Small sided games: a scoping review of literature 2006-2016

This article reports the findings of a scoping review of the use of small-sided games (SSGs) as a teaching or coaching pedagogy across four game categories. The selection criteria included empirical research available online, published after January 1 2006 and prior to December 31, 2016, in an academic journal. The data were analysed through an inductive thematic approach which generated two themes: Development and Practical considerations. This review found that SSGs can be used as a deliberate pedagogy to elicit physiological responses for a training effect. Given that the variables associated with SSGs include pitch size, game intensity, and number of players, a key determining factor in the implementation of SSGs includes the objective of the practice activity.