Small-sided games are the epicentre of soccer improvement. Done
right, they can play a huge role in the development of players. The
environment created through these games makes it possible not just to
'let the game be the teacher, ' but also to improve specific skills and
tactics - all in the context of the real game. We do this by
manipulating the secondary rules of the game, by either adding elements
or constraining players in various ways.
The ultimate alternative to the 'drill, ' small-sided games training
promotes player autonomy through decision-making, problem-solving, and
the much-heralded coaching technique of guided discovery. Small-sided
games have the look and feel of the 'real' game where learning is made
intrinsic by the game itself.
Aimed at football coaches of all levels, but with a particular emphasis
on coaches who work with youth players, 50 Small-Sided Football Games to
Improve Decision-Making is comprised of 50 practices, and carefully
designed to be adaptable to suit the needs of the players you work with.
Book number four in Ray Power's "Deliberate Soccer Practice" series, the
exercises will challenge players and give them real-world decisions to
make. Sections include: Possession-Based Small-Sided Games (SSGs), SSGs
for Attacking and Finishing, SSGs for Defending, SSGs for Goalkeepers,
SSGs for Transitions and Restarts, and Other Varieties of SSG.
