Why Small-Sided Games?

Without question the ENYYSA Coaching Education Program has promoted small-Sided games as a tool to teach soccer to our young players.

Each time the issue of small-sided games is discussed during coaching courses, different opinions are heard from advocates and opponents. Some coaches feel a small-sided game does not prepare young players to be good soccer players as well as a strict technical or tactical session would. Other coaches believe that a small-sided game presents all the components of soccer (and then some), and therefore players excel in soccer more rapidly.

Although the ENYYSA Coaching Education Program cannot mandate any club or league to strictly use small-sided games as a tool for training and or competing, here are a few reasons why we believe young soccer players should play small-sided games (in no particular order):

1. Young soccer players are able to touch the soccer ball more often and become more skillful with it (promotes technical development)

2. Young soccer players are able to make more less-complicated decisions during the game! (promotes tactical development and decision making; more occasions to solve predicaments that only the game offers)

3. Young soccer players are able to be more physically efficient in the field space they are playing in (recognizing and utilizing the width and length of the field)

4. Young soccer players are able to have more individual teaching time with the coach. Fewer players mean guaranteed coaching points and coachable moments (This facilitates an environment where players feel worthy and important)

5. Young soccer players are able to have more involvement in the game (responsibilities transition from Offense to Defense and alternate from various positions)

6. Young soccer players are able to have more opportunities to play on both sides of the ball (More experience attacking and defending)

7. Young soccer players are able to have more opportunities to score a goal (Who doesn’t enjoy scoring goals!!)