Demystifing Stoppage Time in Soccer

Stoppage time is additional time that is added to the end of each half to compensate for time lost due to substitutions, injuries, time-wasting, and other delays in the match.

Stoppage time is also known as “added time” or “injury time” in soccer.

By counting up, referees can easily add time to the end of each half.

How Long is Stoppage Time?

The length of time can vary depending on the severity and number of disruptions that took place during the half.

On average, I found that stoppage time is typically 3 minutes.

This can vary significantly depending on the severity and number of disruptions that occurred during the half.

In general, the length of stoppage tends to be longer in professional matches compared to youth matches. 

This is because professional players are more adept at wasting time and there are often more substitutions and injuries (and rolling on the ground 🙄) in professional matches.

How is it Tracked?

The referee is responsible for keeping track of the time lost and adding an appropriate amount of stoppage time at the end of the half.

The extra time is announced to the players at the end of the half. In pro soccer, it is indicated on the scoreboard.

At the youth level, it is not announced but is quietly kept by the head referee. If a player or coach asks how much time is left, the referee will usually answer them.

How is Stoppage Time Determined?

As mentioned above, stoppage time is determined by significant delays in the game. These added minutes could be the result of any of the following:

• Injuries to a player
• Excessive celebrations that eat up time
• Retrieving a ball that goes out of bounds
• Referee giving out a red or yellow card
• Substitutions that take more time than normal

It is up to the referee to determine when he or she will temporarily stop the time. For most delays in the game, the time is just the normal course of the match and does not result in added minutes.

If you liked this article, read more about the rules of soccer.