How Small-Sided Game Formats Can Shape Player Behavior

As coaches, we've all been there - watching our players bunch up during practice and wanting to shout "Spread out!" or "Play the ball wide!" While we may know exactly what we want our players to do, simply telling them doesn't always lead to the desired changes in behavior.

Much of this comes down to the nature of learning soccer, a dynamic game of constant movement and changing circumstances. Because of this, building skills and game intelligence is often better learned through experiencing different game situations rather than being told explicitly what to do.

Rather than relying on verbal instructions, we can use different small-sided game formats to naturally encourage certain types of movement and decision-making. By changing the conditions and setup of these games, we create environments that guide players to discover effective solutions on their own.

What the Research Tells Us

I recently came across some excellent research on passing actions performed by U13 and U15 players during 4v4 small-sided games. This study examined how these different scoring formats affected player behavior in 4v4 small-sided games. Several key variables were studied:

• Total number of passes

• Zones where passes occurred

• Direction of passes

• Differences between age groups (U13 vs U15)

Some key findings worth noting:

• Line goal format produced 36% of total passes compared to 33% for double goal and 32% for central goal

• Double goal format increased passing in defensive lateral zones by 27-35%

• Line goal format increased midfield passing by 29-46%

• Central goal format promoted more forward passing compared to other formats (Almeida et al., 2017)

These findings demonstrate how each format creates distinct patterns of play and movement. Let's examine each format in detail to understand how you can use them to develop specific aspects of your team's play:

1. Central Goal Format (Traditional setup with one goal placed centrally at each end)

• Research highlights:

  • Promotes more forward passing and direct play toward goal

  • Players tend to use central zones more frequently

  • Results in fewer total passes compared to other formats

  • Creates natural tendency for players to seek central corridor for passing actions (Almeida et al., 2017)

• Use to encourage:

  • Direct attacking play

  • Shooting practice

  • Traditional game scenarios

  • Forward passing combinations

2. Double Goal Format (two small goals placed in corners at each end)

• Research highlights:

  • Increases use of lateral corridors in defensive sector

  • Promotes wider positioning and movement

  • Decreases defensive organization

  • Creates more space for successful passes

  • Encourages rapid changes in the angle of attack (Almeida et al., 2017)

• Use to encourage:

  • Quick switches of play

  • Wide attacking movements

  • Stretching defenses

  • Switching the angle of attack

3. Line Goal Format (no goals - players score by dribbling across or stopping the ball on the end line)

• Research highlights:

  • Generates highest number of total passes

  • Increases passing flow in midfield sectors

  • Promotes possession-based strategies

  • Encourages more sideways passing

  • Players must move ball forward under control rather than shooting from distance (Almeida et al., 2017)

• Use to encourage:

  • Possession play

  • Building from back

  • Patient buildup

  • Width in attack

Key Takeaways

Rather than constantly instructing players verbally, consider how different game formats can naturally guide desired behaviors. The research shows that simply changing the field configuration and scoring format can have significant effects on how players move and make decisions.

By thoughtfully selecting and rotating between these formats in practice, we can help players develop a more complete understanding of spatial relationships, movement options, and tactical choices in different game situations.

References: Almeida, C. H., Volossovitch, A., & Duarte, R. (2017). Influence of scoring mode and age group on passing actions during small-sided and conditioned soccer games. Human Movement, 18(5), 125-134.