The Effect of Small-Sided Games on Endurance and Physical Performance of Soccer Players

Abstrak

This study aimed to analyze changes in endurance and physical performance among soccer players following a Small-Sided Games (SSG) training program compared with regular soccer training. A quasi-experimental method with a pretest – posttest control group design was employed. The participants were 30 soccer players, consisting of 15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. The experimental group participated in an SSG training program for eight weeks, with three sessions per week, while the control group followed their regular soccer training program. Intermittent endurance was assessed using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 ( Yo-Yo IR1), speed was measured using the 20-meter Sprint Test, agility was assessed using the Illinois Agility Test, and lower limb power was evaluated using the Countermovement Jump (CMJ) test. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Shapiro–Wilk test, the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, and the Mann–Whitney U test, with a significance level of 5%. The results showed that the experimental group experienced an improvement of 216.00 m in the Yo-Yo IR1 distance, a reduction of 0.121 s in the 20-meter sprint time, a reduction of 0.342 s in the Illinois Agility Test time, and an increase of 2.52 cm in CMJ height. The changes observed in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group across all variables (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that an eight-week SSG training program yields greater improvements in intermittent endurance, speed, agility, and lower-limb power than regular soccer training. Therefore, SSG can serve as an alternative conditioning method that integrates physical stimuli with the specific demands and characteristics of soccer play.