Effectiveness of Triangle Passing Drills and Small-Sided Games on Passing Skill Development in Youth Soccer Players: A Systematic Review

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-591-1_20How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Youth soccer; passing skills; small-sided games (SSGs); triangle passing drills; technical training; tactical awareness; sport pedagogy; systematic review

Abstract

This study systematically reviews the effectiveness and training adaptations of triangle passing drills and small-sided games (SSGs) in improving passing performance among youth soccer players aged 12–15 years. Passing ability is a fundamental technical component in soccer and plays a significant role in tactical execution, ball possession maintenance, and team coordination during match situations [1], [2]. Contemporary youth coaching increasingly emphasizes the integration of technical and tactical learning through representative training environments, particularly game-based approaches such as SSGs [3]. This review employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) framework to ensure methodological transparency and rigor. Literature searches were conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases for studies published between 2015 and 2025. The inclusion criteria focused on experimental and quasi-experimental studies involving youth soccer athletes aged 12–15 years and examining the effects of triangle passing drills or SSGs on passing-related performance variables. Eight eligible studies were identified and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings demonstrate that both training approaches positively influence passing skill development; however, each method contributes differently to performance enhancement. Small-sided games showed greater effectiveness in improving tactical decision-making, perceptual awareness, spatial adaptation, and player engagement during dynamic match simulations. In contrast, triangle passing drills were more effective in developing technical precision, passing consistency, motor coordination, and short-passing accuracy under controlled conditions. A simplified quantitative synthesis indicated that SSGs produced a slightly higher mean effect score (2.67) compared with triangle passing drills (2.50), suggesting a marginal advantage in promoting integrated technical-tactical performance. The review further indicates that SSG-based training aligns with ecological dynamics and game-based pedagogical theories, which emphasize contextual learning and decision-making under pressure [4]. Meanwhile, repetitive technical drills remain important for establishing movement automation and biomechanical consistency in youth athletes [5]. Therefore, combining structured technical exercises with game-oriented learning models is recommended to optimize passing development in adolescent soccer players. This study contributes practical and theoretical insights for coaches, physical education practitioners, and sport researchers in designing evidence-based youth soccer training programs. The findings also support the implementation of balanced training models that integrate technical mastery with tactical adaptability to enhance long-term athlete development.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Haris Kurniawan
AU  - Zulfan Heri
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/24
TI  - Effectiveness of Triangle Passing Drills and Small-Sided Games on Passing Skill Development in Youth Soccer Players: A Systematic Review
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference of Sport Science, Sport Coaching Science, and Physical Education, and Recreation 2025 (ICOSSCOPER 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 197
EP  - 212
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-591-1_20
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-591-1_20
ID  - Kurniawan2026
ER  -