American football games, whether played in the National Football League (NFL), colleges, or high schools, normally have four quarters. Each quarter has an own character, though, and circumstances like overtime can change the traditional four-quarter format. Continue reading to find out more about how football is divided into quarters and the intricacies of each one.
How long does a quarter last?
Each quarter lasts 15 minutes in both the NFL and college football, making a regular game last an hour. However, taking into account timeouts, injuries, commercial breaks, halftimes, and other pauses, like evaluating a play, the full game lasts far longer than an hour. Quarters in high school football last 12 minutes, therefore a typical game lasts 48 minutes in total.
Do Intermissions Occur During the Game?
There are always normal pauses in an NFL, college, or high school game, even though the play clock can halt for a variety of reasons. The longest pause is during halftime. Halftime in an NFL game during the regular season typically lasts 12 minutes, however it occasionally lasts 15 minutes, depending on the circumstances.
The entertainment act can perform because the halftime break is substantially longer during the Super Bowl. Halftime in college games lasts 20 minutes because the band plays on the field. The teams switch sides of the field at the conclusion of the first and third quarters, which is followed by a break lasting at least two minutes.
When Are There Four Quarters And More?
In an NFL game, if there is a tie after regulation, a 15-minute overtime period will start. The winner of the game during this period is the first team to score a touchdown. When a team kicks a field goal, the other team has the chance to take the field and score a touchdown to win the game.
If an overtime period ends without a winner, it is deemed a tie. If a team scores a touchdown in overtime, it concludes right away.
In both high school and college football, teams have a chance to score from their opponent’s 25-yard line. In addition to offensive and defensive touchdowns, scores may also include field goals, extra points, and two-point conversions.
A new overtime period starts if the game is still tied after one goal attempt by each team. Each team must attempt a two-point conversion after a score after the game has entered its third overtime. Until one side is in the lead at the conclusion of an overtime period, play continues.
Starting with the second overtime period in high school football, a two-point conversion try must be made, and possession typically starts on the 10-yard line of the opposition. In Canadian football, which differs slightly from American football, the first possession in overtime is started on the 35-yard line of the opposition.
Two Minute Warnings: What Are They?
During each half, each side has three timeouts where they can halt play and gather as a team to strategize. There are also two-minute warnings at the conclusion of the first half (first two quarters) and the second half (last two quarters). Prior to the completion of the half or the game, these “additional timeouts” allow both teams to plan their strategies.
What Other Causes of Clock Stoppage Exist?
The play clock may halt in addition to timeouts and breaks for a number of other causes. The time will stop if the ball carrier leaves the field of play or the quarterback delivers an incomplete pass.
Injuries, replay checks of plays by officials, a score in the game (a touchdown, field goal, or safety), or a coach challenging a call are some more explanations.
Does Soccer Have Quarters?
Sports fans may be curious to know if soccer is divided up similarly to American football because soccer is also known as football in many different parts of the world. The response is that it is not.
Soccer has two separate halves and a halftime break, but unlike the NFL or American college football, these halves are not divided into quarters. Soccer games are played in 45-minute halves with a 15-minute halftime interval.