Evaluating the representativeness of a small-sided game for high-pressure phases of play in elite Australian football

This study examined the representativeness of a small-sided game for high-pressure phases of play in Australian football. One elite AF team (age = 23.5 years ± 3.85) completed a training drill designed with modified task constraints (10-versus-10 players and reduced playing space) to replicate the high-pressure of contested phases of matches. Across 11 weeks, player possession data from 11 drills and contested phases of 11 matches were analysed. On average, players completed the drill 5.3 times and participated in 6.9 matches. Environmental and behavioural variables were compared between settings, analysed relative to frequency per minute and as proportions of variable occurrences per minute within contested phases of play. Findings showed significantly higher pressure points in matches (median = 2.34) than in training (median = 2.02). Indeed, matches featured significantly higher frequencies of all high-pressure variables than training. Comparatively, training produced match-like proportions of possessions with physical (median = 28.31%) and closing pressure (median = 13.61%), but also featured a higher prevalence of low-pressure events, such as longer possession durations (median 2–3s = 15.28%, median 3 + s = 15.83%) and disposals with no opposition pressure (median = 9.2%). Training (median = 63.75%) also involved more effective outcomes than matches (median = 49.64%). The drill was not entirely representative of match-like high-pressure phases of play and may have been less challenging. Interestingly, different measures of representativeness provide different results and interpretations. Coaches should be clear on training drill aims and the outcomes they hope to achieve to attain the most meaningful insights.