How many minutes can a child play football?
Players are allowed to play in multiple matches, but their game time must not exceed 40 minutes on any one day for Under 7s and Under 8s and 60 minutes for Under 9s and Under 10s. In terms of the size of teams, Under 7s begin with five versus five. Under 8s, Under 9s and Under 10s increase to seven-a-side.
The aim of football is to score more goals then your opponent in a 90 minute playing time frame. The match is split up into two halves of 45 minutes. After the first 45 minutes players will take a 15 minute rest period called half time.
A match lasts for two equal halves of 45 minutes which may only be reduced if agreed between the referee and the two teams before the start of the match and is in accordance with competition rules.
Instead, the length of an U7 or U8 football match is decided by the league or competition, the only regulation in place stating that it must be within the maximum length of 40 minutes per match. These games are played in two halves, and each half is also held to a maximum duration of 20 minutes.
You can expect a youth football game to last between an hour and an hour and a half. Typically, they consist of four 8-minute quarters separated with a 10-minute halftime. Some advanced youth leagues may use 10-minute quarters. There is usually a very short break in between the quarters that may last a minute or two.
Kids Below 9 (Under 9s)
The suggested number of the training sessions is also once a week in this age group too, but you can increase the period of the training session. Make it around 60 minutes per session.
Between 10% and 40% of football injuries among children and adolescents are from playing too much. Players under 14 incur more training injuries than older players and they develop growth-related disorders linked to overplaying because their skeletons and tissue are still growing.
If a match ends in a draw after 90 minutes – two halves of 45 minutes plus stoppage time (added time to compensate for time lost to injuries and other interruptions) – the game goes into extra time. The match is extended by 30 minutes, divided into two 15-minute periods with a short break in between.
1. The format is seven-a-side for Under 9's and 10's and five-a-side for Under 7's and 8's. 2. Matches will be of 15 minutes each wayfor under 9's and 10's and 10 minutes each way for under 8's and 7's.
- Teams will be told which way they are kicking at start of game.
- Teams cannot score directly from a kick off.
- There is no offside.
- All free kicks and corners are direct and opposition must be 3 metres away.
- Goal kicks to be taken anywhere inside penalty area.
How many minutes is extra time in football?
In association football knockout competitions or competition stages, teams play an extra 30 minutes, called extra time, when the deciding leg (or replay of a tie) has not produced a winner by the end of normal or full-time.
1. The format is seven-a-side for Under 9's and 10's and five-a-side for Under 7's and 8's. 2. Matches will be of 15 minutes each wayfor under 9's and 10's and 10 minutes each way for under 8's and 7's.
Why is football played 45 minutes each half? Initially, a football match lasted two hours, with two one-hour halves. When the Football Association was formed in the 1860s and the first official rules of football were established, the FA decided to shorten the match to 90 minutes, played in two 45-minute halves.
Put clear limits on your child's gaming.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests time allotted should be under 30 to 60 minutes per day on school days and 2 hours or less on non- school days.
How long can kids train? As a general rule, children shouldn't train for more than 18-20 hours a week. If a child is engaged in elite competition there may be pressures to train for longer - especially in the lead-up to a major event.
Some leagues play with 8 players for youth aged ten and under. And down to 6 per side for the under 5's.
| Age Group | Game Length | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Under-15 | Two 40′ halves | #5 |
| Under-14 | Two 35′ halves | #5 |
| Under-13 | Two 35′ halves | #5 |
| Under-12 | Two 30′ halves | #4 |
Soccer games include two 45-minute halves, which is 90 minutes of play. Like many sports, those who have ever watched a game know that real-time is longer than the match time.
Each league/competition will determine its own playing time with the maximum time permitted, however, the maximum duration will be two halves of 30 minutes. It is permitted during development matches that the periods of play can be split into equal quarters. The half time interval must not exceed 15 minutes.
11 V 11 MATCH RULES
Two x 35 minute games at 13 and 14 years. Two x 40 minute games at 15 and 16 years. Two x 45 minute games at 17 and above.
How long is an under 14 football match?
For Youth football – The duration of play shall be as follows unless it is mutually agreed by all parties to reduce the time. For under 11 and under 12, 30 minutes each half; for under 13, 14, 35 minutes each half and under15 and under 16, 40 minutes each half; under 17 and under 18, 45 minutes each half.
More Television Timeouts
Inevitably, breaks after touchdowns or field goals stretch to two or three minutes. Add that up, and that's 13 minutes a quarter and almost an hour of game delays for TV timeouts. As just about every game is televised in some form these days, they all have TV timeouts and run longer.
Bottom line: 30 to 60 minutes of outdoor play time per day but even 10 minute “chunks” are a good idea. Vist NWF's Be Out There – Green Hour Activities Page for terrific outdoor time ideas for kids and families!
7-year-olds and under
Look for “fun runs” or races between 1 and 2 miles or a 100-yard dash. These should be short runs, not long or extended. Training for this age group should be around one or two days a week. Race time should not be important to this age group.
Let's start with understanding the developmentally appropriate expectations for a child to play independently. Many children between the ages of 2-4 are able to keep their attention on a task for up to a half-hour. Kids between 5-7 can often focus longer, up to an hour or more on their own.