Howlong Are Soccer Games? Game Length Explained

How Long Are Soccer Games?

So, you’re curious about how long soccer games actually last? That’s a great question! It might seem like they go on forever when you’re watching, but there’s actually a set amount of time for each match. The length of a soccer game isn’t always the same; it depends on a few things, like the age of the players and the rules of the specific league. Let’s dive into all the details about how long soccer games are!

The Standard 90-Minute Match

The most common length for a soccer game, especially at the professional and higher amateur levels, is 90 minutes. This 90 minutes isn’t just one chunk of playing time though. It’s broken up into two halves. Think of it like two separate periods of play.

Breaking Down the Halves

Each half of the soccer match lasts 45 minutes. So you get 45 minutes of play, then a break, and then another 45 minutes. There is a rest period between these two halves. This rest period is called halftime.

Halftime Break

Halftime is a 15-minute break. During this time, players usually go to the locker room to rest, get some water, and maybe talk strategy with their coach. Fans might use this time to grab a snack or a bathroom break before the second half begins. The 15-minute break is a standard duration across different levels of soccer.

The 90 Minutes, in total

So if we add all of this up, the standard regulation soccer match is a total of 90 minutes of play, plus a 15 minute halftime, for a grand total of 105 minutes. However, this is a minimum duration of a soccer match. It’s not necessarily the full time you are going to be at the match!

What About Added Time?

Here’s where it can get a little tricky. You might see games go longer than 90 minutes. That’s because of something called “added time,” or sometimes called “stoppage time” or “injury time.”

Why is there Added Time?

Added time is used to account for any interruptions in the game. These can include things like:

• Injuries where a player needs treatment on the field
• Substitutions (when players come off the field and others come on)
• Time-wasting tactics by players
• Other delays, like a ball going out of bounds and taking a while to get back in play

How is Added Time Determined?

The referee (the person in charge of the game) keeps track of these stoppages. At the end of each 45-minute half, the referee decides how much added time to give based on how many interruptions they saw. The referee usually shows the added time with a sign. For example, if the referee holds a sign that says +3 it means that 3 minutes will be added to the end of the 45-minute half.

Added Time Can Vary

The amount of added time isn’t always the same. Some games might have only one or two minutes added on, while others could have five or more minutes added. It depends on the flow of the game. There isn’t a strict guideline for how long each action should take during game time. It is down to the referee’s discretion to decide how much time to add. It is sometimes a very subjective decision. The amount of added time is never a consistent amount, which adds to the drama of the final minutes of a soccer game.

Game Length for Younger Players

While professional matches run for 90 minutes, games for younger players are shorter. This is because younger kids need to be able to play the game without getting too tired. The younger the player, the shorter the match usually is. This is done for player safety. So for example, a 9-year-old will not play 90 minutes of soccer! Let’s take a look at the usual length of a match for different ages.

Typical Game Lengths by Age Group

Here’s a general guide for game lengths based on age:

• Under 6: Games are often shorter, maybe 30-40 minutes, often broken into shorter quarters, not halves.
• Under 8: Usually two 20-minute halves with a short break in between. Total game time is around 40 minutes, plus any short breaks for half time.
• Under 10: Typically two 25-minute halves, with a short halftime. Total game time is about 50 minutes.
• Under 12: Might see two 30-minute halves, totaling about 60 minutes of game time.
• Under 14: Could play two 35-minute halves, for a total of about 70 minutes.
• High School: Usually two 40-minute halves (sometimes 45 minutes), totaling 80-90 minutes of game time, similar to the standard adult time frame.

These times are not set in stone, and they can change slightly based on specific leagues, rules, and tournaments. But these are the typical durations that you can expect to see at these levels of the game.

Overtime and Penalty Shootouts

Sometimes soccer games can end in a tie. If a winner is required, then some leagues and tournaments use extra time periods, or even penalty shootouts to decide a winner.

When is Overtime Needed?

Overtime, which is also sometimes called “extra time,” is played if the game is a tie at the end of the 90 minutes plus added time. Not all games go to overtime. It is usually only in competitions where a winner has to be decided. Usually when the games are knockout matches, where teams are eliminated from the tournament after losing. Or when there is a final to decide the tournament winner. It is not usually seen in a league format where the teams are awarded points for winning or drawing.

What is Overtime Like?

Overtime usually consists of two 15-minute periods of play. There is a short break between them, so teams can rest. Overtime, therefore, adds an extra 30 minutes onto the match duration. However, in some competitions, if the game is a tie at the end of this, then the dreaded penalty shootout is called into action.

Penalty Shootouts

If the game is still tied after overtime, the game may then go to a penalty shootout. This is a series of penalty kicks taken by each team. Five players from each team take penalty kicks. The team who scores more of their penalty kicks wins the game. If the teams are level after each team have taken five penalty kicks, then penalty kicks are continued in a sudden death format, where each team takes one penalty kick each. The first team to score when the other team misses, then wins the game.

How Long Does Overtime and Penalties Add?

Overtime will always add 30 minutes of play to the duration of the game. A penalty shootout can last for a very long time, as it can take many rounds of kicks before a winner is determined. This makes these parts of soccer matches so entertaining and intense.

Factors Influencing Game Length

Besides age and extra time, there are other things that might impact how long a soccer game lasts.

Specific Tournament Rules

Different tournaments and leagues might have slightly different rules about game length and the way they use extra time. Some might use different lengths of halves, while others might have rules about golden goal in overtime. This means that the first team to score in overtime, wins the game. So it could result in much shorter periods of overtime.

Weather Conditions

Sometimes, extreme weather like heavy rain, very strong winds or even heat can lead to delays or pauses in the game. Although the game is unlikely to be much longer in terms of playing time, the amount of time you are at the game may be longer because of these delays.

Referee Decisions

The referee has the final say on game length and the amount of added time. Their decisions can make games a few minutes shorter or longer. Sometimes, a referee might not give a very long period of added time. Other times, they can add many minutes, if a team is time wasting, or if there have been many injuries.

Understanding Soccer Game Time

Understanding how long a soccer game lasts, and why the amount of time is not always the same, is an important thing to know. So to recap the key points we have discussed so far:

• The regular length of a soccer match is 90 minutes.
• These 90 minutes are split into two 45-minute halves, with a 15-minute halftime break.
• Added time is added to each half to account for interruptions in play.
• Younger players play shorter games than adults, based on their age.
• Some matches have overtime and penalty shootouts to decide a winner, and this adds time to the overall duration of the game.

So, the next time you watch a soccer game, you’ll have a good idea about how long it will last. It is important to remember that each soccer game is unique. And this makes each soccer game so very exciting to watch. So remember to sit back and enjoy the game!