Well, now, if you’re askin’ how long a kids’ soccer game lasts, it all depends on how old the little ones are. Ain’t no one-size-fits-all answer, but I’ll try to explain it in a way that makes sense.
First off, if you’re talkin’ ’bout real young kids, like them Under 6 to Under 8, the game ain’t too long. They usually play two halves of 20 minutes each. That means they get a good bit of time to run ’round, kick that ball, and maybe even fall over a few times, but it ain’t too much for ’em to handle.
As they get a bit older, say Under 9 to Under 10, the game time stretches just a little. For them, it’s two halves of 25 minutes each. Not much more, but enough time to get a sweat on and feel like they really played a match.
Then, you got them kids from Under 11 to Under 12. They’re usually runnin’ a bit faster now, so their game lasts a little longer, two halves of 30 minutes each. At this point, they’re startin’ to understand the game better, pass the ball around, and even get a little competitive.
For them that’s a bit older, like Under 13 to Under 14, the game can go for two halves of 35 minutes each. Now we’re talkin’ about kids who are almost teenagers, so they got more energy and can play for a longer stretch. By now, they’re really gettin’ into it, and it looks more like a real soccer match.
Now, if we’re talkin’ ’bout high school games, well, them kids are gettin’ even bigger and stronger, and the game usually lasts for two 40-minute halves, or sometimes even four 20-minute periods if the coach wants to switch things up. They’re playing on bigger fields too, so that makes the game feel longer too. Sometimes, the ref’ll add some extra time if there’s been any stoppage—like if a player got hurt or there was a substitution.
Once the kids hit ages 17, 18, or 19, like in high school or even some youth leagues, the game’s like the professional ones, and it’s two 45-minute halves. If the score’s tied at the end of regular time, they might go into extra time, addin’ two 15-minute halves. That can make a game last anywhere between 95 to 130 minutes! So, yeah, it’s quite a bit longer, but that’s for the older kids who can handle it.
Now, I gotta say, the rules ain’t always the same everywhere you go. Some places might shorten the halves a little, or have different rules for certain leagues or tournaments. So if you’re takin’ your kid to a game, it’s always good to check with the league and see what the rules are for that age group.
It also depends on the kind of game it is. If it’s just a regular league game, it might not last as long as a big ol’ tournament game. And don’t forget, there’s always stoppage time that the ref can add if needed. So a game might last longer than you think, but usually, the younger the kid, the shorter the game. It’s all about makin’ sure they have fun and don’t wear themselves out too quick!
To sum it all up:
- Under 6 to Under 8: 2 halves of 20 minutes
- Under 9 to Under 10: 2 halves of 25 minutes
- Under 11 to Under 12: 2 halves of 30 minutes
- Under 13 to Under 14: 2 halves of 35 minutes
- High school: 2 halves of 40 minutes (or 4 periods of 20 minutes)
- Older youth (17-19): 2 halves of 45 minutes, with extra time if needed
So, there you go. Now you got a better idea of how long them soccer games last for the little ones. They might be short or they might be long, but one thing’s for sure—they’re out there runnin’ around, gettin’ exercise, and having themselves a good ol’ time!
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