How Long Are High School Soccer Games?

Soccer is a popular sport played by people of all ages and skill levels. From youth leagues to professional teams, soccer games are played in various formats and lengths. One question that often arises is how long high school soccer games last. In this article, we will explore the duration of high school soccer games and provide some context on how they compare to other levels of play.

High School Soccer Game Length

According to Hugateen [2], high school soccer games typically last for 80 minutes, divided into two halves of 40 minutes each. These times may vary slightly depending on the state or region where the game is being played. Additionally, there is a halftime break of 10-15 minutes between the two halves.How Long Are High School Soccer Games?

It is worth noting that high school soccer games may also be subject to overtime periods and penalty shootouts if the game ends in a tie. The rules for these situations may vary by state or region, but they generally involve two 10-minute overtime periods followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.How Long Are High School Soccer Games?

Comparison to Other Levels of Play

Compared to other levels of play, high school soccer games are relatively shorter in duration. Professional soccer games, for example, are 90 minutes long, divided into two halves of 45 minutes each, with a 15-minute halftime break [1]. College soccer games also follow the same format as professional games, with two halves of 45 minutes each and a 15-minute halftime break [4].

Youth soccer games, on the other hand, have varying lengths depending on the age group. According to USA-Soccer [3], the length of games for each age group is as follows:

– U6-U8: Two 20-minute halves

– U9-U10: Two 25-minute halves

– U11-U12: Two 30-minute halves

– U13-U14: Two 35-minute halves

– U15-U16: Two 40-minute halves

– U17-U19: Two 45-minute halves

It is important to note that these times may vary by state or region, and some leagues may have different rules regarding game length.

Factors Affecting Game Length

While the duration of high school soccer games is generally consistent, there are some factors that may affect the length of a game. One of the most significant factors is stoppage time, which refers to the time added to the end of each half to account for any delays or injuries that occurred during the game.

Stoppage time can vary depending on the referee’s discretion and can add several minutes to the end of each half. Additionally, weather conditions such as lightning or heavy rain may cause delays or even cancellations, which can affect the length of a game.

Conclusion

In summary, high school soccer games typically last for 80 minutes, divided into two halves of 40 minutes each, with a halftime break of 10-15 minutes. Compared to other levels of play, high school soccer games are relatively shorter in duration, with professional and college games lasting for 90 minutes. Youth soccer games have varying lengths depending on the age group.

While the duration of high school soccer games is generally consistent, factors such as stoppage time and weather conditions can affect the length of a game. It is important for players, coaches, and fans to be aware of these factors and how they may impact the game.