Soccer · Formats
How long is a youth soccer game?
A youth soccer game lasts from 40 minutes of play for the youngest kids to the full 90 minutes by U17 to U19. Under US Soccer's small-sided standards, U6 to U8 play four 10-minute quarters, U9-U10 two 25-minute halves and U11-U12 two 30-minute halves; older groups typically play 35, 40 and then 45-minute halves. Leagues set their own times, so always check yours.
Youth soccer game length by age
| Age group | Format and length | Playing time |
|---|---|---|
| U6 to U8 | 4v4, 4 x 10-minute quarters, no goalkeepers | 40 minutes |
| U9 to U10 | 7v7, 2 x 25-minute halves | 50 minutes |
| U11 to U12 | 9v9, 2 x 30-minute halves | 60 minutes |
| U13 to U14 | 11v11, 2 x 35-minute halves | 70 minutes |
| U15 to U16 | 11v11, 2 x 40-minute halves | 80 minutes |
| U17 to U19 | 11v11, 2 x 45-minute halves | 90 minutes, the adult length |
The first three rows are US Soccer's Player Development Initiatives, the small-sided standards many US youth leagues play by up to U12 (Michigan's state association, for one, requires them). From U13 teams play full 11v11. The half lengths in the last three rows are the ones Michigan's state association lists, and they match the maximums in AYSO's national rules: 35 minutes at 14U, 40 at 16U and 45 at 19U. Your league may run shorter or longer games in either band. High school teams play by NFHS rules instead, so a U17 player can play 90 minutes for a club and 80 for a school.
How long is a U8 soccer game?
Under US Soccer's standards, U8 plays 4v4 with no goalkeepers and no offside, in four 10-minute quarters: 40 minutes of soccer, plus the breaks between quarters and at halftime. U6 and U7 play the same format.
AYSO describes the same 40 minutes as two halves of up to 20 minutes, and its games usually stop midway through each half for substitutions, so they play like quarters. Some leagues use shorter or longer quarters, so your club's schedule is the one to trust.
When do kids switch from quarters to halves?
At U9. Under the US Soccer standards, 4v4 quarters end after U8, and U9 moves to 7v7 with goalkeepers, a build-out line and two 25-minute halves. The next steps are 9v9 at U11 and full 11v11 from U13, each with a longer half. AYSO's maximum half grows the same way: 25 minutes at 10U and 30 minutes at 12U.
How long is halftime in youth soccer?
Usually 5 to 10 minutes. AYSO's national rules set halftime at a minimum of five and a maximum of ten minutes, and many leagues use a similar break. The Laws of the Game allow up to 15 minutes in the adult game.
Games played in quarters also have a short break after the first and third quarters, enough for water and substitutions.
Is there overtime in youth soccer?
Not in a normal league game: a tie is a valid result and it stands. Tournaments that need a winner in knockout games add overtime and then kicks from the penalty mark. Overtime is shorter for younger players. Michigan's state association, for example, plays two 10-minute overtime periods at U13-U14 and two 15-minute periods from U15.
If it is still level after overtime, a shootout decides it: see the penalty shootout rules. How tied group games are ranked is covered in youth soccer tiebreaker rules, and the basics of goals and draws in how to keep score in soccer.
How the app handles it
The app has no match clock, so the game length is up to you: you end each half by hand with Next half and finish with End match. It offers 1 or 2 halves, not quarters, so for a U8 game played in quarters you can score it as two halves, moving on at halftime, or as a single period. Choose Not playing when you are keeping score for your kid's game rather than playing in it.
Questions
How long is a U10 soccer game?
Two 25-minute halves, 50 minutes of play, under US Soccer's standard for 7v7 at U9 and U10. Add a halftime break of around 5 to 10 minutes.
How long is a U12 soccer game?
Two 30-minute halves, 60 minutes of play, under US Soccer's standard for 9v9 at U11 and U12. AYSO's maximum for 12U is also 30 minutes a half.
How many quarters are in a youth soccer game?
Four, for the youngest players: U6 to U8 play four 10-minute quarters under US Soccer's standards. From U9, games are played in two halves.
Do U8 soccer games have goalkeepers?
Not under US Soccer's standards: U6 to U8 play 4v4 with no goalkeepers and no offside. Goalkeepers arrive at U9, when the format moves to 7v7.
How long is a high school soccer game?
80 minutes. Under the NFHS rules most US high schools play by, a varsity game is two 40-minute halves with a 10-minute halftime unless the coaches agree otherwise. State associations can change this, and junior varsity halves can be shortened by agreement.
Last reviewed September 25, 2026
More soccer guides
All soccer rules, guides and tools
Related
Keep score with one tap.
Sport Score Tracker keeps soccer score on iPhone and Apple Watch, so you can play instead of counting. Offline, no ads, no account.