Small Sided Games (SSGs)

A missing piece to the traditional training puzzle is the application of small sided games. Small sided games, often abbreviated as SSGs, are a form of activity, that involve fewer athletes on each side compared to the full-scale competitive environment. The specific number of participants can vary depending on the sport and the experience level.
 
The benefits of small-sided games include the opportunities to practice and experience contextual movement opportunities through an offensive and defensive lens. SSGs encourage athletes to understand and adapt to different formations and strategies, as the different playing areas, situations and role-specific tasks force the individuals to develop an awareness to their movement signature (behaviors & solutions).
 
These environments often replicate certain aspects of the full-scale game, allowing athletes to solve problems they might encounter in competition. Small sided games are generally more dynamic and entertaining, which can increase engagement and enjoyment for participants.
 
Lastly, SSGs can be adapted to smaller areas, limited number of participants and/ or minimal amount of resources, making them suitable for a range of training conditions.
 
Overall, small-sided games serve as an effective training tool for developing a wide range of skills and qualities in a more dynamic and engaging manner compared to traditional training methods. They are widely used in various sports to complement the overall athletic development. 
 
It’s important to note, I organize all of our small sided games into three different tools: Gameplay, pre-training 1v1s and agility. Gameplay environments are implemented during our extensive (low) CNS sessions, whereas the pre-training 1v1s and agility training are designed for our intensive (high) CNS sessions.
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