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The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of tactical small-sided games (SSGs), designed according to the specific phases of play in football attack, defense, and transitions on anaerobic performance.
Method: The study involved a total of 43 young male football players, divided into three groups: 16 participants in the tactical SSG group (age: 14.81±0.40 years, height: 172.88±4.98 cm, body weight: 59.51±5.04 kg, BMI: 19.89±1.15 kg/m²), 16 in the SSG group (age: 15.69±0.48 years, height: 177.46±7.86 cm, body weight: 67.08±7.14 kg, BMI: 21.27±1.45 kg/m²), and 11 in the control group (age: 14±0 years, height: 167.68±6.74 cm, body weight: 52.64±6.67 kg, BMI: 18.66±1.51 kg/m²). The study was conducted over 8 weeks, with training sessions performed twice per week. The tactical group implemented small-sided games that incorporated structured adaptations for attacking, defending, and transitional phases, whereas the small-sided group participated in sessions without any tactical interventions. The control group continued football training routine. All small-sided games were conducted in two formats: 5v5 with 2 goalkeepers on a 40x52 m² pitch, and 3v3 with 2 goalkeepers on a 30x40 m² pitch. Each game was conducted in four 3-minute bouts, with 1-minute rest intervals between repetitions. Anaerobic performance was assessed using a Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) before and after the training program. According to the Skewness-Kurtosis method, the data were found to be normally distributed. One-way ANOVA test was used for between-group comparisons.
Results: After 8 weeks, the greatest improvement in anaerobic performance was observed in the tactical group, followed by the SSG group (p<0.05). No significant improvement was detected in the control group (p>0.05). However, the fatigue index showed a numerical increase in all three groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Tactical small-sided games conducted over 8 weeks were demonstrated to be more effective in improving anaerobic performance compared to SSGs.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Sports Training
Journal Section
Research Article
Early Pub Date
August 26, 2025
Publication Date
August 30, 2025
Submission Date
April 21, 2025
Acceptance Date
August 26, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2
APA
Akyüz, C., & Çamlıgüney, A. F. (2025). The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football. Spor Eğitim Dergisi, 9(2), 266-277. https://doi.org/10.55238/seder.1680474
AMA
1.Akyüz C, Çamlıgüney AF. The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football. Journal of Sports Education. 2025;9(2):266-277. doi:10.55238/seder.1680474
Chicago
Akyüz, Cem, and Asiye Filiz Çamlıgüney. 2025. “The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football”. Spor Eğitim Dergisi 9 (2): 266-77. https://doi.org/10.55238/seder.1680474.
EndNote
Akyüz C, Çamlıgüney AF (August 1, 2025) The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football. Spor Eğitim Dergisi 9 2 266–277.
IEEE
[1]C. Akyüz and A. F. Çamlıgüney, “The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football”, Journal of Sports Education, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 266–277, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.55238/seder.1680474.
ISNAD
Akyüz, Cem - Çamlıgüney, Asiye Filiz. “The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football”. Spor Eğitim Dergisi 9/2 (August 1, 2025): 266-277. https://doi.org/10.55238/seder.1680474.
JAMA
1.Akyüz C, Çamlıgüney AF. The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football. Journal of Sports Education. 2025;9:266–277.
MLA
Akyüz, Cem, and Asiye Filiz Çamlıgüney. “The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football”. Spor Eğitim Dergisi, vol. 9, no. 2, Aug. 2025, pp. 266-77, doi:10.55238/seder.1680474.
Vancouver
1.Cem Akyüz, Asiye Filiz Çamlıgüney. The Effect of Tactical Small-Sided Games on Anaerobic Performance in Football. Journal of Sports Education. 2025 Aug. 1;9(2):266-77. doi:10.55238/seder.1680474