Effects of an Eight-Week Small-Sided Games Training Program on Aerobic Endurance and Passing Performance in Adolescent Soccer Players

Soccer requires players to combine physical fitness with technical skills throughout a match. Small-sided games (SSG) are modified soccer training sessions played with fewer players and reduced pitch dimensions. These training formats are widely used because they simulate match situations while providing high physical and technical demands. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate whether an eight-week SSG training program improves aerobic endurance and passing performance in adolescent male soccer players. Eighteen licensed youth soccer players were randomly assigned to either an SSG training group or a control group. Both groups continued their regular soccer training, while the SSG group additionally performed structured small-sided game sessions three times per week for eight weeks. Aerobic endurance was evaluated using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), and passing performance was assessed using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT). These measurements were obtained before and after the intervention. The primary objective of the study was to compare changes in aerobic endurance and passing performance between the SSG and control groups. It was hypothesized that participation in the structured SSG program would result in greater improvements in both outcomes compared with regular soccer training alone. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence supporting the use of structured small-sided games as an effective and time-efficient training strategy for improving both physical fitness and technical performance in adolescent soccer players.

Inclusion Criteria: * Male soccer players aged 17 to 18 years. * Licensed amateur soccer players with at least five years of organized soccer experience. * Regular participation in team training sessions. * No serious musculoskeletal injury within the previous six months. * No chronic neurological, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal conditions that could affect participation or performance. * Provided written informed consent (and parental/legal guardian consent where applicable). Exclusion Criteria: * Serious musculoskeletal injury during the study period. * Absence from more than two scheduled training sessions. * Voluntary withdrawal from the study at any time. * Failure to complete the pre-intervention or post-intervention outcome assessments. * Any medical condition preventing safe participation in high-intensity soccer training.