@Article{Ulupınar2026,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
year="2026",
title="An umbrella review of soccer small-sided games: developing an evidence-informed design model linking training components to performance outcomes",
abstract=" Small-sided games (SSGs) are widely used in soccer training to develop multiple performance  domains,	though	interactions	among	design	components	can	complicate	targeting	specific	outcomes.	This	 umbrella	synthesis	aimed	to	integrate	findings	from	systematic	reviews	and	meta-analyses	to	clarify	how	key	 SSG design components are associated with different training objectives and to develop an evidence-informed  framework	for	SSG	design.	A synthesis	of	37 systematic	reviews	and	meta-analyses	was	conducted.	The	analysis	 focused	on	eight	commonly	manipulated	SSG	design	components—Area	per	Player,	player	format,	bout	duration,	 work-to-rest ratio, rules and task constraints, touch limitation, joker usage, and directionality/goalkeeper  involvement—and examined their associations with six primary performance domains: aerobic load, anaerobic/ glycolytic demands, high-speed running and sprint exposure, neuromuscular/mechanical demands, technical  execution,	and	tactical	behaviors.	Consistent	patterns	indicate	that	spatial	density	and	player	format	are	central	 determinants	of	SSG	responses.	Aerobic	strain	is	most	frequently	reported	in	formats	ranging	from	2	v	2 to	4	v	4,	 with	approximately	100–150 m2	per	player.	In	contrast,	maximal	sprint	exposure	is	rarely	achieved	unless	pitch	 dimensions	exceed	~300–365 m2 per player, suggesting the need for complementary conditioning when  maximal	speed	development	is	required.	Smaller	formats	and	restricted	spaces	are	associated	with	higher	 acceleration–deceleration density and increased technical involvement, while rule manipulations can substantially  increase	internal	load	and	game	intensity.	Tactical	behaviors	were	particularly	sensitive	to	numerical	balance,	 directional	constraints,	and	the	use	of	jokers.	The	synthesized	evidence	was	translated	into	an	evidence-informed	 SSG	design	matrix	that	links	key	training	components	to	targeted	performance	outcomes. ",
author="Ulupınar, Süleyman
and Özbay, Serhat
and Ateş, Osman
and Turan, Murat
and Coşkun, Kemal
and Çabuk, Salih
and Gençoğlu, Cebrail
and Owen, Adam
and Barnes, Chris",
pages="1487--1522",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2026.161109",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.161109"
}