Why Small-Sided Soccer?

Why "Small-Sided Games"?

After extensive research and utilizing the vast experience of our club staff the Stroudsburg United/AC Perugia Soccer Club has adopted the “small-sided games” approach to soccer development. It is a proven commodity throughout the world and soccer experts in the U.S.A have joined their counterparts overseas in recognizing this.

United States Youth Soccer Association has exhaustively studied and researched youth soccer in terms of: enjoyment, physical safety, player development- physical, psychological, cognitive, technical, and tactical. These soccer guidelines follow child cognitive development used for education. The answer is the use of age appropriate small sided games!
The implementation of small sided games is being carried out in state associations across the country. This is the direction to best develop our young soccer players and to ensure a positive, fun environment for them.
First, let’s understand the meaning of "Small-Sided Games". These are soccer games with fewer players competing on a smaller sized field. These are fun games that involve the players more, because one ball is being shared by fewer players. All ages can play "Small Sided Games", but it has a definite developmental impact on our younger soccer players.
Here are some of the reasons why SUSC/AC Perugia , as soccer coaches, administrators and parents we have adopted small-sided games:
• Because we want our young soccer players to touch the soccer ball more often and become more skillful with it! (Individual technical development)
• Because we want our young soccer players to make more, less-complicated decisions during the game! (Tactical development)
• Because we want our young soccer players to be more physically efficient in the field space they are playing in! (Reduced field size)
• Because we want our young soccer players to have more individual teaching time with the coach! Less players on the field will guarantee this!
• Because we want our young soccer players to have more, involved playing time in the game! (More opportunity to solve problems that only the game presents)
• Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunity to play on both sides of the ball! (More exposure to attacking and defending situations)
• Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunities to score goals! (Pure excitement)

These are the reasons why we adults must foster "Small-Sided Games" in our youth soccer programs. The "Small-Sided" environment is a developmentally appropriate environment for our young soccer players.