Role of maturation on small-sided games in youth soccer: a scoping review

Purpose The role of maturation in small-sided games (SSGs) has become a growing research focus. This study conducts a scoping review to map the evolution of research on the role of maturation in SSGs and synthesise its impact on physiological, physical, technical, and tactical parameters in youth soccer. Methods Online databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SportDiscus, and Scopus) were searched for articles from their inception until October 2024. Studies were selected based on the following criteria: (I) youth soccer players (< 18 years), (II) examining the influence of maturation on physiological, physical, technical, and tactical parameters, (III) conducting a qualitative or quantitative analysis of performance parameters, and (IV) employing observational or experimental studies. Study and SSG characteristics were synthesised narratively, while performance measures were presented in tabular format. Results 3 vs 3 (21%) and 4 vs 4 (29%) were the most frequently implemented SSG formats. The majority (96%) used a crosssectional design, with over half (57%) incorporating players from professional soccer academies. The majority of the maturational effects were observed in technical parameters (33%) (e.g., passes), while physiological (e.g., heart rate, rating of perceived exertion), physical (e.g., accelerations), and tactical (e.g., pitch dispersion) parameters showed changes in 22% of the included studies. Conclusions This review highlights the impact of maturation on performance outcomes in SSGs, with technical parameters showing the strongest effects. Future research would benefit from a more careful selection of rigorous protocols and prospective studies. More studies investigating the influence of maturation in SSGs are required to provide guidance for practitioners in the field of youth soccer.