.
• Celebrations: After the goal celebration, the time also gets added up.

The referee is the one who decides how much time should be added, and it can vary from just a minute to several minutes, sometimes even more. So, a game might be 90 minutes long, but the actual time played could be longer due to added time.

Different Match Lengths: Not All Games Are 90 Minutes

While 90 minutes is the standard for professional and most adult leagues, the game length can change for other soccer levels. The younger players generally play shorter matches to match their stamina and attention spans.

Youth Soccer Match Lengths

When we talk about soccer for kids, the match times are usually less than 90 minutes. This is to help young athletes have fun without getting too tired. Here’s a general idea of how long youth soccer games might be, depending on age:

• Under 6 (U6): Typically, 30-40 minutes total, often broken into 10-15 minute quarters.
• Under 8 (U8): Usually 40-50 minutes total, with shorter halves.
• Under 10 (U10): Often 50-60 minutes total, sometimes with longer halves.
• Under 12 (U12): Games can be around 60-70 minutes long.
• Under 14 and Up (U14+): Many start playing standard 90-minute games.

Keep in mind that these are just general guidelines and specific leagues or organizations can have slightly different timings. So, it’s a good idea to always check with the league you’re playing in or watching to be sure.

Friendly and Exhibition Matches

Sometimes, there are “friendly” matches or exhibition games. These are like practice matches or games played for fun. The match length in these can be different, too. They could be shorter than 90 minutes or sometimes even longer, depending on what the teams agreed upon.

Factors Affecting the Length of a Soccer Game

While the rules of soccer are generally standard, some factors can affect how long a match really takes. These can include:

• Weather Conditions: If it’s very hot or if it’s raining heavily, the game might be stopped temporarily, which could make it a bit longer.
• Serious Injuries: If a player gets a serious injury that needs a lot of medical attention, the game could be paused for a while, and that time would need to be made up with added time.
• VAR (Video Assistant Referee): If VAR is in use and there is a long review, the length of the game can be extended because the time spent in reviewing the video is added as stoppage time.
• Time-Wasting Tactics: If teams try to run down the clock, added time is the referee’s way to counteract this.
• Substitutions: As mentioned, each substitution takes time which is added to the stoppage time.

Why is the Game Length Important?

Knowing how long a soccer game lasts can help with a few things:

• Planning Your Day: If you’re going to a game or planning to watch one on TV, you’ll know how much time you need to set aside.
• Understanding the Game: Knowing the structure of a match, with halves, breaks, and potential extra time, helps you follow the action better.
• Player Fitness: Match times are made to allow the players to be in the best physical shape to play.

The History of the 90-Minute Game

The 90-minute format for a soccer game has a long history. In the early days of soccer, there weren’t always set times. However, as the game became more organized, rules were put into place, including having 45-minute halves with a break. This 90-minute game became the standard that we know today. The rule made it easy for everyone to know how long a match would last and what the rules are for playing in a game.

How Soccer Rules Are Made

The rules of soccer, including the match times, are set by an organization called the International Football Association Board (IFAB). This group includes people from different soccer associations around the world. They meet to discuss and change soccer rules every year. If any changes to game length are proposed, these get discussed. However, it has been 90-minutes for a long time.

These rules aim to keep the game fair, safe, and fun for everyone. So, when you see a 90-minute match, know that it’s part of a long tradition and part of the rules that make soccer the great game it is.

Soccer Match Length: a Recap

Let’s review what we have discussed about the time of the match:

So, there you have it. Now you know how long a soccer game is, from the standard 90 minutes to the extra time and added time. Understanding all these timings will make it easier to enjoy any soccer game, whether you’re playing or watching.