170 Small-Sider Games PDF

170 Small-Sided Games: The Ultimate Playbook for Modern Football Development

Introduction: The Training Revolution – Why Small-Sided Games Are the Future

In the dynamic landscape of football coaching, a profound shift has occurred—a move away from isolated, repetitive drills toward training methods that mirror the complexity and unpredictability of the actual game. At the forefront of this revolution are Small-Sided Games (SSGs). “170 Small-Sided Games” by Renato Lopes Moreira is not just a book; it is the definitive encyclopedia for this transformative approach. This comprehensive guide provides coaches with an unparalleled repository of 170 structured games, each designed to develop technically proficient, tactically intelligent, and physically robust players in an engaging, realistic, and highly effective training environment. It is an essential resource for any coach committed to developing players who can think, adapt, and execute under pressure.

The power of SSGs lies in their representativeness. They condense the full-sized game into a concentrated format, ensuring players are constantly involved in decision-making, technical execution, and tactical problem-solving. This book is built on the irrefutable principle that players learn best by playing, and that the most effective training is, in itself, a form of play. For coaches seeking to deepen their understanding of the science behind SSGs, integrating this resource with research from the United Soccer Coaches can provide valuable evidence-based context. Furthermore, our interactive online platform at pinbl.xyz/ssg-playbook offers animated diagrams, session-building tools, and a vibrant community forum to share insights and experiences.

The Philosophical Foundation: The Why Behind the Games

Before presenting the games, the book establishes a powerful coaching philosophy centered on the developmental benefits of SSGs.

1. Maximized Touches and Decision-Making: In a typical SSG, a player will touch the ball 5-8 times more often than in an 11v11 match. This exponential increase in repetitions accelerates technical mastery. More importantly, every touch is contextual—it requires a decision, fostering game intelligence and spatial awareness.

2. Holistic Development: SSGs simultaneously develop all four corners of player development:

• Technical: Skills are practiced under pressure and in game-like scenarios.
• Tactical: Players learn principles of attack (support, width, penetration) and defense (pressure, cover, balance) organically.
• Physical: The stop-start nature of SSGs develops sport-specific fitness, including acceleration, deceleration, and change of direction.
• Psychological: The competitive, fun environment builds confidence, resilience, and creativity.

3. The Coach as a Facilitator: The role of the coach evolves from instructor to designer and guide. The coach’s primary job is to design the game (the “container”), observe the players within it, and use strategic interventions (e.g., asking questions, modifying constraints) to guide learning, a methodology supported by the FA’s Four Corner Model.

The Games: A Categorized and Progressive System

The 170 games are not a random list; they are meticulously categorized by primary learning objective, age group, and complexity, allowing coaches to select the perfect game for any training theme.

Category 1: Possession Games (Building the Foundation)
These games focus on maintaining control of the ball under pressure, the bedrock of modern football.

• Game Example: 4-Zone Possession: A large grid is divided into four zones. A team must complete a set number of passes in one zone before moving the ball to the next, encouraging ball circulation, switching play, and spatial awareness.
• Coaching Points: Focus on body shape (open to the field), support angles, and the speed of passing.

Category 2: Positional Games (Mastering Tactical Concepts)
These games introduce players to specific formations, roles, and patterns of play within a reduced framework.

• Game Example: 7v7+2 Build-Out Game: Played on a half-pitch, the team in possession must use their goalkeeper and two neutral players to build out from the back against the opposition’s coordinated press. This is a fantastic tool for teaching playing out from the back, a principle emphasized by top academies worldwide.
• Coaching Points: Emphasis on the movement of the pivot to receive, the width provided by full-backs, and the timing of forward runs.

Category 3: Transition Games (Winning the Moment)
These games train the most critical moments in football: the seconds after possession is lost or won.

• Game Example: “Ball In-Ball Out”: Two teams play in a central grid with small goals. Two target players stand outside the grid. To score, a team must pass to a target player and then receive it back. This constantly triggers transitions and practices quick combinations.
• Coaching Points: Immediate reaction upon turnover—either intense counter-pressing or rapid defensive recovery.

Category 4: Conditioning Games (Fitness with the Ball)
These SSGs integrate physical conditioning into football actions, making fitness training relevant and engaging.

• Game Example: “The Wave”: Two teams of 5 play. Every 2 minutes, a whistle blows, and 5 new players from each team (waiting behind the goal) sprint on to replace the existing 5. This simulates the high-intensity, wave-like nature of match fitness.

The Art of Manipulation: Using Constraints to Guide Learning

A key strength of the book is its focus on using constraints to shape player behavior without constant coaching.

• To Encourage Penetration: A rule that a goal is worth double if scored from a first-time finish.
• To Create Width: Use of wide zones that are worth extra points if played into.
• To Encourage Pressing: A rule that a team winning the ball back within 5 seconds gets an extra point.

Conclusion: Your Blueprint for a Dynamic Coaching Methodology

“170 Small-Sided Games” is more than a book; it is a coaching revolution bound between two covers. It provides the practical tools to create a dynamic, player-centered learning environment that is both immensely enjoyable and incredibly effective. By integrating these games into your coaching repertoire, you commit to a methodology that produces not just drills, but intelligent, adaptable, and creative footballers.

This resource empowers you to move beyond being a manager of drills to become an architect of learning experiences. The games are your building blocks; your philosophy is the blueprint.

To continue your journey, we highly recommend exploring the coaching education offered by U.S. Soccer and joining our community of innovative coaches at pinbl.xyz/ssg-community to share your own game variations and success stories.

Embrace the games. Foster the intelligence. Develop the players. The future of coaching is here, and it is played in small-sided formats. Your ultimate playbook is now in your hands.