Effects of an Eight-Week Small-Sided Games Training Program on Aerobic Endurance and Passing Performance in Adolescent Soccer Players

August 11, 2026 updated by: Görkem Açar, Istanbul Gelisim University

Effects of an Eight-Week Small-Sided Games Training Program on Aerobic Endurance and Passing Performance in Adolescent Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Soccer requires players to combine physical fitness with technical skills throughout a match. Small-sided games (SSG) are modified soccer training sessions played with fewer players and reduced pitch dimensions. These training formats are widely used because they simulate match situations while providing high physical and technical demands.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate whether an eight-week SSG training program improves aerobic endurance and passing performance in adolescent male soccer players. Eighteen licensed youth soccer players were randomly assigned to either an SSG training group or a control group. Both groups continued their regular soccer training, while the SSG group additionally performed structured small-sided game sessions three times per week for eight weeks.

Aerobic endurance was evaluated using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), and passing performance was assessed using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT). These measurements were obtained before and after the intervention.

The primary objective of the study was to compare changes in aerobic endurance and passing performance between the SSG and control groups. It was hypothesized that participation in the structured SSG program would result in greater improvements in both outcomes compared with regular soccer training alone.

The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence supporting the use of structured small-sided games as an effective and time-efficient training strategy for improving both physical fitness and technical performance in adolescent soccer players.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

18

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34290
        • Istanbul Gelisim University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male soccer players aged 17 to 18 years.
  • Licensed amateur soccer players with at least five years of organized soccer experience.
  • Regular participation in team training sessions.
  • No serious musculoskeletal injury within the previous six months.
  • No chronic neurological, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal conditions that could affect participation or performance.
  • Provided written informed consent (and parental/legal guardian consent where applicable).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Serious musculoskeletal injury during the study period.
  • Absence from more than two scheduled training sessions.
  • Voluntary withdrawal from the study at any time.
  • Failure to complete the pre-intervention or post-intervention outcome assessments.
  • Any medical condition preventing safe participation in high-intensity soccer training.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Small-Sided Games (SSG) Training
Participants continued their regular soccer training and additionally completed a structured small-sided games (SSG) training program three times per week for eight weeks. The intervention included progressively modified 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4 game formats with varying pitch dimensions and tactical constraints designed to improve aerobic endurance and passing performance.
Behavioral: Small-Sided Games Training
Participants performed structured small-sided games (SSG) training three times per week for eight weeks in addition to their regular soccer training. The intervention included 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4 game formats with progressively modified pitch dimensions and tactical constraints to improve aerobic endurance and passing performance.
Active Comparator: Regular Soccer Training (Control)
Participants continued their regular soccer training program without additional structured small-sided games training throughout the eight-week study period.
Behavioral: Regular Soccer Training
Participants continued their routine soccer training program without exposure to structured small-sided games during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Aerobic Endurance (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 Distance)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 8
Aerobic endurance was assessed using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1). The primary outcome was the total distance covered (meters) during the test. Higher values indicate better aerobic endurance.
Baseline and Week 8
Passing Performance (Loughborough Soccer Passing Test)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 8
Passing performance was evaluated using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT). The primary outcome was the total test completion time (seconds), including penalty time. Lower values indicate better passing performance.
Baseline and Week 8

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Gelisim University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 11, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SSG-YSP-2025-01

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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