Enhancing Short-Pass Performance And Engagement Through 5 V 5 Small-Sided Games in Young Football Athletes

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of 5v5 small-sided games on the short-pass performance and engagement of young football athletes aged 13 to 15. The study employed a one-group pretest and posttest design, consisting of 30 young football athletes. Every participant in the study underwent a six-week intervention consisting of three sixty-minute sessions per week. Each session began with a warm-up, followed by a ten-minute passing technique drill and a thirty-minute small-sided game with new rules to engage all participants. The research data was analyzed using an independent sample t-test. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in short-pass performance following the intervention (t = -20.694, df = 29, p < 0.001). In addition, engagement levels showed a statistically significant increase (t = -13.861, df = 29, p < 0.001) across all measured dimensions. These findings indicate that the 5 vs 5 small-sided games training program is effective in enhancing both short-pass performance and engagement. In conclusion, small-sided games can serve as an effective and practical training strategy to simultaneously develop skill performance and engagement. Practically, coaches can incorporate 5 vs 5 small-sided games into training sessions to simultaneously enhance short-pass performance and increase athletes’ engagement.