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How long is overtime in high school basketball


How Long Is A High School Basketball Game? (Explained!)

Basketball is one of the most popular high school sports in the US. If you have a basketball-loving kid who is about to join high school or who already plays for the school basketball team, you’ll probably want to know the game’s length. 

Let’s look at how long a high school basketball game can last and the factors that increase the actual time of a high school basketball game.

Table Of Contents+

  • How Long Is A High School Basketball Game?
    • How Long Is A NBA Basketball Game?
    • How Long Is A College Basketball Game?
    • How Long Is A Middle School Basketball Game?
  • Factors That Affect High School Basketball Game Length
    • Quarters
    • The Shot Clock
    • Team Fouls
    • Timeouts
    • Halftime
    • Overtime
  • Related Questions To High School Basketball
    • How many periods in high school basketball?
    • How long are high school basketball quarters?
    • How long is a high school basketball halftime?
    • How many states have shot clocks in high school basketball?
    • When does basketball high school season start?
    • How long is a middle school basketball season?
    • How many basketball games in a season?
    • How long is halftime in NBA?
    • How long is college basketball halftime?
    • How many minutes in college basketball half?
    • Are NBA games longer than college?
    • How many hours is basketball played?

How Long Is A High School Basketball Game?

A high school basketball game runs for about an hour and thirty minutes. There are four 8-minute quarters, so the actual playtime is 32 minutes. There is a 10-min halftime break making the total 42 minutes. Things like timeouts and clock stoppages extend the length to over an hour.

Note that there are slightly different playing times for youth games, regular season ball games, school basketball playoff games, and games played at the collegiate level and junior varsity level. However, most school basketball players will play basketball matches that last anywhere from an hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Have a look at the table below which highlights the factors influecning basketball game time:

LevelPlay TimeHalf TimeShot ClockTimeoutsAverage Length
Youth40 min
( 2 x 20 min)
10 minRunning clock2 per game
(30 sec each)
1 hour
Junior High
24-32 min
(4 x 6 or 8 min)
10 minNo5 per game
(3 x 60 sec)
(2 x 30 sec)
1 hour
High School32 min
(4 x 8 min)
10 min35 sec
8 states only
5 per game
(3 x 60 sec)
(2 x 30 sec)
1hr - 1hr30
Women's NCAA40 min
(4 x 10 min)
15 min30 sec4 per game
( 1 x 60 sec)
(3 x 30 sec)
2 hours
Men's NCAA40 min
(2 x 20 min halves)
15 min30 sec4 per game
( 1 x 60 sec)
(3 x 30 sec)
2 hours
FIBA40 min
(4 x 10 min quarters)
15 min24 sec5 per game2 hours
NBA48 min
(4 x 12 quarters)
15 min24 sec7 per game
(1 min 15 sec each)
2 hours +

How Long Is A NBA Basketball Game?

NBA basketball games typically end slightly after two hours but can occasionally be longer because of team timeouts and clock stoppages.

These professional basketball games have four 12-minute quarters and a 15-minute halftime intermission between the second and third quarters. 2-minute breaks separate the quarters.

How Long Is A College Basketball Game?

College basketball games last for a little over two hours because of clock stoppages and timeouts. They are made up of two 20-minute halves, so in theory, the total playtime is 40 minutes.

There is a 15-minute break after the first half, and if the game ends in a tie, there is 5-minute overtime.

There can be no tied game in basketball, so additional overtime of another five minutes will be added to the game until there is a winner. 

How Long Is A Middle School Basketball Game?

Middle school basketball games run for approximately one hour when you factor in timeouts per game, clock stoppages, and halftime. The game comprises four 6-minute quarters, so the actual game time is 24 minutes. In some middle school basketball games, quarters last seven minutes.

Factors That Affect High School Basketball Game Length

Let’s take a look at the factors that increase a high school basketball game length:

Quarters

Basketball games are usually played in quarters. In high school basketball games, quarters are typically 8 minutes each, making the total playtime 32 minutes.

The four quarters are ten minutes each in some states, so the total playtime is 40 minutes.

High school basketball games are usually about twenty minutes longer in these states. Junior Varsity games also have quarters; the only difference is that the quarters are 6 minutes each, making the playtime 24 minutes.

The Shot Clock

If the game’s pace is slow, the game will take longer than usual. The shot clock prevents both teams from slowing the game’s pace and holding the ball for long periods to protect a lead. As the name suggests, shot clocks indicate the amount of time a school team has to shoot the ball. Usually, the clock starts over when the ball hits the rim or possession changes.

The shot clock rule is only used by 8 states in the NFHS. The shot clock length varies from state to state. Some have a 35-second shot clock, while NBA games have a 24-second shot clock. In most high school basketball games, there are no shot clocks. 

In some states, if a team is ahead by a particular number of points during the second half, the game clock is turned into a running clock and only stops between quarters or time outs. This is a school mercy rule, and it is implemented differently in various states.

Team Fouls

Teams are allowed five fouls in each quarter. This means if the number of fouls is more than five in a quarter, the opposing team earns free throws.

Timeouts

Typically, teams are given five timeouts for every game. Three of the timeouts are sixty seconds each, while the rest are 30 seconds each. 

Timeouts can be used to strategize play and, at the same time, give the players some time to catch their breath. 

Many teams wait till the last quartet to use their timeouts; that’s why there are more timeouts in the last few minutes of the game in most high school basketball games, which extends the average game time by around thirty minutes. Note that teams can use all timeouts in one quarter.

Halftime

The halftime break in high school basketball games is usually ten minutes.

During this period, teams rest, and the coaches get an opportunity to come up with new strategies to ensure their teams have a high chance of emerging victories at the end of regulation time.

Overtime

Like many other sports, there will be overtime when the game ends in a tie at regulation time. In high school basketball games, the overtime period lasts four minutes. There will be more overtime if there is no winner at the end of the 4-minute overtime period until a winner emerges.

Keep in mind that the overtime period is different in other levels of basketball. In NBA and college games, the overtime period is usually five minutes.

Watch this video below to learn the basic rules of basketball:

How many periods in high school basketball?

A high school basketball game is played in four quarters like in NBA and college basketball.

The four quarters are 8-minutes each, so the total playtime is 32 minutes.

The halftime break is 10 minutes, and the total real-time play is approximately 1-1.5 hours because of things like timeouts.

How long are high school basketball quarters?

High school basketball games have four quarters that are eight minutes each, so the playtime is 32 minutes.

There is a 10-minute halftime break between the second and the third quarters, and teams are allowed five timeouts each.

Because of timeouts and clock stoppages, these games last for more than an hour.

How long is a high school basketball halftime?

Halftime in a high school basketball game is 10 minutes but can sometimes be a 15-minute halftime break depending on the league’s rules.

The purpose of halftime intermission is to enable players to rest.

It is also during halftime that coaches develop new strategies after assessing the first half of the game.

How many states have shot clocks in high school basketball?

The shot clock is usually 30-35 seconds and is currently implemented in eight states: South Dakota, Washington, Rhode Island, North Dakota, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and California.

Shot clocks are usually applied to prevent players from holding the ball and slowing the game’s pace.

When does basketball high school season start?

The basketball season begins in November in most high schools, and the dates vary from state to state.

In other states, the season starts in December.

Practice or squad matches are usually played before the high school basketball season begins to help teams be in better shape for the new season.

Check this video that shows a day in the life and intense training of a high school basketball player:

How long is a middle school basketball season?

The middle school basketball season lasts about three months.

In most states, the season begins in the middle of November and runs till February.

There are typically 10 regular games in a middle school basketball season. Players can train around two to three times per week.

How many basketball games in a season?

The number of high school basketball games depends on the league.

There are approximately 20-35 regular season games in most tournaments, and the number is less than the number of games played in the NBA or college games.

State championship games or playoffs are common in high school games.

How long is halftime in NBA?

Halftime in the NBA is 15 minutes. During halftime, coaches get an opportunity to discuss game strategy for the remaining quarters of the game, and players also get to recover, especially after an intense first half. The breaks between each quarter are usually around two to three minutes.

How long is college basketball halftime?

College basketball halftimes are 15 minutes, just like in the NBA.

Halftimes enable players to rest as they await the second half of the game.

It is also the period when players and coaches can evaluate their first-half performance and develop tactics for the remaining half of the game.

How many minutes in college basketball half?

The first half of a college basketball game is 20 minutes, while the second half is also 20 minutes making the total playtime 40 minutes.

The halftime period is usually 15 minutes like in pro basketball, and if there is a tie after regulation time, there is an overtime period of five minutes.

Are NBA games longer than college?

NBA games are longer than college basketball games. NBA games are played in four 12-minute quarters, while college games are played in two 20-minute halves.

When things like timeouts are factored in, college games last slightly over two hours while NBA games last around 2.5 hours.

How many hours is basketball played?

The number of hours in a basketball game depends on the level of competition.

For instance, NBA games are played in four 12-minute quarters with 15-minute quarters, and the real-time play is over two hours.

High school games are played in 8-minute quarters and last about 1. 5 hours.

Hopefully, these times will help you determine how long forthcoming games will take. The next time you’re off to watch a school basketball match, you’ll know the real-time game length. Remember that if you’re watching the game on TV, there will usually be a pre and post-game show, including interviews with players, so keep that in mind. 

Basketball Overtime

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Overtime in the NBA is different from overtime in college basketball. You'll want to have an understanding of the following terms before you learn the rules of overtime:

  • Regulation
  • NBA
  • College Basketball
  • Shot Clock
  • Game Clock
  • Bonus
  • Double Bonus
  • Free Throws
  • Jump Balls

Table of Contents

  • Regulation
  • Overtime
  • How Long Does Overtime Last?
  • Overtime Jump Ball
  • Extra Overtime Quarters
  • Timeouts
  • Bonus
  • FAQ

Regulation

In the NBA, teams play four 12-minute quarters en route to a 48-minute regulation game. In college basketball, teams play two 20-minute halves and 40 minutes total, differing from the professional game. In both cases, if the two teams are tied at the end of regulation overtime is played in order to decide a winner

Overtime

Overtime in basketball happens when the score is tied at the end of regulation. Overtime is used to determine the winning team when the score is tied. Overtime always begins with the ball being put into play via a jump ball. If the two teams are tied after overtime then they play second overtime with the same rules and regulations. This continues until a winner is decided.

How Long Does Overtime Last?

Overtime is an extra period in both the NBA and NCAA. Each overtime period is five minutes long and the team that finishes the period with the lead is the winner of the game.

Overtime Jump Ball

At the start of overtime, a jump ball is used to put the ball into play. All jump balls take place at the center circle. The same procedure is used for this jump ball as is in regulation. A player from each opponent takes the jump ball by jumping into the air and trying to tip it to one of their teammates. Players are not allowed to grab a hold of the ball. Instead, they must tip the ball in the direction of a teammate using one hand. Jump balls are used in overtime in order to give both teams an equal chance at possession just as in regulation.

Additional overtime quarters are played if the score is tied at the end of the first overtime quarter. There is no limit on the number of overtime periods that can be played as a winner is always determined in basketball. There is no sudden-death method of determining the winning team like in other sports.

Timeouts

A timeout is the ability to stop the game clock and shot clock from ticking. Some reasons to call a timeout in basketball are for making substitutions, to ice a player, or to change the play design.

In each NBA Overtime period, both teams are given two 60-second timeouts. College teams, on the other hand, are only given one timeout. Timeouts that were not used in regulation do not roll over into overtime and this is the same from overtime period to overtime period.

Bonus

The bonus is a type of penalty situation in basketball that is given to a team when they are fouled a certain number of times during a period. In NBA overtime, if a team is fouled a total of five or more times they are in the bonus. Teams in the bonus get two free throws every time a player is fouled. In college basketball, a team’s foul count in the second half will carry over to overtime. For example, if a team has been fouled eight times going into overtime, they will be in the single bonus at the beginning of the overtime period.

FAQ

How many overtimes can a basketball game have?

In theory, a basketball game can have an infinite number of overtime periods. In both the NBA and college basketball, games cannot end in a tie. Therefore, teams will continue to play overtime periods until a winner is determined. One NBA game played in 1951 went into an NBA record six overtime periods. In the NCAA, a game between Bradley and Cincinnati went into a record seven overtime periods.

How long is college basketball overtime?

NCAA college basketball features a five-minute overtime period in the event of a tie. This is the same as the overtime period found in the NBA.

What is the record for the most overtimes in college basketball?

The record for the most overtime periods in one NCAA basketball game is seven. This record is shared between three games: Bradley vs Cincinnati (1981), Black Hills vs Yankton (1956), and Skidmore vs South Vermont (2010). These seven overtime periods equate to an additional 35 minutes of game time, which is just five minutes shy of a regulation game.

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Pages Related to Basketball Overtime

  • Basketball Kicked Ball
  • Basketball Live Vs. Dead Ball
  • Basketball Penalty Situation
  • Basketball Periods
  • Basketball Pivoting
  • Basketball NBA Vs. International Rules

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How long is a lacrosse game? It's the Moon!

Have you ever watched a game of lacrosse and wondered how long it would take? Some games, especially when you watch them on TV, seem to go on forever. This is completely normal if you are watching a replay and all the frames are pasted for promotional purposes.

But how long does a lacrosse game last? The game takes only 60 minutes, and the playing time is divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each. , but it's not a direct hour, it's just a real game. If you're going to be watching lacrosse live (or you happen to be on the sidelines), then you'll realize that there's a lot going on between games.

Who plays 60 minutes of lacrosse?

60-minute field game limited to college and Major League Lacrosse. For high school lacrosse games and games involving children, the length of the game can be much shorter and often adjusted according to the energy levels of the players.

What about the Quarters?

You will often hear this in basketball - first quarter, second quarter, and so on. Lacrosse is much the same: 60 minutes are divided equally into four parts. It's 15 minutes per quarter. Again, not all lacrosse games last 60 minutes. Let's say high school lacrosse games last only 48 minutes. This period will be divided equally into four, which means that each quarter lasts 12 minutes.

Can time stop while playing?

Yes, and there are several situations where the game will hit "pause". This happens when the ball goes out of bounds, the team takes a time-out and takes a break between each quarter.

Ball goes out of bounds

Let's say you're watching lacrosse and the ball goes out of bounds. Remember that field lacrosse is played in a designated area and there should be lines or markings that tell players how far they can run. It's very similar to tennis or basketball, where you can't go out of bounds. There are times when the lacrosse ball misfires, so it goes all the way across the field, bypassing the play lines. In this case, time stops immediately until the ball is retrieved and returned to the field. This can easily extend the game completion time.

At the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters

After the first and third quarters, teams may enjoy a two-minute break. Players can use this time to plan their next strategy, much-needed rest, rehydration, and motivation for each other to get better. The end of each quarter is also the perfect time for tired players to sit down and ask someone to take the field for a fresher approach to the game.

Two minutes may not sound like much now, but a lot can be done in those 120 seconds. In fact, the two-minute break is no different from basketball, where this rule also applies at the end of the first and third quarters. Again, we are talking about professional and college lacrosse here. For games with younger players, the rules may be slightly modified to accommodate their younger age. Therefore, the break time may be longer so that they can rest.

The end of the fourth quarter clearly ends the game - but what about the end of the second quarter?

Halftime or after 2nd quarter

After the 2nd quarter, players are given a more generous break. Also known as a break, players can rest for as long as ten minutes. After all, they've been playing for 30 minutes and they really could use some water and a place to breathe. Strategies can also be discussed at this time. It is also interesting to note that a break signals the need to switch sides. So, if your target was on the left side before the break, it will now be on the right side after the 2nd quarter.

Time Out

Each team can take a time out in the middle of the game, but it is not unlimited. Each team may have two time-outs in each half. This equates to about one timeout per quarter, but remember that the limit is on the "break", not the quarter. Therefore, you can use two timeouts in the first quarter and none at all in the second quarter. If you do not use timeouts during the first half, they do not carry over to the second half. This is why coaches should be very careful about the use of timeouts and only use them when absolutely necessary. How long do they last? It usually takes only a few minutes - no more than the break time between quarters.

Are there overtimes in lacrosse?

Yes, some lacrosse games may exceed the 60-minute mark for professional games. This often happens when there is a tie between two teams. It needs to be broken, and this is done after 5 minutes of overtime. Not much, right? But you will be surprised how much can be done in those 5 minutes. The overtime period may also vary by league. For example, the NCAA only allows 4 minutes of overtime, while MLL and PLL are quite generous with 10 minutes of overtime. In overtime, the team that scores the goal wins.

What about fines?

Make no mistake, penalties in lacrosse have nothing to do with how long the game is. Generally, when a team is penalized, it simply means they have to play the game with one less team member for a set period of time. This may span several minutes for a particular quarter. It may seem like such a short time, but it can mean a lot to the game itself.

How long is the average high school lacrosse game?

High school lacrosse games are usually 40 to 48 minutes long, with quarters of 10 or 12 minutes. However, you get a generous 12-minute break at halftime!

How long do college lacrosse games last?

College lacrosse games typically consist of four quarters of 15 minutes, each lasting a full 60 minutes per game.

What are free periods?

Time periods are usually quarters of a full game of lacrosse. For high school, they are 10 or 12 minutes each, for college, 15 minutes.

How many quarters are there in a game of lacrosse?

All Lax games are divided into four parts of the same length, usually 10-12 or 15 minutes with short breaks in between, and longer after two quarters.

Closing Words

In summary, lacrosse is a game with well-written rules designed to keep things fair and fast. If you're going to watch a live lacrosse game, you might want to highlight at least 90 minutes of your time for the game itself. However, if you're going to play it on your own, make sure you upgrade your stamina to a level that will help you last throughout the game.

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Labor Code of the Russian Federation Article 99. Overtime work \ ConsultantPlus

Labor Code of the Russian Federation Article 99. Overtime work

(as amended by the Federal Law of 30.06.2006 N 90-FZ)

(see the text in the previous edition)

Personnel guide. Issues of application of Art. 99 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation

- Duration of overtime work

- Registration of attraction to overtime work

- Types of compensation for overtime work

Overtime work - work performed by an employee on the initiative of the employer outside the working hours established for the employee: daily work (shifts ), and in the case of summarized accounting of working hours - in excess of the normal number of working hours for the accounting period.

An employer may engage an employee in overtime work with his written consent in the following cases:

working hours, if failure to perform (non-completion) of this work may result in damage or destruction of the property of the employer (including the property of third parties held by the employer, if the employer is responsible for the safety of this property), state or municipal property, or endanger life and health of people;

2) during the performance of temporary work on the repair and restoration of mechanisms or structures in cases where their failure may cause a significant number of employees to stop working;

3) to continue work if the replacement employee does not appear, if the work does not allow a break. In these cases, the employer is obliged to immediately take measures to replace the shift with another employee.

An employer may engage an employee to work overtime without his consent in the following cases:

1) when performing work necessary to prevent a catastrophe, industrial accident or eliminate the consequences of a catastrophe, industrial accident or natural disaster;

2) during the performance of socially necessary work to eliminate unforeseen circumstances that disrupt the normal functioning of centralized hot water supply, cold water supply and (or) sanitation systems, gas supply, heat supply, lighting, transport, communications systems;

(as amended by the Federal Law of 07. 12.2011 N 417-FZ)

(see the text in the previous edition)

circumstances, that is, in the event of a disaster or threat of disaster (fires, floods, famine, earthquakes, epidemics or epizootics) and in other cases that endanger the life or normal living conditions of the entire population or part of it, as well as in cases provided for by this Code .

(as amended by Federal Law No. 273-FZ of July 14, 2022)

(see the text in the previous edition)

In other cases, involvement in overtime work is allowed with the written consent of the employee and taking into account the opinion of the elected body of the primary trade union organization .

Pregnant women, employees under the age of eighteen, and other categories of employees are not allowed to work overtime in accordance with this Code and other federal laws. Involvement in overtime work of disabled people, women with children under the age of three, mothers and fathers raising children under the age of fourteen without a spouse (wife), guardians of children of the specified age, a parent with a child under the age of fourteen, in case , if the other parent works on a rotational basis, as well as employees with three or more children under the age of eighteen years, in the period until the youngest of the children reaches the age of fourteen years, is allowed only with their written consent and provided that this is not prohibited by their state health in accordance with a medical certificate issued in accordance with the procedure established by federal laws and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation.


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