How and why do soccer coaches use small-sided games in the training process?

Purpose
The small-sided games (SSGs) allow to work in specificity, according to the characteristics of the soccer game, the physical, technical, tactical and psychological aspects. This study intends to understand the how and why coaches use the SSGs in the training process.

Methods
For this purpose we use a semi-structured interview. Two coaches were interviewed due to their vast experience in high-performance training and youth training. The analysis was done through content analysis. The treatment of the data was done through content analysis. We used the categorization to group the data with common characteristics. The category system was defined later.

Results
The results demonstrate that SSGs are an integral part of the training process, allowing the work of the physical, technical and tactical aspects. The coaches interviewed argue that it is an important work strategy for the articulation of the players in the sector and inter-sector of the team, based on the tactical principles that they see reproduced in the competition.

Conclusions
According to coaches interviewed, SSGs are relevant based on the fact that they may develop both tactical principles and physical capabilities using such games during all season to establish a direct relationship with specific moments that occurs in official competition.