w w w. y o u c o a c h . i t
SMALL-SIDED GAMES 48 TRAINING GAME PROPOSALS TO COMBINE PHYSICAL TRAINING WITH TECHNICAL/TACTICAL TRAINING
ATHLETIC TRAINING
FOREWORD
In modern soccer game the integrated physical conditioning methods are increasingly spreading, that means that exercises without ball are being phased out to promote exercises in which physiological parameters and technical-tactical issues are involved together. In this frame Small-sided Games are widely used in weekly training programming. Small-sided Games are small training matches in a reduced field with a variable number of players and specific rules designed to make the exercise useful from both the physical and technical-tactical perspectives. These kind of exercises allow the athlete to practice in terms of physical conditioning of aerobic power, but the introduction of a ball and technical-tactical requests make it possible to act also on their motivational factor, thus maximizing dedication and, at the same time, reducing the perception of effort so that the training session is perceived as less hard. Small-sided Games are matches with reduced ranks and spaces in order to achieve improvements both in physical training and technique of the athletes, optimizing training times and developing tactic knowledge. Using a different number of players, changing the field size, the number of allowed ball touches, game duration and other variables, make it possible to pursue diversified objectives and, furthermore, to modify the training intensity. The starting type of Small-sided Games (SSG) consists in performing a 2 vs 2 game, which showed that the percentage compared to the maximum Heart Rate, is higher than in 3 vs 3 and 4 vs 4 games, as well as the number of ball touches, the number of successful dribblings, the number of efficient passes and shots on goal. Also the number of failed passes is lower compared to SSG performed 3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4. These results are included in the study Effects of Exercise Duration and Number of Players in Heart Rate Responses and Technical Skills During Futsal Small-sided Games and have been obtained by a scientific study on SSG played in four minutes, that is the minimum standard duration of this kind of training. This study, like many others, allows us to understand that by changing the field size, the number of involved players, the presence or absence of the goalkeeper, the number of ball touches, it is possible to influence both conditional aspects such as HR and haematic lactate, and technical aspects such as the number of passes, ball touches, tackles, scores, dribbling and other important parameters.
Small-sided Games / 7
YOUCOACH.IT
Research, study, comparison: This is the base of YouCoach, a web page created by coaches for coaches, with the objective of providing the best tools to train your team. YouCoach is the online guide for soccer coaches: The website offers over 1500 exercises, cognitive training sessions, simplified situations, simplified games, thematic matches, conditioned games, eBooks and insights created with the collaboration of expert and well-prepared coaches, who are open to the exchange of ideas and to continuous improvement. YouCoach.it offers the possibility of reading and sharing the articles from our collaborators (coaches, scouts, nutritionists, psychologists and fitness coaches) directly from the web and in any mobile device thanks to the simple, immediate contents, usable everywhere and at any time. The presence of YouCoach on social networks allows you to comment and share all the articles. You can find YouCoach on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube and Linkedin. A soccer coach not always has the tools and the time to plan and analyze the season in the best way: for this reason the YouCoach team has created MyCoach, the web app that allows you to create, save and supervise each training session during the whole season, taking advantage of a large database of exercises divided by categories and objectives and ordered by the level of difficulty. Subscribe now to YouCoach and plan your workout agenda with MyCoach! You read, You share, YouCoach!
12 / Athletic training
01
SUPERIORITY 3 VS 2 WITH A SUPPORTING TEAMMATE DRILL TYPE
Small-sided Game
DURATION 24 minutes
OBJECTIVES • Ball possession • Width and depth in possession • Oriented control • Defensive cover and balance
EQUIPMENT • • • •
4 cones or markers 2 vests 1 goal Sufficient balls to ensure continuity
PREPARATION Playing area: 22×27 / 27×33 yards (20×25 / 25×30 meters) Players: 5 + 1 goalkeeper Series: 4 of 4 minutes with a 2 minutes pause of recovery between series
ORGANIZATION
Create a playing area with the markers. Place a goal in the middle of one of the short sides. The team gets divided into two groups, one of three players and the other with two players wearing vests, the goalkeeper goes to the goal, while one of the players from the team in numerical superiority goes outside of the short side, on the opposite side to the goal. The game starts with the goalkeeper passing the ball to the outer player.
RULES
• The team in numerical superiority must try to score in the goal • The team in numerical inferiority must try to recover the ball and pass it to the keeper • Each of the balls that get recovered by the defenders and then passed to the keeper are worth one point 16 /Athletic training
• After a goal defenders start the game all over again with a throw in from the keeper towards one of the players belonging to the team in numerical superiority and who is outside the square • The player from the team in numerical superiority who passes the ball to the supporting player has to take their position • The supporting player who receives the ball has to start playing with an oriented control A possible development of the action: the outer player after passing the ball to a teammate, performs an overlapping run and liberates himself to shoot then at goal, they are served by a teammate in order to end the action.
VARIATIONS
1. The goal is valid only after the team in numerical superiority performs a combination decided by the coach: • Wall pass • Overlapping run • Cut • Pass • Feint or tricks • High pass 2. Limit the number of touches to three for all players 3. Limit the number of touches to three for the team in numerical superiority
COACHING POINTS
• Ball possession: • Let players make their own decisions to perform a 1 vs 1 game • Rotate the positions of players on each series • Without the ball: • Ask for pressing to win back the ball as soon as possible • Defend the goal in a balanced way, following the collective defending standards • Strikers ready for positive transition • Goalkeepers cooperate with the team giving directions Small-sided Games / 17