Youth Soccer Game Lengths by Age

How Long Are Youth Soccer Games?

Use the table below as a US Youth Soccer reference point, then confirm your own league, tournament, or state association rule.

Age group	USYS game length	Overtime in USYS table	Ball size
U6	Four 6-minute quarters	None	Size 3
U8	Four 12-minute quarters	None	Size 3
U10	Two 25-minute halves	None	Size 4
U11-U12	Two 30-minute halves	Two 10-minute halves	Size 4
U13-U14	Two 35-minute halves	Two 10-minute halves	Size 5
U15-U16	Two 40-minute halves	Two 15-minute halves	Size 5
U17-U19	Two 45-minute halves	Two 15-minute halves	Size 5

US Youth Soccer also allows state associations and competitions to use approved variations, especially for younger modified rules and tournament play.

How Long Is A U10 Soccer Game?

Under the US Youth Soccer policy table, U10 uses two 25-minute halves and no overtime. Some leagues may shorten games, split play into quarters, or use local small-sided rules.

For coaches, U10 timing matters because substitutions can sneak up quickly. A 50-minute match with a larger roster needs a rotation plan before kickoff.

How Long Is A U12 Soccer Game?

Under the US Youth Soccer policy table, U11 and U12 use two 30-minute halves. The same table lists two 10-minute overtime halves when overtime applies.

Tournament rules may skip overtime in group play or go straight to kicks from the penalty mark in knockout games. Always check the event rules before promising families how long the day will run.

How Long Is A U14 Soccer Game?

Under the US Youth Soccer policy table, U13 and U14 use two 35-minute halves. The table lists two 10-minute overtime halves when overtime is used.

This is often the stage where the match starts to feel closer to older youth soccer. Coaches should plan substitutions around longer halves, higher running loads, and fewer natural stoppages.

Do Youth Soccer Games Use Quarters Or Halves?

Younger ages often use quarters, while older youth teams usually use halves. In the US Youth Soccer policy table, U6 and U8 use quarters, while U10 and older use halves.

That said, local leagues sometimes use quarters at older recreational ages to create natural substitution windows. If your league does that, follow the league rule.

Are Tournament Games Shorter?

Tournament games are often shorter than regular league games because organizers need to fit multiple matches, rest windows, referees, and field turnover into one day.

The tournament rule sheet should list game length, halftime length, overtime, tiebreakers, weather-shortened procedures, and whether finals use different timing from group games.

Coach Checklist Before Kickoff

• Confirm the published match length.
• Check whether the game uses halves or quarters.
• Ask whether group games can end in ties.
• Confirm overtime or tiebreaker rules before knockout games.
• Build substitutions around the real game length, not last week’s league format.

Game timing is one of the easiest details to get wrong when a team moves between league play, friendlies, and tournaments.