THE EFFECTS OF SMALL-SIDED GAMES ON FITNESS COMPONENTS AND TECHNICAL ABILITIES AMONG YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS

• Published in: Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine
• Main Author: Ahmad M.F.; Low J.F.L.; Nadzalan A.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecinskiego 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85196030023&doi=10.18276%2fcej.2024.1-07&partnerID=40&md5=62b5edd07554192ddc531dcece7ec36d

Small-sided games (SSG) is one of the increasingly popular training methods in developing fitness components and technical abilities among soccer players. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of SSG training on player’s fitness components and technical abilities after six weeks of training program among youth soccer players. Sixty youth soccer players (M = 19.98 years of age; SD = 0.97) were recruited in this study and were divided into SSG intervention group (IG, N = 30) and control group (CG, N = 30). Agility, speed, cardiovascular endurance, passing and dribbling tests were conducted pre- and post- six weeks of training. Results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in speed, passing, dribbling and VO2max in the post-test among the IG group. When compared to the CG, the IG showed better performance in speed, dribbling and VO2max as these had shown a significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion, SSG training method can improve speed, passing, dribbling and VO2max. Therefore, this study recommends SSG training to be applied on youth soccer players. © 2024 Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecinskiego. All rights reserved.