Can Small-side Games Provide Adequate High-speed Training in Professional Soccer?

The aim was to compare the running activity in official matches with that achieved in two small-sided games, designed with the same relative area per player but with different constraints and field dimensions, aiming to stimulate high-speed and very-high-speed running. Seventeen young professional players played one 5 vs . 5+5 with 2 floaters, varying in terms of whether there was a change of playing area (SSG (CA) ) or not change (SSG (NC) ). Running activity was monitored using GPS and the following variables were recorded: total distance covered; high-speed distance (18-21km.h (-1) ); very high-speed distance (>21km.h (-1) ); peak speed; accelerations and decelerations between 2-3m.s (-2) and above 3m.s (-2) . SSG (CA) achieved statistically higher total distance, high-speed, peak speed and number of accelerations and decelerations than SSG (NC) (large to small magnitude). Both drills showed statistically greater high speed, number of accelerations and decelerations than official matches (large to small magnitude). Moreover, SSG (CA) exhibited statistically more total distance and distance at higher speed than official matches (moderate and small magnitude, respectively). In contrast, official matches showed statistically higher peak speeds than both training tasks and more very high speed than SSG (NC) (large and moderate magnitude, respectively). Coaches could use SSG (CA) to promote greater running activity in soccer players.

Automated summary

The study compared running activity in official matches with two small-sided games, finding that altering the playing area in small-sided games resulted in greater total distance, high-speed distance, peak speed, and accelerations compared to games with a fixed area. Both small-sided games also showed more high-speed running compared to official matches, with the altered area game also achieving more total distance and higher speed distances. Official matches, however, had higher peak speeds than both training tasks and more very high speed running than the fixed area small-sided game.