The effectiveness of differential learning in small-sided soccer games for skill development in U20 amateur male...

Traditional soccer training relies on repetitive drills, while modern approaches emphasize personalized strategies that better suit individual player development needs. This study examined the effects of Small-Sided Games (SSGs) alone and in combination with Differential Learning (SSG + DL) on physiological responses, tactical behaviors, and technical skills enhancement of soccer players. Twenty male soccer players participated in this randomized controlled trial, assigned to either a control group (SSG, n = 10, age: 19.4 ± 1.07 years) or an intervention group (SSG + DL, n = 10, age: 18.2 ± 0.91 years). Physiological responses (heart rate, blood lactate, RPE), tactical behaviors, and technical skills were assessed before and after an 8-week training program (four sessions weekly). Large main effects of Time were found for technical/tactical skills including possession (η² = 0.83), passes (η² = 0.86), shots (η² = 0.77), tackles (η² = 0.73), and decisionmaking (η² = 0.92). Medium effects emerged for heart rate (η² = 0.19) and effort (η² = 0.27). Group effects were negligible for physical measures. Significant interaction effects favoring the intervention were found for possession (η² = 0.42), passes (η² = 0.42), tackling (η² = 0.74), and marking (η² = 0.58). The intervention group showed larger improvement effect sizes (g = 0.11-2.61) compared to controls (g = 0.05-1.97). Integration of SSGs with DL significantly enhances tactical behaviors and technical skills in amateur soccer players compared to SSGs alone. These findings provide coaches with a practical framework to develop more adaptable players, particularly valuable for youth teams with limited resources, highlighting the importance of incorporating innovative training methods that emphasize variability and exploration.