Small-sided and Conditioned Games in Soccer Training ― The Science and Practical Applications

This book reviews the general acute effects and adaptations of small-sided and conditioned games (SSCGs) in terms of physiological responses, technical performance and methodology/periodization in the game of soccer. It also reviews the many studies conducted in the past decade to investigate the influence of SSCGs on physiological responses and technical performance in soccer training. SSCGs, which are smaller and adapted versions of formal team sports, are very popular training drills for players at all ability levels and competitive levels and offer an alternative to traditional fitness training. Exploring their role in depth, this book offers a valuable resource for academics, researchers and coaches with an interest in developing improved training techniques for soccer.

Filipe Manuel Clemente has a PhD in Sport Sciences – Sports Training and he has been doing research in the field of Sports Training and Performance Analysis. He is Assistant Professor and head of Laboratory of Motion Sciences in Sports College of Melgaco. He is also Guest Editor of the Sports Performance and Exercise collection in SpringerPlus journal.

His research focuses specifically on the influence and the application of small-sided and conditioned games as a specific methodology to improve the sports training in team sports. In addition, he has also been developing a set of technological metrics applied to sports analysis to identify the collective organization of team sports and to identify the individual variables of performance in match and in training context.