How Long Is A High School Football Game?

According to a Statista survey, football is the most popular sport in the US, with 37% of adults reporting that it is their favorite sport.

High school football, also known as prep football, is the third level of football behind college and professional leagues.

You might be wondering “How Long Is A High School Football Game?” and does it last as long as the higher leagues?

In this post, we’ll discuss the length of a high school football game and provide some interesting facts about football matches.

You might also like to know: What Does Holding Up 4 Fingers Mean? (in football)

How Long Do High School Football Games Last?

High school football games typically last between two hours and two and a half hours. They consist of 12-minute quarters instead of 15 minutes in all other forms of the game. A 10-20 minute halftime between the 2nd and 3rd quarters plus timeouts and penalties further increase the total game time.

How Many Minutes Is A High School Football Game?

A high school football game is 48 minutes long and made up of 4 quarters of 12 minutes each. But if you are looking at the game as a whole, it usually lasts around two hours. There are clock stoppages just like a college football game and halftime of 10-20 minutes.

What Determines How Long A Football Game Will Be?

Some of the major things that determine how long a football game will last are:

• Penalties
• Timeouts
• Style of Play
• Game Flow
• Bad Weather
• Injuries

An NFL-funded study reported that high school football players suffered 11.2 concussions per 10,000 games or practices, nearly twice as many as college football players. Source: (espn.go.com)

Other common injuries include injuries to the legs, arms, and lower back. Source: (verywellfit.com)

How Long Is A High School Scrimmage Football Game?

High school scrimmage football games typically last 60 minutes but can last two hours. Total football scrimmage time includes the warm-up and breaks. The scrimmage can end earlier than the allotted time if one of the school teams requests it. The opposing squad is required to honor this request.

📢 You might also enjoy reading: How Long Is A High School Lacrosse Game?

How Long Is A Canadian High School Football Game?

A Canadian high school football game comprises 4 quarters of 12 minutes, so the total playtime is 48 minutes. The half time is around 10-20 minutes. On the other hand, an amateur or professional Canadian football game is divided into four 15-minute quarters making the playtime 60 minutes.

Most Canadian schools use Canadian football rules adapted for the high school game.

How Long Is A Football Game For 14 Year Olds?

Football games for 14-year-olds typically last around two to two and half hours. The football game is made up of four 12-minute quarters, so the actual game time is 48 minutes. Clock stoppages increase the real-time play to more than two hours. Half time usually lasts around 10-20 minutes.

📢 You might also enjoy reading: Inspiring Track And Field Motivational Quotes

How Long Is A High School Homecoming Football Game?

A high school homecoming football game lasts just as long as any other school season football game. There are four 12-minute quarters and 10-20 minute halftimes. The real-time play is usually extended to around 2 hours or sometimes two and half hours because of time outs, penalties, or injuries.

How Long Is A High School Flag Football Game?

Depending on the high school or state, a high school flag football game consists of two 15 to 20-minute halves. The clock only stops for a 5-minute halftime interval (3-minutes if overtime is required) and timeouts of 30 seconds (each team has 3). Game time can be increased by penalties or injury.

📢 You might also enjoy reading: How Long Is A High School Soccer Game?

How Many Minutes In A Football Game?

High school football games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each and 10-20 minute halftimes, and the total real-time play is around two hours. On the other hand, NFL games comprise four 15-minute quarters, and the real-time play is three hours and 12 minutes on average.

Why Do Football Games Take So Long?

High school football games comprise four 12-minute quarters, so the playtime is just 48 minutes. But the real-time play is extended by penalties and timeouts to between two hours and two and a half hours. There is also a 10 to 20-minute halftime before the third and fourth quarters, where football players rest and strategize while the cheerleaders entertain the fans.

📢 You might also enjoy reading: What Size Football Does High School Use?

Football Game Length Based On Level

How Long Are Junior High Football Games?

Junior high school football games are shorter than college-level or professional football games as they consist of 10-minutes quarters. The total playtime is around 40 minutes. Halftime is typically 10 minutes, and the total game time from start to end is approximately 2 hours but can be shorter.

📢 You might also enjoy reading: Is Creatine Safe for Teens?

How Long Is A Youth Football Game?

A youth football game consists of 8-minute quarters, so the actual game time is 32 minutes. Halftimes for these matches are typically 10 minutes. Note that in some youth leagues, teams play 10-minute quarters. If you add breaks and stoppages, the total game time is one to one and a half hours.

How Long Do College Football Games Last?

A college football game comprises four quarters of 15 minutes, so the total college game time is 60 minutes. The real-time play is usually slightly under three and half hours. College football games are longer than NFL games because there are clock stoppages when first downs are gained, and halftimes last 20 minutes.

How Long Do College Football Games Last On TV?

A college football game on TV does not go beyond three and a half hours. Broadcasters discuss the tournament and college football players on both sides during a 5-minute introduction before the game starts. Not all games are the same – some may last four hours.

How Long Do NFL Games Last?

Most NFL games last a little over three hours. These games consist of four quarters which are 15 minutes each, so the total playtime is 60 minutes. NFL quarters don’t run continuously due to stoppages, so they are usually around 40 minutes. Halftimes in NFL football games are 12 minutes.

How Long Do NFL Games Last On TV?

NFL games last between three and three and half hours on average. There’s usually a short introduction before the game begins where broadcasters or analysts discuss the game and prominent players and a recap at the end. This usually pushes the game time to more than three hours and 15 minutes.

📢 You might also enjoy reading: How Long Are High School Volleyball Game

Related Questions About Football Games

How Many Quarters In High School Football?

High school football games have four quarters of 12 minutes each, meaning the total game time is 48 minutes. Halftime in high school football games usually is 12 minutes and is held after the second quarter. The real-time play is approximately two and a half hours.

How Long Is A High School Football Game Quarter?

In most states, the standard length of a high school football quarter is 12 minutes. This means the actual four-quarter game time is 48 minutes. However, in Massachusetts, quarters are 11-minutes during the regular season and 10-minutes in the playoffs. 

How Long Is Halftime In High School Football?

Halftimes in high school football are typically 10-20 minutes. Players rest, and the coaches re-strategize during this period before returning for the third and fourth quarters. Halftime is also when cheerleaders and bands perform while fans get an opportunity to buy snacks and use the bathrooms.

What Time Do High School Football Games Start?

High school football games typically start between 6.30 to 7.30 pm on Fridays. The exact starting time depends on your high school. In most cases, these games last between two and two and half hours, so the games usually end by 10 pm.

How Long Can A High School Football Game Be Delayed?

Delay of game is a practice used by players to stall the game and gain an advantage. The offensive team gets a five-yard penalty if the ball is not played 25 seconds after the referee signals play to start. In the NFL and some leagues, the play clock is set to 40 seconds.

How Long Is The First Half Of A High School Football Game?

High school football games usually last about two hours. There are four twelve-minute quarters, so the total playtime is 48 minutes. Clock stoppages because of things like penalties and timeouts extend the real-time play. So, the first half of a school game is slightly more than an hour.

How Long Is Extra Time In A Football Game?

Extra time in a football game is 10 minutes, down from the previous 15 minutes, to keep the players safer. Overtime usually starts after a three-minute break. Both teams can have the ball during overtime except when the team that acquires the ball first scores a touchdown.

Individual state associations determine overtime rules and the type of overtime used.

What Determines Extra Time In Football?

There is extra time in football for games that end in a tie at the end of regular time. Both teams are allowed possession of the ball at least once during extra time. This rule doesn’t apply when the team that got the ball first scores a touchdown which means they win the match.

What Is A Mercy Rule?

The mercy or knockout rule is typically applied in high school football when one of the school teams has abnormally high scores that the other team cannot reach. It is usually applied at halftime or any time during the second half, allowing the football game to end earlier than usual.

Texas uses a 45-point mercy rule (to stop the game) only in six-man football; for 11-man football, there is no automatic stoppage but the coaches may mutually agree to use a continuous clock. Source: (en.wikipedia.org)

When Does High School Football Season Start?

While in most states, the first match of the high school football season is usually played at the end of August in states like Alaska, Alabama, Hawaii, California, Indiana, Tennessee, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota, Utah, and Minnesota.While states like Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Arkansas, Vermont, and Delaware also hold high school football games in September.

When Does High School Football Season End?

The last regular game of the high school football season is typically played in October.