Small-Sided Games as a Methodological Resource for Team Sports Teaching: A Systematic Review

The role of offensive and creative priming videos in enhancing youth football players' performance during small-sided games

Introduction

This study examined the effects of video-based priming interventions on youth football players' performance prior to playing small-sided games (SSG).

Methods

Twenty-four U14 players (age: 13.8 ± 0.4 years, football experience of 7.5 ± 2.3 years) participated in three conditions: (i) CONTROL (no priming), (ii) OFFENSIVE priming (a 4-minute video on progressive possession style leading to goals), and (iii) CREATIVE priming (a 4-minute video emphasizing innovative passes, dribbles, and shots). Tactical and physical performance were assessed using GPS devices, individual tactical performance using the Game Performance Evaluation Tool (GPET), and performance creativity using the CREATIVE Behavior Assessment in Team Sports (CBATS). Data were compared using the non-parametric Friedman ANOVA test.

Results

The OFFENSIVE condition demonstrated reduced variability in distances to teammates (X 2 = 7.00, p = 0.030), and increased overall external load compared to the CONTROL condition. Superior decision-making (X 2 = 18.6, p < 0.001) and execution (X 2 = 13.2, p = 0.001) in passing actions compared to both the control and creative conditions were observed. The CREATIVE condition promoted increased spatial exploration (X 2 = 6.10, p = 0.047), and more frequent shooting attempts (X 2 = 7.05, p = 0.029) compared to the CONTROL and OFFENSIVE conditions, and greater variability in distances to opponents compared to the CONTROL condition (X 2 = 9.75, p = 0.008).

Discussion

These findings demonstrate that video-based priming can influence tactical, technical, and creative behaviors in SSG. Coaches can leverage offensive priming to improve structured passing and positioning, while creative priming may inspire exploratory movements and innovative shooting attempts.

Original actions performed by a beginner attacker modify defensive dispersion in small-sided soccer games

In complex systems, the system's self-regulation processes can transition between states of equilibrium and disequilibrium, leading to changes in the distribution of players within the playing space. Actions that are surprising, rare, or out of the ordinary tend to be valued for their potential to destabilize the opposing defensive structure, altering player dispersion, and creating fragile spaces for the attack. With advancements in understanding the influence of the environment on players' affordances, the tactical consequences from individuals' solutions to various scenarios and their impact on the game context becomes a rich area for investigation. This study compared defensive dispersion in the moments preceding and following original actions in small-sided games. The original actions were obtained using the Creative Behavior Assessment in Team Sports (CBATS) observational matrix. At the same time, defensive dispersion was derived from positional data collected via GPS and processed using dedicated routines in MATLAB to obtain variables such as Stretch Index, Surface Area, Team Width, Team Length, and Individual Player Area. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was employed for normality, and the General Linear Model with Repeated Measures was used to compare pre-and post-action moments across different action classifications (pass and shot) and game configurations (SSG4v4 - Small, SSG4v4 - Large, SSG5v5 - Small, and SSG5v5 - Large). Differences were found in the Stretch Index, Surface Area, and Team Width variables in SSG4v4 - Small and Surface Area in SSG5v5 - Small (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the original action could attract opponents in small formats of SSG, increasing the contraction of the opposing team and reducing space around the action, with the potential to create new spaces in other areas of the field.

Do Different Playing Formats and Aerobic Capacity Influence Variances in Psychophysiological Demands and Technical Performance in Small-Sided Games? A Study among Under-17 Male Soccer Players

This study aimed to: (i) analyze the variations in psychophysiological demands (mean heart rate, meanHR; rate of perceived exertion, RPE) and technical performance (umber of successful and unsuccessful passes, and occurrences of ball loss) between 2v2 and 4v4 small-sided games (SSGs) formats, and (ii) examine the relationships of aerobic capacity measured in Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (YYIRT) on psychophysiological and technical performance during SSGs. This study used a cross-sectional design with repeated measures, where the same players participated in both 2v2 and 4v4 formats across two training sessions per format. Twenty-four talent/developmental male youth soccer players, aged 16.6 ± 0.5 years. The meanHR, measured through heart rate sensors, the RPE, assessed using the CR6-20 scale, and the number of successful and unsuccessful passes, along with occurrences of ball loss, recorded using an ad hoc observational tool, were evaluated in each repetition. Players during the 2v2 format had significantly greater mean HR (+4.1%; p < 0.001; d = 2.258), RPE (+12.2%; p < 0.001; d = 2.258), successful passes (+22.2%; p = 0.006; d = 0.884), unsuccessful passes (+62.5%; p < 0.001; d = 1.197) and lost balls (+111.1%; p < 0.001; d = 2.085) than 4v4 format. The YYIRT was significantly and largely correlated with unsuccessful passes (r = 0.502; p = 0.012) and lost balls (r = 0.421; p = 0.041) in 2v2 format. In conclusion, this study suggests that engaging in 2v2 activities constitutes a more intense form of practice, significantly enhancing individual participation in technical aspects. Moreover, aerobic capacity may influence the smaller formats of play and how players perform key technical actions. Therefore, coaches must consider this to ensure the necessary performance in such games.

Can heat conditions affect the heart rate responses, perception of effort, and technical performance of young male football players during small-sided games? a comparative study

BACKGROUND

Soccer coaches often employ small-sided games (SSGs) to elicit both physiological and technical responses from players. However, numerous contextual factors can influence the outcomes of these games. This comparative study aimed to investigate how environmental temperature (< 21ºC and > 29ºC) impacts heart rate responses, perception of effort, and technical performance in young male football players during SSGs.

METHODS

This study compares temperatures below 21ºC (∼ 20.4 ± 0.4ºC) with temperatures above 29ºC (∼ 29.7 ± 0.6ºC). This repeated measures study design involved 60 male football players at a trained/developmental level, selected from under-16 and under-19 teams. It aimed to assess the effects of the 3v3 format, conducted repeatedly under conditions of 21ºC and above 29ºC. Throughout the games, mean heart rate responses (HRmean), measured via heart rate sensors; rate of perceived exertion (RPE), assessed using the CR-10 Borg scale; and successful passes and lost balls, tracked through an ad hoc observational analysis tool, were monitored.

RESULTS

No significant interactions were observed (time*age group) in meanHR (F = 0.159; p = 0.691; [Formula: see text]=0.003), RPE (F=0.646; p=0.425; [Formula: see text]=0.011), number of passes completed (F=0.204; p=0.654; [Formula: see text]=0.003), and number of lost balls (F = 0.157; p = 0.694; [Formula: see text]=0.003). Overall, significantly higher heart rate responses in mean HR (p<0.001) and RPE (p<0.001) were observed at temperatures above 29ºC, while significantly more passes were completed at temperatures below 21ºC (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Heat conditions significantly intensified the psychophysiological responses in players, concurrently leading to a significant impairment in the number of passes. Coaches should contemplate implementing mitigation strategies to avert performance declines during heat conditions when utilizing SSGs.

Dual-Tasks in Soccer: Effects of Players' Experience and Task Condition on Physical Performance

In this study, we examined whether experience level and various dual motor and cognitive or single tasks influenced young soccer players' physical performance during small-sided games. Participants were 72 players from U-13 (n = 36) and U-17 (n = 36) groups who participated in 3-to-a-side small-sided games under four experimental conditions: control, a secondary motor task, an additional related secondary cognitive task, and an additional secondary non-specific task. We used GPS devices to measure physical performance in terms of distances covered and accelerations at different thresholds. We found no significant interaction effect between player experience and task condition (p = .540), meaning that dual tasks had comparable effects on players of different experience levels. There were significant main effects of both experience level (p < .001) and condition (p < .001) on most physically related variables. Older players outperformed younger ones, particularly in high-intensity actions. While secondary motor tasks decreased physical performance, secondary cognitive tasks, irrespective of specificity, did not impair players' performances. In conclusion, experience level did not influence the players' physical response to dual tasks, and a secondary motor task was more disruptive to physical performance than either of two types of secondary cognitive tasks. Cognitive tasks can be incorporated into soccer training without compromising physical performance.

The variability of physical enjoyment, physiological responses, and technical-tactical performance according to the bout duration of small-sided games: a comparative study between female and male soccer players

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare various factors, namely perceived enjoyment (PE), percentage of peak heart rate (%HRpeak), blood lactate (La), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and technical-tactical performance among soccer players across different bout durations (CB: continuous bout, MIB: medium intermittent bouts, and SIB: short intermittent bouts) and between male and female players during four-a-side (4vs4) small-sided games (SSGs) including goalkeepers.

METHODS

sixteen female soccer players (age: 20.1 ± 0.5 years old) and sixteen professional male adults (age: 20.7 ± 0.7 years old) participated in the study. SSGs (4vs4) were performed in a CB: (1 × 12 min), and in an interval format: MIB: (2 × 6 min), and SIB: (3 × 4 min) with 2 min of passive recovery. PE was collected after each SSGs. The players' heart rate (HR) was continuously measured, whereas ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and, blood lactate concentration ([La]) were determined at the end of each SSGs. Technical-tactical performance were analyzed during each session of SSGs. Pitch dimensions were (length x width) (25 × 32 m), and relative space per players was 100 m2.

RESULTS

For female soccer players, medium intermittent bouts (MIB) elicited significantly higher perceived enjoyment (PE) compared to continuous bouts (CB) (p < 0.001) and short intermittent bouts (SIB) (p < 0.01). Conversely, for male soccer players, CB resulted in higher PE compared to MIB (p < 0.001) and SIB (p < 0.001). During CB and MIB, peak heart rate (PeakHR) and percentage of peak heart rate (%HRpeak) were significantly higher in female players compared to SIB (PeakHR: CB: p < 0.001; PeakHR: MIB: p < 0.01; %HRpeak: CB: p < 0.001; %HRpeak: MIB: p < 0.01). Blood lactate (La) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were significantly greater in CB compared to MIB (La: p < 0.001; RPE: p < 0.01) and SIB (La: p < 0.001; RPE: p < 0.001) for female players only. For male players, CB resulted in significantly higher PeakHR, %HRpeak, La, and RPE compared to MIB (peak HR: p < 0.01, dunb = 1.35; %HR: p < 0.01; La: p < 0.01; RPE: p < 0.01) and SIB (peak HR: p < 0,01; %HR: p < 0.01; RPE: md = 0.87, p < 0.05). Regarding technical-tactical performance, in female players, the % of successful passes, successful tackles, and successful duels were higher during SIB compared to CB (p < 0.01; p < 0.001; p < 0.001) and MIB compared to CB (p < 0.01; p < 0.001; p < 0.001), while ball loss was lower during SIB compared to CB (p < 0.001) and MIB compared to CB (p < 0.001). In male players, % of successful passes and tackles were higher during CB compared to MIB (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05) and SIB (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05), while CB had a lower % of ball loss compared to MIB (p < 0.01) and SIB (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the % of successful duels between the bouts for either gender.

CONCLUSION

This study showed a difference in physical enjoyment between male and female soccer players depending on the bout duration of SSGs. For that, trainers should consider intermittent bouts for female soccer players and continuous bouts for male soccer players when designing SSGs-based training in order to significantly improve PE, training load, and technical-tactical performance.

Effects of applying a multivariate training program on physical fitness and tactical performance in a team sport taught during physical education classes

Introduction

A multivariate training program could be a pedagogical choice to improve physical and tactical performance in a team sport taught during physical education classes at different levels of education. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the effects of applying a multivariate training program on physical fitness and tactical performance during the teaching of a basketball didactic unit in basic and secondary education.

Methods

Seventy-five students from a Portuguese school, with an average age of 15.02 ± 1.31 years, included forty-two students from basic school and thirty-three students from secondary school. The FITescola® test battery was used to assess physical fitness (i.e., sit-ups, push-ups, horizontal impulse, shuttle test, 40 m sprint, agility 4 × 10 m). The Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) was used to assess students' tactical performance for each player's game performance during a 20-minute 3 vs. 3 match. The GPAI variables were decision making index (DMI), skill execution index (SEI), support actions index (SI), and adaptability index (AI). During a basketball didactic unit teaching, the students were randomly divided into two groups, a control group that will not carry out the training program and an experimental group that will carry out a strength training program, high intensity explosive exercises and activities based on small-sided games (SSG) for 6 weeks. The two groups were evaluated in two moments: before the application of the training program and after the application of the training program regarding changes in physical fitness and tactical performance. The independent samples t-test (samples from two groups) and paired sample Test (for the same group) were applied for pre and post-assessment comparisons.

Results

All indexes present significant differences between basic and secondary students in the pre- and post-assessment tests with small effects (t = -6.54 to -4.82, Δ = -27.57 to -0.16, p<0.05-p< 0.001, d = 0.78-1.05).

Discussion

The results allow to conclude that in a school environment, a well-structured multivariate training program can effectively improve students' tactical skills, increasing their physical conditioning levels.

Technical and locomotor demands in elite soccer: manipulating area per player during small-sided games to replicate official match demands

The present study aimed to investigate the area per player (ApP) to replicate the technical and locomotor match demands using small-sided games (SSGs) in male soccer players (n = 20) competing in major European and UEFA competitions. The relative number of each individual technical activity per minute (number · min-1; technical demands) was counted and the relative (m · min-1) total (TD), high-speed running (HSRD), very high-speed running (VHSRD), sprint and acceleration+deceleration (Acc+Dec) distances were collected during different SSG formats (n = 24; 4 vs 4 to 10 vs 10 with an ApP from 60 to 341 m2 · player-1) and official matches (n = 28). Data were collected during two full seasons. A linear mixed model analysis was used to calculate the individual relationship between technical/locomotor demands and the ApP during SSGs; the correlation coefficient was also calculated. With the exception of an inverse moderate (r = -0.457) correlation for Acc+Dec, each locomotor metric (TD, HSRD, VHSRD and sprint) showed a positive large to very large (r = 0.560 to 0.710) correlation with ApP (P < 0.001). The technical demands showed an inverse moderate correlation (r = -0.529) with ApP. Additionally, inverse moderate to large correlations (r = -0.397 to -0.600; P < 0.05) between the technical demands and the locomotor demands (TD, HSR, VHSR and sprint) were found. Lastly, an ApP of ~243 m2 · player was found to replicate the official match technical demand and it was quite similar to the ApP required to replicate HSRD, VHSRD and sprint. These findings may help practitioners to replicate, overload and underload both technical and locomotor demands using a specific ApP during SSGs in elite soccer.

Activating Specific Handball’s Defensive Motor Behaviors in Young Female Players: A Non-Linear Approach

Traditional models to train and teach young players in team sports assume that athletes learn as linear systems. However, an actual methodology called Non-Linear Pedagogy (NLP) accounts for the fact that the players and the team are complex dynamic systems. Experiences in handball under this methodology are scarce; due to this, an observational study has been conducted with a follow-up, idiographic and multidimensional design, in which 14 female school handball players belonging to four different local teams in Santiago, Chile (age = 15.55 + 0.51) agreed to participate in three special handball training sessions with the use of the NLP methodology where three different constraints were used. Descriptive analysis with the Chi-squared test showed a total of 252 observations where most of the variables were dependent on the constraints (p ≤ 0.001). Frequency showed that mainly “Defense in Line of progression” and “Proximal contact” were the most activated variables, followed by “Harassment” and “Deterrence” for all constraints. However, only constraint 2 highly activated two collective motor behaviors, while the rest only did it with individual motor behaviors. It is concluded that the constraints used in training seem to be effective in activating a group of defensive handball motor behaviors, specifically those that are basic for female school handball players.

Influence of Rule Manipulation on Technical-Tactical Actions in Young Basketball Players: A Scoping Review

The purpose of this scoping review was to analyse the effect of rules modification on technical and tactical action in young basketball. The publications search period ranged from January 2007 to December 2021. The search covered the following electronic databases: SCOPUS, SportDiscus, and the Web of Science core collection. Following this search process, 18 articles were included in the review. The following variables were analysed: characteristics of the sample, the constraints manipulated, the duration of the intervention, and the effect on technical-tactical actions. The studies reviewed modified the following constraints: (a) number of players (66.7%), (b) court dimensions (27.8%), (c) ball/player interactions (11.1%), and (d) ball/player interactions, basket height, game time and number of baskets (5.6%, respectively). The findings show that rule manipulation can increase players' participation and promote the variability of players' actions. The current evidence about rule modification in youth basketball presents areas in which more studies are needed to have a complete perspective of their impact in practice and competition through the different stages of players' development. Taking into account individual needs and developmental stages, further studies should consider different age groups (e.g., from U-10 to zU-14) and female players. Expanding scientific knowledge in this area would help coaches make short- and long-term plans in accordance with players' developmental stages.

Match Analysis in Team Ball Sports: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Background

Match analysis has evolved exponentially over the past decades in team sports resulting in a significant number of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses. An umbrella review of the available literature is needed to provide an integrated overview of current knowledge and contribute to more robust theoretical explanations of team performance.

Methods

The Web of Science (all databases), PubMed, Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews), Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched for relevant publications prior to 19 February 2021. Appraisal of the methodological quality of included articles was undertaken using the tool for Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2). Twenty-four studies were reviewed that met the following criteria: (1) contained relevant data from match analyses in team ball sports; (2) were defined as systematic reviews or/and meta-analyses; and (3) were written in the English language.

Results

The overall methodological quality of the 24 included reviews, obtained through the AMSTAR-2, revealed very low confidence ratings (Critically Low, n = 12) for the results of most systematic reviews of match analyses in team ball sports. Additionally, the results showed that research is focused mainly on four levels of analysis: (1) dyadic (microlevel); (2) individual (molecular level; predominant); (3) group (mesolevel), and (4) team dynamics (macrolevel). These levels of analysis included tactical, technical, physical, and psychosocial variables. Team performance was contextualized at two levels, with reference to: (1) match context (e.g. match status, match location, match period, quality of opposition) and (2) sociodemographic and environmental constraints (sex, age groups, competitive level, altitude, temperature, pitch surface).

Conclusions

The evolution of methods for match analysis in team ball sports indicates that: (1) an individual-level performance analysis was predominant; (2) the focus on intermediate levels of analysis, observing performance in dyadic and group interactions, has received less attention from researchers; (3) neglected areas of research include psychosocial aspects of team sports and women’s performance; and (4) analyses of match contexts need greater depth.

Registration: The protocol was registered in the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols with the number 202080067 and the DOI number https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2020.8.0067.

Influence of Physical Fitness, Anthropometric Profile, and Biological Maturation on Technical Performance and Enjoyment of Untrained Children Who Participate in Continuous and Fractional Small-Sided Games

The objective is to determine the relationship between physical fitness, anthropometric measures, and biological maturation as they relate to technical performance in small-sided games (SSGs) of continuous and fractioned regimes. Methodology: A crossover-design study in which 12 children participated in two regimens of SSG (continuous and fractional). At the beginning of the study, all children were evaluated using physical fitness tests (horizontal jump test, vertical jump, cardiorespiratory fitness, and agility), anthropometric profile (weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC)), and biological maturation (peak years of growth velocity). All sessions were recorded and analyzed with the Performance Assessment in Team Sports instrument, and at the end of each game each child was asked to answer a scale of enjoyment for physical activity. Results: The results of the paired samples t-test showed no significant differences in the measures of technical performance and perceived enjoyment for the continuous and fractional regimens of SSGs (p > 0.05). The correlation results showed that technical performance in the continuous and fractional regimes was related to agility, horizontal jump, and height, while biological maturation was only related to technical performance in the fractional regimen of SSGs. Perceived enjoyment showed a negative relationship with weight, height, BMI, and WC. Conclusion: The fractional and continuous regimens of SSGs implemented in this study induced similar technical demands and enjoyment. Furthermore, the results suggest that physical fitness, anthropometric profile, and biological maturation may influence the technical performance and enjoyment of SSGs.

Kick proficiency and skill adaptability increase from an Australian football small-sided game intervention

This investigation is the first to explore the effect of a 4 week small-sided game (SSG) and traditional training intervention on player kick proficiency and player adaptability in Australian football. Twenty-two amateur Australian football players (mean ± SD; age 22.3 ± 2.46; height 182.4 ± 5.25; weight 82.1 ± 6.10; years playing senior amateur football 3.86 ± 3.09) were randomly selected into either a traditional training group (n = 11) or a SSG group (n = 11). Traditional training involved activities where skills were generally executed in isolation and with minimal contact (e.g., kicking lane drill or possession football). The SSG training group participated in 5v6 competitive games on varied shaped areas (approximately 272 m² per player) and changing constraints (e.g., game tempo, game rules). All players participated in the team training sessions; however, the SSG group participated in a 4 × 3min training protocol, with 60 seconds recovery, in the last 20-min of the session. The SSG group participated in these alternative sessions twice a week for 4 weeks. Results indicated only the SSG enhanced their kick proficiency (17%) and were found to be more adaptable. The intervention group executed more kicks over longer distances (i.e., 20-40 m), made quicker decisions (e.g., executing more kicks in < 1s), applied more pressure to the opposition when they were executing a skill and were more likely to "take the game on" by decreasing the amount of times a skill was executed from a stationary position. The results of this study can be used by coaches when designing and implementing training programs as different training strategies will elicit different player behavioral adaptations.

A Validation Study of Heart Rate Variability Index in Monitoring Basketball Training Load

This study aimed to investigate whether the heart rate variability index (TL_HRV) during five ball-drills could be used to quantify training load (TL) in collegiate basketball players. Ten elite male college basketball athletes (18.2 ± 0.4 years) were recruited to perform five ball-drills (1V1, 2V2, 3V3, 4V4, and 5V5) which lasted 10 min and varied in intensity. During each drill, TL_HRV, training impulse (TRIMP), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), speed, and distance were recorded by Firstbeat, Foster’s RPE scale, and SiMi Scout. The correlation (Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlation coefficient), reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient, ICC), and agreement (Bland-Altman plots) among TL_HRV, TRIMP, RPE, speed, and distance were examined. TL_HRV was significantly correlated with TRIMP (r = 0.34, p = 0.015) and RPE (r = 0.42, p = 0.002). TL_HRV was significantly correlated with training intensity (r = 0.477, p = 0.006) but not with volume (r = 0.272, p = 0.056). TL_HRV and TRIMP, RPE showed significant intraclass relationships (ICC = 0.592, p = 0.0003). Moreover, TL_HRV differentiated basketball drills of equal volume and varying intensity. We concluded that TL_HRVmay serve as an objective and rational measure to monitor TL in basketball players.

Effects of Small-Sided Game Interventions on the Technical Execution and Tactical Behaviors of Young and Youth Team Sports Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Small-sided games (SSGs) are an adjusted form of official games that are often used in training scenarios to introduce a specific tactical issue to team sports players. Besides the acute effects of SSGs on players' performance, it is expectable that the consistent use of these drill-based games induces adaptations in the technical execution and tactical behaviors of youth team sports players.

Objective: This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of SSG programs on the technical execution and tactical behaviors of young and youth team sports players.

Data Sources: The data sources utilized were PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science.

Study Eligibility Criteria: (i) Young and youth team sports players (i.e., < 18 years old) of any sex or skill level, without injury, illness, or other clinical conditions; (ii) SSGs-based programs not restricted to the duration and a minimum of one weekly training session; (iii) passive or active control groups; (iv) pre-post interventions values of technical execution and/or tactical behavior; (v) randomized and non-randomized controlled trials; and (vi) peer-reviewed original full-text studies written in English, Portuguese and/or Spanish.

Results: The database search initially yielded 803 titles. From those, six articles were eligible for the systematic review and meta-analysis. None of the included studies presented tactical behavior outcomes. The results showed a small effect of SSGs on technical execution (ES = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.29 to 0.89; p < 0.001; I² = 0.0%; Egger's test p = 0.590) when compared to controls. Sub-group analysis of the training factor revealed similar (p = 0.433) moderate (ES = 0.68, four study groups) and small (ES = 0.44, three study groups) improvements in technical execution after >17 and <17 SSG training sessions, respectively.

Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed a significant beneficial effect of using SSG training programs for enhancing technical execution in young and youth players. The benefits were similar despite the various numbers of training sessions applied. Further studies should add tactical behaviors as one of the outcomes for controlling the effects of SSG training programs.

Contrasting Learning Psychology Theories Applied to the Teaching-Learning-Training Process of Tactics in Soccer

Research in sport pedagogy and its applied recommendations are still characterized by a contrast between the different learning theories from psychology. Traditional theories and their corresponding approaches to the specific case of teaching and learning “how to play [team sports like soccer]” are subject to compatibilities and incompatibilities. We discuss how behaviorism as an approach to teaching the game shows more incompatibilities with the nature of tactical actions when compared to constructivism. As coaches strive to teach the game and make their players and team perform, we argue that teaching the game requires teaching approaches that will help develop their way to play (i.e., tactical behavior) without taking away their autonomy and adaptiveness. The teaching-learning-training process for playing the game should then be conducted to harmonize the characteristics of the contents, the context, and the individual(s) at hand. We provide two illustrated examples and portray how the recommended approaches fit key contents of the game that are observed in the tactical behavior. We finally argue that the coherent design of games provides minimal conditions to teaching approaches, and that such a design should be a priority when elaborating the learning activities along the player development process. As a conclusion, the interactionist theory is the one that best serves the teaching of the game and the development of tactical behavior. We therefore defend that its principles can help coaches tailor their own strategy to teach the game with the many tools.

Influence of pitch size and goalkeepers on external and internal load during small-sided games in amateur soccer players

Purpose

To analyse the influence of goalkeepers during 4-a-side small-sided games, played in pitches of two different sizes (small: 30 × 20 m, large: 40 × 30 m).

Methods

Total distance covered (TD), distance covered at low- (LSD), moderate- (MSD), high- (HSD) and very high-speed (VHSD), average and maximal speed, Edwards’ training load (Edw-TL), time spent above 90% of maximal heart rate (T90%) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored, in 18 amateur soccer players.

Results

Higher TD (mean difference: + 181 m, Hedge’s g: 0.93 and + 400 m, 3.37), MSD (+ 85 m, 0.79 and + 146 m, 1.64), HSD (+ 101 m, 1.41 and + 179 m, 3.26), VHSD (+ 30 m, 1.89 and + 35 m, 1.26), average speed (+ 0.65 km h−1, 0.88 and + 1.47 km h−1, 3.31) and maximal speed (+ 3.60 km h−1, 1.40 and + 3.58 km h−1, 1.40) were found in large than small pitch, without and with goalkeepers, respectively. Goalkeeper’s presence increased Edw-TL (+ 8.4 AU, 0.70) and reduced TD (− 141 m, 0.75), HSD (− 54 m, 0.75) and average speed (− 0.54 km h−1, 0.76) in small pitch and maximal speed (1.59 km h−1, 0.60 and 1.61 km h−1, 0.66) in both small and large pitches, respectively. RPE was higher (+ 20, 1.52) in the large than small pitch when the goalkeepers were present.

Conclusion

Implementing small-sided games, coaches should be aware that lower external load with similar internal load could be provided using small pitch with goalkeeper rather than either small goals or larger pitch. Furthermore, large small-sided games without goalkeeper may be the best choice for eliciting high training load.

Small-sided games: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

OBJECTIVE

This umbrella review was conducted to summarize the evidence and qualify the methodological quality of SR and SRMA published on small-sided games in team ball sports.

METHODS

A systematic review of Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

RESULTS

From the 176 studies initially identified, 12 (eight SR and four SRMA) were fully reviewed, and their outcome measures were extracted and analyzed. Methodological quality (with the use of AMSTAR-2) revealed that seven reviews had low quality and five had critically low quality. Two major types of effects of SSGs were observed: (i) short-term acute effects and (ii) long-term adaptations. Four broad dimensions of analysis were found: (i) physiological demands (internal load); (ii) physical demands (external load) or fitness status; (iii) technical actions; and (iv) tactical behavior and collective organization. The psychological domain was reduced to an analysis of enjoyment. The main findings from this umbrella review revealed that SSGs present positive effects in improving aerobic capacity and tactical/technical behaviors, while neuromuscular adaptations present more heterogeneous findings. Factors such as sex, age group, expertise, skill level, or fitness status are also determinants of some acute effects and adaptations.

CONCLUSION

The current umbrella review allowed to identify that most of the systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in SSGs presents low methodological quality considering the standards. Most of the systematic reviews included in this umbrella revealed that task constraints significantly change the acute responses in exercise, while SSGs are effective in improving aerobic capacity. Future original studies in this topic should improve the methodological quality and improve the experimental study designs for assessing changes in tactical/technical skills.

Tactical rule and pitch size change the physical and technical performance of young soccer players during small-sided games

Abstract The present study examined the effects of small-sided and conditioned games (SSCGs) manipulating tactical rules (ball-possession [BP] vs goal-scoring with goalkeepers [GS]) and pitch size (square [SP] vs rectangular [RP]) on the running performance and technical skills of young soccer players. Ten male soccer players (chronological age: 12.45 ± 0.51 years; body mass: 41.99 ± 7.97 kg; height: 152.85 ± 10.03 cm) were monitored using GPS units during SSCG formats. The distance covered at different running intensities and number of technical actions were used in analyses. SSCG-induced changes in 30 m sprint and CMJ performances were also evaluated. Compared to BP, GS elicited significantly lower distances covered at low intensity running (p=0.003; d=-0.95), more sprints (p=0.050; d=0.67), and longer distances covered in terms of walking (p=0.035; d=2.60) and sprinting (p=0.029; d=0.75); (ii) number of passes (short [p=0.002; d=1.10] and long [p=0.013; d=0.82]) were more frequent during BP than GS games, while RP game format allowed for greater occurrence of long passes (p=0.036; d=0.64) than under the SP condition; (iii) jumping and sprinting performance did not change (p>0.05) using different SSCG formats. In conclusion, GS games demand more sprint running episodes in terms of number and distance covered than BP games. In addition, RP game formats can be used to increase the occurrence of longer passes in young soccer players aged 11-13 years.

Effects of Toxic Metal Contamination in the Tri-State Mining District on the Ecological Community and Human Health: A Systematic Review

Although extensive research exists on toxic environments in the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD), there has been a lack of research on how harmful effects in TSMD could affect residents living in those areas. However, quite recently, such research regarding relationships between the health conditions of residents and toxic elements in the TSMD began to grow. The increase of empirical studies means greater complexity of the findings that require a more intricate understanding. To meet the goals of this study, an extensive, systematic review of the literature using PRISMA was conducted. This method resulted in 19 articles that define the harmful effects of the TSMD on the ecology and the physical health of residents. This research found that toxic metals not only negatively impact natural processes in the TSMD environments (fish species reduction, kidney and liver problems, and toxic diet) but also continuously affect the health of residents (high blood Pb and mortality).This study makes a vital contribution building upon the existing outcomes of the correlations between toxic elements in the TSMD areas and the health of residents. Furthermore, conclusions of this study provide updated information to policymakers and health-related professionals by providing adequate and innovative remediations and health-related services in the TSMD.