#190 Beyond small-sided games: train the situation

Welcome to the Progressão podcast.In our previous episode, we questioned the common debate around drills versus games and explored whether this is the right way to understand training in football. This week, we take the discussion further and focus on small-sided games and situation-based exercises.Small-sided games are widely used in modern coaching and are often seen as an ideal way to train the game. But are they always representative of what actually happens in matches? In this episode, we explore some of the limitations of small-sided games, from differences in distances and timing to how pressure is experienced in real situations. From there, we introduce another approach that may complement small-sided games: situation-based exercises.Football is not just a continuous flow, it is made up of recurring situations. Build up under pressure, press releases, lateral penetration, defending crosses. These moments appear again and again, and becoming skilful means learning to act effectively within them.Through concrete examples, we discuss how training can be designed to reflect these situations more closely, connecting players to meaningful information in the game environment.🌍 More at progressao.fi🐦 Follow us on X and Instagram: @progressaofi