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

NCT07755358 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 18

Last updated 2026-08-13

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

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.

Conditions

  • Soccer Performance
  • Small-Sided Games Training
  • Aerobic Endurance
  • Passing Performance

Interventions

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.

BEHAVIORAL

Regular Soccer Training

Participants continued their routine soccer training program without exposure to structured small-sided games during the study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Istanbul Gelisim University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
17 Years
Max Age
18 Years
Sex
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-08-01
Primary Completion
2025-08-30
Completion
2025-09-30

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07755358 on ClinicalTrials.gov