Football maths quest: time
A story-led junior maths adventure using scores, tables and stadium measures to read clocks, plan routes and beat countdowns.
Quick answer
You can use football to learn about time by reading clocks, planning when to arrive at the stadium, and timing matches and games.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to read the time on clocks, understand how long football games last, and plan your football day using time. Success signs:- You can tell the time to the hour and half-hour
- You can plan a football day using times
- You can understand how long football matches last
- You can read a 24-hour clock
Why this matters
Time is important for football. You need to know the time to arrive at the stadium, watch the match, and know when to go home. Understanding time helps you plan your football day, just like how you plan your morning or afternoon. When you know time, you don’t miss your favourite match or get stuck at the stadium too late.How it works
Time is shown on clocks. Clocks have two hands: a short hand for hours and a long hand for minutes. There are 60 minutes in an hour. You can use time to know when to start a game, when to take a break, or when a match ends. You can also use time to plan your football day, like when to eat lunch or when to watch the match.Examples you can see
- Football matches last 90 minutes (45 minutes for each half)
- Most football games start at 3pm or 7pm
- You need to arrive at the stadium 30 minutes before the match starts
- Some matches happen in the morning (like 10am) and some in the evening (like 8pm)
Let’s imagine you are going to a football match at 3pm. You need to leave home at 2:30pm to arrive on time. The match will last for 90 minutes, so it ends at 4:30pm.
Look at this clock showing 3:30:
| Hour Hand | Minute Hand | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Points to 3 | Points to 6 | 3:30 |
When the minute hand points to 6, it means 30 minutes past the hour. When the hour hand is between 3 and 4, it means it is 30 minutes past 3.
Try it as a mini adventure
Imagine you are going to a football match at 4:15pm. Your adventure is to plan your day:
- 1st time: You wake up at 7am. How long is that before the match?
- 2nd time: You eat breakfast at 8am. What time is that in relation to the match?
- 3rd time: You leave home at 3:45pm. How long is that before the match?
- 4th time: You arrive at the stadium at 4:00pm. How long is that before the match starts?
- 5th time: The match ends at 5:45pm. What time is that in relation to when you arrived?
Now, let’s do a football time challenge:
Challenge: You are going to a football match that starts at 2:30pm. You need to be at the stadium 15 minutes before the match starts. What time should you arrive?
Answer: 2:15pm
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking that 30 minutes is 30 minutes past the hour, but not knowing how to read the minute hand correctly.
- Why it happens: Children often confuse which hand is for minutes and which is for hours.
- Fix: Practice pointing to the minute hand and saying how many minutes past the hour it is.
- Mistake: Not understanding that 2:30pm means 30 minutes past 2 in the afternoon.
- Why it happens: Confusing morning and afternoon times.
- Fix: Use the phrase "in the morning" or "in the afternoon" to help understand.
- Mistake: Thinking that 12:00 is always noon, not knowing when it is morning or afternoon.
- Why it happens: Not knowing the difference between 12am and 12pm.
- Fix: Explain that 12am is midnight and 12pm is noon, and use a clock with AM and PM.
Parent and carer guide
Help your child understand time by using real clocks or apps to show time. Ask them to tell you the time at different parts of the day. You can also plan a football day together and use time to decide when to leave home, eat lunch, and watch the match.
How to help:
- Use a real clock or a digital clock to show how time works
- Ask your child to plan a football day using time
- Play time games, like "What time is it?" or "How long until the match?"
- Practice telling time in both 12-hour and 24-hour formats
What not to worry about:
- Children may mix up morning and afternoon times at first
- They might not understand 24-hour clocks right away
- They might need to practice a lot before they get it
Practice questions
- What time is it if the hour hand is on 4 and the minute hand is on 12?
- What time is it if the hour hand is on 6 and the minute hand is on 6?
- If a match starts at 3:45pm and lasts 90 minutes, what time does it end?
- What time is 15 minutes before 4:30pm?
- How many minutes are there in 1 hour and 30 minutes?
Answers:
- 4:00
- 6:30
- 5:15pm
- 4:15pm
- 90 minutes
FAQ
What time do football matches usually start?
Football matches usually start in the afternoon, between 2pm and 8pm, or in the morning around 10am.
How long does a football match last?
A football match lasts 90 minutes, which is 45 minutes for each half.
How can I help my child learn about time?
You can use clocks, games, and real-life situations like planning a football day to help your child learn time.
Why is time important for football?
Time helps you know when to arrive at the stadium, when the match starts, and when to go home. It helps you plan your football day.
How do I read a 24-hour clock?
A 24-hour clock shows times from 00:00 (midnight) to 23:59 (one minute before midnight). For example, 14:00 is 2pm, and 20:00 is 8pm.