Small Sided Games

Less players on the field in one game, means more touches on the ball for every player. Manchester United Youth Academy Director Les Kershaw emphasizes small sided games and increased time on the ball in order to develop a player’s natural ability to the fullest. The focus on technical ability over the athleticism required in larger sided games led to Manchester United taking on a young player who had asthma, no size and may have been lost if the focus was more on the larger sided version of the game. His name was Paul Scholes, and after playing 66 games for England and winning the Premier League and Champions League with United, Scholes continues to star for Manchester United after an outstanding career of over 10 years.

Touches on the Ball

A team with only 3 or 4 players requires every player to be an option to the player in possession. Coaches should encourage players to pass and move the ball quickly, show confidence and wait to receive the ball at all times. A player must also develop ability to keep possession, as turnovers will be exposed more in small side versions of the game.

Field Size

Small sided 3 v 3 soccer is typically played on a 25 yard by 20 yard field using small goals. The smaller field means players who kick long balls powerfully up the field are not rewarded as much. In full sided games on large fields a defender who can clear a ball 50 yards will gain territory for his team and be rewarded. On the smaller field an aimless clearance will likely lead to a turnover or a goal kick to the opposition. This forces players to show better decision making and develop the ability to play accurate passes, moving the ball to teammates in tight areas.

Smaller fields also mean players will usually receive the ball under some form of defensive pressure. This develops speed of play, as players who dwell on possession will lose possession. Players will develop the ability to control the ball away from pressure and quickly pass before moving to receive a return pass.

How to Use Them as a Coach

The blank canvas of a small sided game can teach many skills on an ongoing basis. Accurate passing, controlling the ball under pressure, and movement are all required, and the smaller goals develop accurate shooting. A coach can also manipulate the rules, or switch coaching focus to work on all kinds of elements in the games. Enforcing a 2 touch rule will mean your players must pass quickly before moving to receive the ball. A 3 touch minimum rule will require a player to take some touches away from pressure before playing a pass.

Positional play can be developed by teaching players to work as a 3 or 4 man unit switching positions. As one player moves forward his teammate can drop back to cover and receive a back pass. This simulates how a fullback and wide midfielder may play in a full sided game. Creating triangles and passing lanes is also something that will be replicated in a full field game and developed during the small sided version.

Small sided games are also very good for coaching defense after a turnover. Many players, especially in the youth game will have the bad habit of slowing down momentarily after the ball is given away. If a player does this in a 3 v 3 game it will be ruthlessly exposed as the team does not have sufficient numbers to cover even 1 player being beaten. Attacking play and accurate finishing is also developed by the smaller goals requiring a more accurate shot to score. One touch finishing or crossing can be developed by manipulating the rules.