Okay, so the other day, I was trying to figure out my schedule for the week, and my kid had a high school volleyball game. I was like, “Shoot, how long are these things anyway?” I needed to know if I could squeeze in some grocery shopping afterward or if I’d be stuck at the gym all night.
My Quest to Find the Answer
First, I tried to guess. I’ve been to a few games before, but honestly, I’m usually too busy chatting with other parents or checking my phone (don’t judge!) to pay close attention to the clock. I figured, maybe an hour and a half? Two hours max?
I started by asking some of the other volleyball moms. One said, “Oh, they’re usually pretty quick, maybe an hour?” Another one said, “Depends if they go to five sets. Could be over two hours!” So, not super helpful. Everyone had different answers.
I decided to look it up.
What I Found Out
Well, it turns out there’s no super simple answer, but here’s the basic idea:
- Most high school volleyball matches are “best-of-five” sets. That means the first team to win three sets wins the match.
- Each set goes to 25 points, but you have to win by two points.
- If the teams are tied after four sets (2-2), they play a fifth set, which only goes to 15 points (again, win by two).
So, doing the math, each of the first four sets could take about 20-30 minutes, depending on how close the scores are. The fifth set, if they play it, might be a bit shorter, maybe 15-20 minutes.
When you do the math it can last from an hour to two or close to two and half hours.
The Bottom Line
I figured, best to block off at least two hours for the game, just to be safe. I’d rather have extra time than be rushing around like a crazy person. If it’s a shorter game, great! I can get my errands done. If it goes long, well, at least I’ll be prepared. Lesson learned: always plan for extra time when it comes to high school sports!
