How Long is a Youth Soccer Game?

Updated: Youth Soccer Game Duration Modified on October 15, 2024

Soccer! Remember those goals during your school days or those evenings when your friends and parents used to cheer for you? Weren’t they exciting days? Well, Soccer was an all-time favorite game to cheer, relax, and remain fit and healthy. However, while playing the game in our neighborhood we have our time limits but do you know how long the professional soccer game lasts? 

We have broken down the typical lengths of youth soccer games by age group and also explained the reasons behind these differences. So, let’s begin!

Age Groups and Game Durations

Youth soccer is usually divided into age groups to ensure that children compete with peers of similar physical and mental development levels. Here’s a breakdown of the typical game durations for different age groups:

Age Group	Game Length	Overtime Periods	Size	Circumference	Weight	Number of Players
Under-19	Two 45′ halves	Two 15′ halves	#5	27-28 in.	14-16 ozs.
Under-18	Two 45′ halves	Two 15′ halves	#5	27-28 in.	14-16 ozs.
Under-17	Two 45′ halves	Two 15′ halves	#5	27-28 in.	14-16 ozs.
Under-16	Two 40′ halves	Two 15′ halves	#5	27-28 in.	14-16 ozs.
Under-15	Two 40′ halves	Two 15′ halves	#5	27-28 in.	14-16 ozs.
Under-14	Two 35′ halves	Two 10′ halves	#5	27-28 in.	14-16 ozs.
Under-13	Two 35′ halves	Two 10′ halves	#5	27-28 in.	14-16 ozs.
Under-12	Two 30′ halves	Two 10′ halves	#4	25-26 in.	11-13 ozs.	No more than 11, 8 strongly recommended
Under-11	Two 30′ halves	Two 10′ halves	#4	25-26 in.	11-13 ozs.	No more than 11, 8 strongly recommended
Under-10	Two 25′ halves	NONE	#4	25-26 in.	11-13 ozs.	No more than 7, 6 strongly recommended
Under-8	4 -12′ quarters	NONE	#3	23-24 in.	11-12 ozs.	No more than 5, 4 strongly recommended
Under-6	4 – 6′ quarters	NONE	#3	23-24 in.	11-12 ozs.	No more than 4, 3 strongly recommended

Under 6 Soccer Game Length

For this age group of under 6-year-old players, the game is all about fun and introduction to the sport. The matches and kept short keeping the strength and physical stamina of this age group here is the breakdown of the length of soccer game. 

Game Duration	20-30 minutes
Structure	Two halves of 10-15 minutes each
Break	5-minute halftime

These games are often played on smaller fields with fewer players, usually 3v3 or 4v4, to keep the game manageable and enjoyable for the kids.

Under 8 (U8) Soccer Game Length

As children grow and their skills develop, the game duration increases slightly to provide more playing time and a better understanding of the game.

Game Duration	40 minutes
Structure	Two halves of 20 minutes each
Break	5-minute halftime

At this level, teams might play 5v5 or 6v6, and the field size is still relatively small compared to standard soccer fields.

Under 10 (U10) Soccer Game Length

For players under ten, the games become a bit longer to accommodate their improving stamina and skills. This age group begins to experience more structured play, which starts to resemble the game played at higher levels.

Game Duration	50 minutes
Structure	Two halves of 25 minutes each
Break	5-minute halftime

Field sizes are increased, and teams might play 7v7 or 8v8, which provides a balance between individual involvement and team play.

Under 12 (U12) Soccer Game Length

At this stage, players are more competitive and capable of handling longer games. The rules become more complex, introducing them to the full scope of soccer’s regulations.

Game Duration	60 minutes
Structure	Two halves of 30 minutes each
Break	10-minute halftime

Teams usually play 9v9 or 11v11, depending on the league’s regulations, and fields are closer in size to regulation soccer fields.

Under 14 (U14) and Above Soccer Game Length

For teenagers, the game durations closely mimic those of adult matches, preparing them for higher levels of competition.

Game Duration	70-80 minutes
Structure	Two halves of 35-40 minutes each
Break	10-minute halftime

Most leagues at this level play 11v11 on full-sized fields, with all standard soccer rules in place. You are trying to create a soccer team; so what should the team be like and what should it be? To solve this problem, we have created a list of more than 350 attractive and unique soccer team names for you, which are perfect for youth, students, and professional teams.

Why Do Game Durations Vary?

As we have noticed the games vary on the age of the players, so why do they do? Well, it is to develop the player’s skills and experience as per their growth and development. Considering the energy of the children and their physical stamina, the game is categorised as per their growth and energy consumption style. This helps the players to push and challenge themselves to get prepared for adulthood soccer. Well, there are some other factors do affect that the categorization of the game rules and regulations as per the age group such as: 

1. Safety affects the decision of categorization of the game. So, as we have already discussed, children have less physical strength compared to adults. This also raises the concern about their safety that they do not get fatigued or overheated and have a moderate energy level in their body. To avoid and prevent any kind of uncertainty, the games are kept for a short duration for the Under 8 players. 
2. The other factor that affects the categorization of the game is the interest of the players. The games for the kid players are kept for a short duration to maintain their interest in the game and make sure that playing for a longer period does not overwhelm them. 
3. Shorter games for younger players also ensure that they develop basic skills and strengthen them according to the increasing time. This will help them to develop their skills and pave a good scope of growth with the increasing period. 

How Long is a Professional Soccer Game?

Professional soccer games are generally 90 minutes which is divided into two equal intervals that are 45 minutes each. However, as the first interval ends, there is a 15-minute break for the players to rest and regain their energy, and again after this break, the game resumes. Now, the second interval doesn’t have any breaks. 

However, referees can add a few extra minutes at the end of each half to make up for time lost due to things like substitutions, injuries, and other delays. This is generally 2 to 5 minutes. So, the total possible game length is about 105 minutes (including the break of 15 minutes, after the first interval), but they can also increase if the stoppage time is added to the end of each interval due to uncertainties. 

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