Help in Understanding and Implementation

Note: This info has been copied from the NYSW and US Youth Soccer website.

Small-sided games have been part of our soccer history in the United States for generations. Many of our parents, our grandparents and our great grandparents immigrated to America having played this wonderful game in the streets of their native countries.

Small-sided games are games played on smaller fields and with fewer players than the adult game of 11 versus 11. Games of 3 versus 3, 4 versus 3 and 4 versus 4 are examples of small-sided game numbers. As you can see, playing numbers can be even or uneven and the game can be played.

In the past it was not uncommon for small-sided games to be played in the streets and in vacant lots with uneven numbers and mixed ages. Now the streets are too busy and the vacant lot is too dangerous or no longer exists. Thus, it has become the responsibility of the soccer club or youth organization to recreate the small-sided environment.

This Small Sided Games Manual [PDF] provides the information needed to successfully implement small-sided games in your soccer club. It will cover the reasons for small-sided games, the implementation process, models of small-sided game play, recommended modified rules of play and helpful references.

Teaching in Small Sided Games

Click here to view a presentation "Teaching in Small Sided Games", from the US Youth Soccer Coaches Workshop in Indianapolois, IN.