Small-Sided Games in Soccer Training: A Bibliometric Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20547902Keywords:
Soccer, Small-sided games, Bibliometric AnalysisAbstract
The aim of this study was to examine the overall development of scientific publications on small-sided games (SSGs) in soccer training and to comprehensively reveal research trends in the literature through bibliometric analysis. Within the scope of the study, a total of 1,073 scientific publications indexed in the Web of Science database and published between 2016 and 2026 were analyzed. To visualize the obtained data and clearly identify conceptual network structures, co-authorship, citation, co-citation, and keyword analyses were conducted using VOSviewer software. The findings indicated that the number of publications related to small-sided games demonstrated an overall upward trend throughout the examined ten-year period, reaching its highest level of productivity in 2025. In terms of author productivity, Filipe Manuel Clemente and Bruno Gonçalves were identified as leading contributors who made substantial contributions to the field. Country-based analyses revealed that Spain, Portugal, and England were the most influential countries contributing to the literature. Furthermore, the keyword analysis showed that the terms “soccer,” “performance,” and “GPS” were among the most prominent concepts, indicating that research has increasingly focused on performance analysis and technological monitoring tools. In conclusion, the literature on small-sided games has attracted growing scholarly interest in recent years, with data-driven and technology-oriented approaches becoming increasingly prominent. By systematically identifying the major trends and developments within the field, this study provides valuable insights for future scientific research and practical applications in soccer training.
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