How many quarters are there in a game of football?
With the new NFL season up and running, we take a look at how games are divided up, how long they last and what happens if there is a tie.
Most professionally-played sports have an interval when those taking part, and sometimes those watching from the stands as well, have a chance to get their breath back. American Football is no exception. NFL games are scheduled to be played in one hour but usually go on for much longer - the average NFL game takes 3 hours and 12 minutes from start to finish while the average college football game takes 3 hours and 24 minutes to be completed.
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How many quarters in one NFL game?
American Football games are divided into four 15-minute periods or quarters, separated by a 12-minute break at half-time. There are also two-minute breaks at the end of the first and third quarters as teams change over ends after every 15 minutes of play.
At the end of the first and third quarters, the team with the ball retains possession heading into the next quarter. However, that is not the case before half-time. The second half starts with a kickoff in the same direction as the game began in the first quarter. The clock stops at the end of incomplete passing plays, when a player goes out of bounds, or when a penalty is called. The clock starts again when the ball is re-spotted by an official. Between the second and third quarters, there is an intermission of 13 minutes. During this intermission, play is suspended, and teams may leave the field.
What if there is a tie?
In the event the score is tied at the end of the regulation playing time (four periods - one hour), the game is extended by an overtime period (or periods) of 10 minutes*.
Once regulation time has been completed, following a three-minute intermission, an extra period of 10 minutes starts. Each team is entitled to two timeouts during each period of overtime. Overtime continues until there is a winner. During the 2022 season, 20 games were taken to overtime, compared to 21 during the 2021 season.
Overtime rules for NFL regular season
- At the end of regulation time, the referee will toss a coin to determine which team will possess the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss.
- No more than one 10-minute period will follow a three-minute intermission. Each team must possess, or have the opportunity to possess, the ball. (The exception: if the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession).
- Sudden death play — where the game ends on any score (safety, field goal or touchdown) — continues until a winner is determined.
- Each team gets two timeouts.
- The point after try is not attempted if the game ends on a touchdown.
- If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, the result of the game will be recorded as a tie.
- There are no instant replay coach’s challenges; all reviews will be initiated by the replay official.
Overtime rules for NFL postseason
- Unlike regular season games, postseason games cannot end in a tie, so the overtime rules change slightly for the playoffs.
- If the score is still tied at the end of an overtime period — or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended — the teams will play another overtime period. Play will continue regardless of how many overtime periods are needed for a winner to be determined.
- There will be a two-minute intermission between each overtime period. There will not be a halftime intermission after the second period.
- The captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will either choose to possess the ball or select which goal his team will defend, unless the team that won the coin toss deferred that choice.
- Each team will have an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime.
- Each team gets three timeouts during a half.
- The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth regulation periods also apply at the end of a second or fourth overtime period.
- If there is still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be another coin toss, and play will continue until a winner is declared.
*The overtime system has been in place since its introduction to regular season games in 1974. In 2017, the overtime period was shortened from 15 to 10 minutes