How long is a game?

• The game total is the predetermined number of goals to win the game. A game is played until one team first reaches the game total.

  • A standard game has a game total of 13 or 15.
    
    

• The halftime target is the number of goals necessary to first reach at least half of the game total. Halftime begins when one team’s score first reaches the halftime target. [[In a game with a game total of 15, the halftime target will be 8.]]

  • A standard halftime is 10 minutes. [[The receiving team should be properly positioned on the line, having signaled readiness by the end of halftime, at which time the defense will have 15 seconds to release the pull.]]
    
    

• Time Caps

  • The soft cap occurs once a predetermined time of play has elapsed. At the soft cap, play continues until the current scoring attempt is completed. If, after the current scoring attempt is completed, the game total has not yet been reached by one team, one is added to the higher score and the resulting number is the new game total.

    1. [[For example, in a game with a score total of 15 and a soft cap of 100 minutes, the scoring attempt at 100 minutes is completed for a score of 12-11. Add 1 to the higher score and the new game total is 13. Either team may still win.]]

  • The hard cap is the ending of the game once a predetermined time of play has elapsed. At the hard cap, play continues until the current scoring attempt is completed. If, after the current scoring attempt is completed, the score is tied, play continues until one additional goal is scored. Otherwise, the game ends. The team with the most goals at the end of the game is the winner.

    1. [[For example, there is a tournament game with a hard cap of 90 minutes. At 90 minutes the hard cap is notified (by a horn) and the current scoring attempt is completed for a score of 8-8. Play continues for one additional goal. This point is often called "universe" point with the next goal winning 9-8.]]

  • The halftime cap occurs once a predetermined time of play has elapsed. At the halftime cap, play continues until the current scoring attempt is completed. If, after the current scoring attempt is completed, the halftime target has not yet been reached by one team, one is added to the higher score and the resulting number is the new halftime target.

[[For example in a tournament game, the halftime cap is at 45 minutes (with a 90 minute hard cap), and at 45 minutes the score is only 5-3 in a 13-point game. Halftime will be taken when one team reaches 6.]]  

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