Small Sided Games

1. HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING
SMALL-SIDED GAMES
GUIDO SEERDEN
Coaching the coaches

2. Why SSGs?
Football specific
 Movements
 Technical & tactical skills
 Physiological intensity
Benefits
 Time efficient  concurrent training
 Increased player motivation and compliance
Different game formats
 Physiological load (HR, RPE, blood lactate)
 Physical load (movement characteristics)
 Technical load (skills)
Which factors influence the load of a SSG?

3. Influencing factors

4. Pitch size
Absolute pitch area
 Total pitch area
Relative pitch area
 The individual playing area of a player
 Increased size:
 Physiological load
 Physical load
 Technical load
Pitch size and tactical training
 Length to width ratio 1:1-1:1.3

5. Numbers of players involved
Decreasing the numbers
 Technical load
 Physiological load
 Physical load
Increasing the numbers
 Technical load
 Physiological load & physical load ?
Underload vs Overload (e.g. 3v4)
Floater (e.g. 3v3+1)
 Aerobic fitness

6. Rule modifications
With goalkeeper
 Tactics: physiological load
 Motivation: physiological load
Without goalkeeper
 Physical, physiological & technical load
Ball possession
 1 or 2 touches: physiological & physical load
 Free play: physiological load
 (defensive midfielders, wide midfielders & forwards)

7. Rule modifications (2)
Goal orientation
 Line dribble vs double and central goal orientation
 Physiological load
Tactical obligations
 Pressing
 Player-to-player marking
 Physiological load

8. Coach encouragement
Physiological load
Greatest impact on these factors compared to an
alteration in pitch size and playing numbers

9. Training regimen
Continuous vs intermittent
 Physical load Distance covered >13 km/h
 Physiological load
Work:rest ratio
SSG duration
 Increase
 Physiological load
Number of sets and repetitions
 Physical & technical load
 Physiological load

10. Players’ characteristics
Fitness level
 High VO2max  Low % VO2max
 Floater?
Skill level
 Amateurs
 Technical load  minimum 2 touches
 Physical and physiological load
 Professionals
 1 or 2 touches
Age
 Youth players: less experience and skills  physical demands
 Less skilled  maintain physiological stress?