Ever wanted to know the answer to “how long is a soccer game” but were afraid to ask? Well, welcome, new soccer moms, to the exciting world of travel soccer! I’m sure you have a lot of questions that you’re too embarrassed to ask the coach or the other parents. I’ve been in your shoes and I’m here to answer 6 of the most common new soccer mom questions, including ‘how long is a soccer game’.
So sit back and let’s get right to it.
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1. How long is a Soccer Game?
You’re a busy mom. You’re excited to watch your son’s soccer game, but you have things to do later. So how long is this soccer game? The short answer is anywhere between 50-70 min, depending on his age. Here is a quick guide that shows the length of the soccer game based on age.
Halftime is a standard 10 minutes up until they reach high school. Depending on how far away the restrooms are, you may have time to sprint there and back.
2. How big is a soccer field?
No surprise that as kids get older, the field size gets bigger. A smaller field allows younger players to develop ball control and a real desire to have the ball, and is a more enjoyable experience all around. Here’s a quick table that shows the length of the soccer field by age.
3. How many players are on a soccer field?
Every 2 years in youth soccer you add 2 more players to the field. Most travel soccer clubs start at U8 or U9 so you begin with 7 players, move to 9, and end up with 11, including the goalie, for the remainder of high school and beyond. I love a good color-coded chart like this one that answers all of my questions in one place. It’s basically a one-stop shop for new soccer mom questions.
4. What size soccer ball do you play with?
Most kids start out with a size 4 soccer ball when they join travel soccer and then gradually move up to a size 5 soccer ball when they hit U12. This chart shows you the dimensions of each size. As I mentioned in my previous soccer gear guide post, Dick’s or Amazon is a great place to buy a ball since you’ll likely be losing them at practice.
5. How big is the soccer goal?
I like this chart because it not only provides you the dimensions of the soccer goal by age, but it provides a visual depiction of how the goals become wider and taller.
6. What are the different soccer positions?
There are many different formations that a coach can choose to place players in, but this chart shows the basic names and positions. For new soccer moms, it may take several seasons to get the hang of it, but it will begin to make sense after a while. If you are interested in learning more about soccer formations, and specifically about the different popular with the US National Teams, check out the first page under formations of the US Soccer Style and Formations Guide.
Now you know all the answers to your questions about the basics of soccer that you were too embarrassed to ask. AND you have all the answers to your questions about what gear to buy. All you need now is some soccer snacks and swag for your player and you’re a seasoned soccer mom! You still may feel like a new soccer mom, but at least you don’t have to act the part. And even better, you know how long the soccer game is so you can organize the rest of your day.
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