High school soccer games typically last 80 minutes in total, divided into two halves of 40 minutes each, with a halftime break usually around 10 minutes. This format is common for freshman, junior varsity, and club-level leagues
. Varsity high school games and some older youth leagues (Under-17 and Under-18) may follow the full professional standard of 90 minutes, with two 45-minute halves and a 15-minute halftime, especially in playoff or tournament settings
. If a high school game is tied and a winner is required (such as in playoffs), overtime may be played, often using a "sudden death" or "golden goal" format, and possibly followed by penalty shootouts. These extensions can lengthen the total game time up to around two hours in extreme cases
. In summary:
- Regular high school games: 2 halves × 40 minutes = 80 minutes plus halftime (~10 minutes)
- Varsity or older age groups: 2 halves × 45 minutes = 90 minutes plus halftime (~15 minutes)
- Overtime and penalties (if needed) can extend the game beyond 90 minutes, sometimes close to two hours
This structure balances the endurance levels of high school athletes while allowing for competitive play and tournament scheduling.
