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Soccer Rules:
Length of Game and Timing
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Soccer Rules
A typical professional soccer match will consist of two periods each 45 minutes long with a half-time of 15 minutes. Each soccer league may have different times. Youth leagues will generally have shorter periods. High school matches are generally two 40 minute periods or four 20 minute periods. Youth soccer games are often two 20 minute periods or four 10 minute periods.
Additional Time
The referee can allow for time lost due to substitutions, injuries, or one team wasting time. This rule was added because players would start to stall, fake injuries, or take a long time making substitutions once they had the lead. Now the referee can just add that time to the end of the period.
The end of the period is also extended to allow for a penalty kick, if needed.
A Tie Game
If the score is tied at the end of the second period, different things may happen depending on the rules of the soccer league. In some leagues the game is called a draw and is over. In other leagues they may go straight to penalty kicks. In FIFA World Cup Soccer they have an overtime period and then move to penalty kicks.
Overtime in World Cup FIFA
Sometimes extra periods are added in the case of a tie. Often this is two periods of 15 minutes each.
Penalty Kicks
Often times the winner of a tie game is determined by penalty kicks. Generally each team gets 5 shots on goal, with each team taking an alternate turn. A different player must take each shot. The team with the most points after 5 shots wins. More shots can be added, if needed.
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