Framework and Consensus Statement for the Implementation of Sided Game Training in Football (Soccer)

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Football (Soccer) Training
• Performance Analysis

Background:

• Sided games are popular in football (soccer) for integrated technical, tactical, and physical development.
• Inconsistent terminology and limited empirical guidance have hindered advancement in research and practice.
• A need exists for a unified framework and evidence-based recommendations for sided game design and application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a unified framework and evidence-based recommendations for sided games in football.
• To provide conceptual clarity and practical guidance for coaches and sport scientists.
• To address methodological heterogeneity and advance the practice of sided games.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary group of 20 international experts developed the framework.
• A 3-stage process included theoretical model development and an umbrella review of 12 systematic reviews.
• Iterative drafting and blinded consensus voting using a 9-point Likert scale were employed.

Main Results:

• Seven consensus statements were achieved, defining sided games and influencing factors.
• Sided games were confirmed effective for aerobic fitness and tactical-technical behaviors.
• Sided games were found less effective for strength, power, and high-speed performance adaptations.

Conclusions:

• This consensus provides the first framework for sided game training in football, unifying terminology and guiding evidence-based design.
• Implementation can enhance training coherence and optimize player development.
• The framework can inform future research addressing methodological and population-specific gaps.