As a soccer fan, half time can be a little frustrating. After all, it breaks up the flow of the match and leaves you with a period of time with nothing to do!
But for players and coaches, half time in soccer is a vital part of the match. In this article, we explain in detail what happens at half time and why it’s so important.
What is half time in soccer?
Half time in soccer is the midway point of the match. After 45 minutes, the referee blows the whistle to indicate that the first half is over, and the players are given a fifteen-minute break. At the end of the break, the players return to the field to complete the remaining 45 minutes. But what happens during half time in soccer? Let’s find out.
What happens during half time?
Half time provides players with a welcome break during the match. After all, playing soccer for ninety minutes without a break would be physically demanding and would probably result in injury. Therefore, players use half time to recuperate, as well as a range of other things, as we explain below.
The players recuperate and rehydrate
After 45 minutes out on the field, the players use the half-time break as an opportunity to recuperate and rehydrate. It’s so important for players to take on sufficient fluids throughout the game, as dehydration will affect their performance.
Also, some players might be feeling a slight injury or niggle as the first half comes to an end. The half time break allows them to assess their injury and discuss it with the coach and medical team.
They can then decide if they’re fit enough to head back out for the second half, or whether they need to be substituted for a teammate. Ultimately, half time enables the coach and players to come together to recuperate and plan for the second half.
The players discuss match events and problem solve
Before the coach provides their assessment of the game so far, players often discuss among themselves what has gone wrong (or right!) out on the field. During the match, it’s difficult to have a discussion about the game as it’s going on.
However, back in the locker room, players have the chance to get things off their chest and openly discuss how they’re going to respond to any challenges that they’ve faced.
Coaches encourage discussion between the players at half time in soccer, as it makes their job easier. It also often influences what they’re going to say because the players often resolve issues between themselves without the coach needing to intervene.
The coach considers tactical changes and substitutions
No matter whether your team is winning, losing, or drawing the fixture, the coach will consider tactical changes and substitutions at half time. After all, it’s the responsibility of the coach to make changes that will bring about a positive result.
If you’re struggling out there, the coach might tweak the formation to make things more difficult for your opposition. They will use the half-time break to explain the changes to the players, no matter what they are.
What’s more, if the coach thinks that things aren’t going particularly well out there, they might consider making a substitution. While most coaches typically wait until the hour mark to make subs, wholesale changes at half time might sometimes be necessary.
Jose Mourinho has been known to gamble with three substitutions at half time. While it doesn’t always pay off, Jose is one of the best in the business, and it certainly sparks a reaction from the players out on the field when the coach changes things at half time.
The coach issues instructions for the second half
Before the second half gets underway, the coach will issue instructions to the players. They will do this during the team talk, and it might include changes, or the coach might tell them to go and do more of the same.
It really just depends on how well the team is performing, as this will influence the approach that the coach takes at half time and what they end up communicating to the players.
Once the fifteen minutes are up, it’s incumbent on the players to take on board what the coach has told them and to perform well in the second half to get the result that they all desire.
What do fans do during half time?
In professional soccer, the half-time interval also provides the fans with a break in the stadium. Typically, fans will head down to the concourse to enjoy refreshments and head to the bathroom.
They also have the chance to chat through the game with their fellow fans and reflect on how the 45 minutes have played out.
In most soccer stadiums, fans can’t leave the stadium and need to stay in their seats or in the concourse until the match resumes. Some clubs put on some form of half-time entertainment, but it’s not common in all leagues around the world.
Why is half time necessary?
Half time in soccer is necessary because it gives the players a chance to recover. Soccer is a physically demanding sport, and players work really hard from the first to the final whistle. The short period at half time allows them to recover.
As mentioned above, it also provides coaches with the opportunity to motivate their players and make changes if things aren’t going to plan. This is often why you see teams come out for the second half with a completely different approach.
The best coaches in the world really earn their money during the half-time interval and have a chance to influence the outcome of the second half.
How long is the half-time break?
In professional soccer, the half-time break runs for fifteen minutes. The referee blows the whistle after 45 minutes of play in the first half, indicating that the players can head to the locker room for fifteen minutes before the second half commences.
However, in recreational soccer, it’s not uncommon for half time to be shorter than this. Many teams don’t go back to the locker room and stay out on the field, so the referee might encourage them to get back underway more quickly than the allotted fifteen minutes.
In little league soccer, when matches are shorter, the referee will decide how long is appropriate to give the teams at half time. For instance, if your kids are playing a forty-minute match with twenty-minute halves, it doesn’t make sense to take a fifteen minute interval!
Are there any quarters in soccer?
While lots of American sports are split into quarters, soccer isn’t one of them. Soccer only has half time, which comes – as the name suggests – halfway through the match. When temperatures exceed a certain level, drinks breaks are sometimes introduced, but they’re typically only a short break of 2-3 minutes.
Also, some little league matches might split the games into quarters, as it provides the coaches with more time to give the kids instructions to take out onto the field.
But in the adult game, there is only ever one break between the two halves, which is known as half time in soccer.
Recap: Half time in soccer explained
Half time is an important aspect of soccer, as it allows players to recover and rehydrate after a competitive first half. It also provides the coach with the opportunity to exert their influence over proceedings.
The half-time interval lasts for fifteen minutes in adult soccer, but it might be a shorter period of time in recreational and little league matches, depending on the recommendations of the league.