How Long is Soccer Halftime? Your Answer is Here

Halftime in a soccer game is typically, 15 minutes. In many youth games, it can be shorter.

Key Takeaways From This Article:

In most U.S. leagues, the maximum amount of time halftime can be 15 minutes.
Halftime is often used for players and refs to rest and strategize.
As a player, you can use this time to reflect on what you did in the first half and what you can do better for the rest of the game.

Generally, for U15 and older, soccer matches are split into two 45-minute halves with a 15-minute halftime in between.

The game of soccer differs from many other sports whereas in other sports like American football and basketball. In these sports, there are multiple timeouts and stoppages throughout the game.

Soccer time is continuous and there are no coach’s timeouts. The game clock continues to tick despite the ball going out of bounds or briefly stopping on the field.

At the youth level, on really hot days, a referee will stop play for water breaks. Otherwise, if there’s an injury or pause in the game, stoppage time will be added to the end of the halves.

Case Study: Timing Halftime of Youth Soccer Games

I was curious about the “real time” of halftime so I ran my own experiment. Here are the times I recorded for my son’s U-14 games:

Game 1: 7 minutes
Game 2: 12 minutes
Game 3: 7 minutes (started late)
Game 4: 13 minutes
Game 5: 14 minutes

Average halftime length: 10.6 minutes

The duration of halftime is determined by the referee. He or she can blow the whistle earlier if they feel like doing so.

Usually, they will use this time to hydrate, discuss what they are seeing with the other refs, and talk about weekend plans (I kid).

What Are the Benefits of Halftime?

Halftime during soccer games provides a small window of opportunity for rest.

Players who were just on the field can get off their feet, stretch, replenish with nutrients, and hydrate themselves.

It also provides coaches with some time to talk to their players about what they need to focus on in the second half.

Very often, soccer strategies shift from the first to the second half of the game. Coaches may decide to alter the lineup and/or change formations.

Oh, and it also allows parents to calm down from the first half (I’m kidding…kind of ;).

Final Thoughts

If you are a parent reading this, please let your player know that it is important to hydrate and eat a carbohydrate-rich snack if they are feeling sluggish.

Also, tell them to listen to their bodies and stretch any aches if necessary.

The first ten minutes out of halftime is the most important gap in the game.

I’ve seen many teams give up leads because they were not ready after halftime. The teams and players that can motivate themselves typically find success in any given game.