skip navigation

Why it's important to keep team sizes small

05/20/2012, 9:30am MDT
By ADM Kids

Dr Rick Fernoglio, a lecturer in Exercise Science at Manchester Metropolitan University, compared the experience of young soccer players during eight-a-side games and SSGs (4v4).

He found that the players in 4v4:

  • Made 135% more passes.
  • Took 260% more shots.
  • Scored 500% more goals.
  • Experienced 225% more 1v1s.
  • Did 280% more tricks, turns, and moves.
    (published in Success in Soccer, March 2004)

Remember these numbers the next time you're tempted to allow a "mass scrimmage" at the end of one of your coaching sessions.

Tag(s): Home