Why Small Sided Games?
More touches: Players will increase the amount of opportunities to play with the ball in their stick. With less players on the field and in a smaller space, players receive more repetitions catching, throwing, shooting, carrying the ball, and picking up ground balls.
Always in the action: Since less players are on the field, each player's role becomes more important. Both on ball and off ball, on offense and on defense, players are involved in the gameplay rather than being further away from the action. This gives players more experience in a variety of situations helping to improve their IQ and confidence.
Tight spaces: Providing an environment that supports skill development and teamwork over athletic dominance. This encourages teams to work together instead of using one player's athleticism to run past everyone. Small-sided gameplay also helps players learn to read and react, developing their decision making skills.
It's Fun: All of these aspects make the game faster and keep players are more engaged. Players spend less time running around the field, and more time involved in scoring and defending situations.
John Danowski - Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Duke University / Team USA
Small - Sided Competition
Small - Sided Games in Soccer
Small - Sided Games in the NHL