<![CDATA[Small-sided games (SSGs) have become one of the most widely applied training methods in youth soccer because they combine technical, tactical, and physical demands within a game-based context. This study aims to review and synthesize findings from previous empirical studies regarding the effect of small-sided games training on the physical condition of young soccer players, particularly aerobic endurance, agility, and dribbling ability. A literature review design was employed, in which relevant articles published in national and international journals between 2016 and 2024 were identified through Google Scholar, Garuda, and other academic databases using the keywords “small-sided games,” “physical condition,” and “youth soccer players.” Articles were selected based on relevance, methodological clarity, and publication credibility, then analyzed descriptively to identify patterns across studies. The review indicates that small-sided games training consistently produces positive effects on aerobic capacity (VO2max), agility, and ball-related skills such as passing and dribbling, largely because the game-based format sustains high-intensity movement while simultaneously demanding rapid decision-making. Several studies also report that manipulating pitch size, player numbers, and rest intervals influences the magnitude of physiological adaptation, suggesting that training load in small-sided games can be systematically regulated in a manner similar to conventional interval training. However, variation in research design, sample characteristics, and measurement instruments across studies makes direct comparison of effect sizes difficult. This review recommends that coaches consider small-sided games as a time-efficient alternative to isolated physical conditioning, while further primary research with more rigorous experimental control is still needed to strengthen the evidence base.]]>
