Comprehensive Small Sided Game Design

Learn the key strategies and techniques to enhance your athlete's movement and performance on the field, court and ice.

Real-life Video Examples

Watch athletes in action solving problems in dynamic environments, gaining practical insights for training success.

Suitable for All Levels

Ideal for athletes, coaches, and parents looking to elevate their training methods and unlock their athlete's full potential.

About the Course

This course provides a deep dive into small sided games, offering a unique approach to programming that fosters adaptability in athletes. With practical video examples and seasoned guidance, athletes, coaches, and parents can enhance their training experiences and propel their development to new heights. Join now to revolutionize your training methods and unleash your athlete's true potential.

Meet Your Coach

Hi, I’m Jamie Smith, a coach focused on human movement and athletic development. My work centers on building adaptable athletes who can excel within the dynamic demands of any sporting environment. Through years of hands-on coaching, problem solving, and refining my approach, I’ve developed systems that bridge movement science with real-world application. In this course, I’ll share the principles, tools, and practical strategies that shape how we develop resilient, high-performing movers. My goal is simple, equip you with a clear framework and actionable tools to elevate your coaching and maximize athletic development.

Course Curriculum

23 Chapters · 182 Lessons

  1. 1

    Introduction to Small Sided Games (SSGs)

    1. Understanding Small Sided Games Free preview
    2. SSGs in Athletic Development Free preview
    3. How We Use SSGs @ The U of Strength Free preview
  2. 2

    The Low-High Model

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Low-High Training Model

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Our Application of the Low–High Model

  3. 3

    The Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Constraints-Led Approach in Athletic Development

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Constraint Manipulation

  4. 4

    Four Pillars of Athletic Development

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Complete Athlete

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Athletes Are Integrated Systems

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Why This Matters for Program Design

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Coaching as Environmental Design

  5. 5

    Human Movement System

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      3 Bs

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Movement Does Not Occur in a Vacuum

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Replace Cones with Human Beings

  6. 6

    Sport Movement Characteristics

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Understanding the Nature of Sporting Movement

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      1. Movement Is Context-Specific

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      2. Movement Is Task-Oriented & Interactive

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      3. Movement Is Anticipatory & Unpredictable

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      4. Movement Is Varied & Requires an Expansive Skill Toolbox

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      5. Movement Is About Optimal Speed, Not Max Speed

  7. 7

    Gamespeed Development

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      What is Gamespeed?

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Speed vs. Gamespeed

  8. 8

    Perception-Action Coupling

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      What is Perception-Action Coupling?

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Sport is a Problem-Solving Activity

  9. 9

    Understanding Offensive & Defensive Behaviors

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Tactical Awareness

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Offensive Behaviors

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Defensive Behaviors

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Connecting Offense & Defense

  10. 10

    Representative Training Environments

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Design Process

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      What is Information?

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Unpredictability

  11. 11

    Designing the Problem

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      How We Scale Information

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Sources

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Affordances (Movement Opportunities)

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Variability

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Repetition without Repetition

  12. 12

    Intentional Design of Gameplay Environments

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Common Misconception

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Athlete-Centered vs. Athlete-Driven

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Power of Novelty

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Roughhousing

  13. 13

    Pre-Training Games

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Partner Back Catching (Individual Emphasis)

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Partner Quick Hand(s) with Catching Constraints (Individual Emphasis)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Dunking with Task Constraints (Individual Emphasis)

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Tall Kneeling Chaotic Tag (Individual Emphasis)

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Knee Tag (Individual Emphasis)

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Tagging Constraints (Individual Emphasis)

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Foot or Crawling Tag (Individual Emphasis)

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Bear vs. Defender (Individual Emphasis)

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Chaotic Face-Off & Task Constraints (Individual Emphasis)

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Partner Med Ball Grappling (Individual Emphasis)

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Hand Tennis & Obstacles (Individual Emphasis)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Hand Tennis & Dynamic Dowel (Individual Emphasis)

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Hand Tennis & Dynamic Ring (Individual Emphasis)

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Hand Fighting & Task Constraints (Individual Emphasis)

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Dynamic Obstacle & Tag (Individual Emphasis)

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Frisbee & Spacing Constraints (Individual Emphasis)

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Dynamic-Lateral Start & Obtain As Many Balls As Possible (Individual Emphasis)

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1v1s with Mini Spike Ball & Task Constraints (Individual Emphasis)

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Stability Ball Grappling & Lower Body Constraints (Individual Emphasis)

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      2v2s with Spike Ball & Paddle (Social Emphasis)

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      3v3s with Spike Ball (Social Emphasis)

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      3v3s with Spike Ball & Large Target (Social Emphasis)

    23. (Included in full purchase)

      Team Balloon Volleying & Task Constraints (Social Emphasis)

    24. (Included in full purchase)

      Team Spike Ball Tag (Social Emphasis)

    25. (Included in full purchase)

      4v4s with Spike Ball & Task Constraints (Social Emphasis)

  14. 14

    Speed Games

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Ball Drop Acceleration & Deceleration

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Stop or Go & Noodle Constraints (Individual Emphasis)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Ball Chaotic Drop Acceleration

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Ball Drop Acceleration x 2

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Ball Drop Curved Acceleration

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Ball Chase Acceleration

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Self Ball Chase Acceleration

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Ball Chase Curved Acceleration

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Chaotic Ball Drop Acceleration

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Drop-In Multiple Balls Drop Acceleration

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Partner Resisted Marching Unpredictable Ball Drop Lateral 3-Step Acceleration Burst

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Side Rolling Unpredictable Ball Drop Lateral 3-Step Acceleration Burst

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Lateral Balloon Tap COD Acceleration Balloon Catch

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Stability Ball Chase COD Scarf Drop Acceleration

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Drop-In 3-Step Acceleration Burst & Defensive Task Constraints

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Noodle Release & Defensive Chase

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Defensive Chasing Situation, Static Obstacles & Route Options

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Defensive Chasing Situation & Dynamic Obstacles

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Chase or Evade & Tagging Constraints

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Disadvantage Start, Defensive Chase & Noodle Tag

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Rock, Paper, Scissors Start & Ball Tag

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Odds or Evens Start & First to the Ball

    23. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Curved Chasing Situations & Defensive Task Constraints

    24. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Chase Bending Turns & Defensive Task Constraints

    25. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Curved Boundaries & First to the Ball

    26. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Chaotic Start & First to the Scarf

  15. 15

    Game-Like Activities

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Find The Opening

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Find The Opening with Multiple Layers of Information & Additional Tasks (Catching & Throwing)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Asymmetrical Implement & Task Constraints

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Curved Boundaries & Different Scoring Chances

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Rolling Ball Start & Curved Boundaries

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Rolling or Bouncing Balls Start

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Transition Situation & Multiple Rolling Balls Start

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Multiple Scoring Opportunities & Dual-Role Task Constraints

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1+1s with Task Constraints

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1+1s with Offensive Task Constraints

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1+1s with Lateral Mirroring, Evasion Belt & Offensive Task Constraints

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1+1s with Defensive Disadvantage Start & Offensive Task Constraints

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1+1s with Hand-Off or Fake & Offensive Task Constraints

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      1+1v1+1s with Face-Off Start & Multiple Scoring Opportunities

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1v1s with Frisbee Chase & Scoring Constraints

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1, 1v2 & 2v1s with Lateral Mirroring Start & Task Constraints

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      1v2s with Multiple Scoring Opportunities & Fatigue Constraints

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      2v2s with "Face-Off" Start & Offensive Task Constraints

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      2v1+1 & 2v2s with Battling Face-Off Start & Task Constraints

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      2v3 & 1v4s with "Find the Ball" & Task Constraints

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      3v3s with Asymmetrical Implement & Task Constraints

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      5v5s with Frisbee & Offensive Task Constraints

  16. 16

    Integrating Agility into Your Training Program

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Agility Design

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Loading Emphasis

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Types of Situations

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Agility Organization

  17. 17

    Pre-Training 1v1s

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Linear Mirroring & Deceleration Emphasis

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring & Obstacles

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Evasion Belt & Change of Direction (Turning) Emphasis

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Up/Downhill Mirroring & Defensive Tag

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring & Evasion Belt

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring Start, Stability Ball Release & Change of Direction 3-Step Burst

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Extensive Lateral Plyometrics Mirroring & Deceleration Emphasis

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring & Stability Ball Constraints

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring, Deceleration Emphasis & Defensive Task Constraints

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring, Dowel & Defensive Task Constraints

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring, Open Gate & Obstacles

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring, Asymmetrical Load & Defensive Tag

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Defensive Chase & Curved Acceleration Emphasis

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Mirroring & Different Cutting Options

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Dynamic Lateral Start, Find The Opening & 3-Step Acceleration Burst

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring Start & Psychological Loading

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Lateral Mirroring Start, Obstacles & Defensive Tag

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Defensive Task Constraints

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Chaotic Lateral Mirroring

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1+1v1+1v1s with Lateral Mirroring Start

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      1v1s with Multidirectional Mirroring, Multiple Layers of Info & Defensive Task Constraints

  18. 18

    Agility Activities

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Strength, Power & COD Emphasis

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Strength, Power & COD Emphasis

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Strength, Power & COD Emphasis

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Strength, Power & COD Emphasis

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Strength, Power & COD Emphasis

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Speed & Elasticity Emphasis

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Speed & Elasticity Emphasis

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Speed & Elasticity Emphasis

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Speed & Elasticity Emphasis

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Speed & Elasticity Emphasis

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Repeatability (Work Capacity) Emphasis

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Repeatability (Work Capacity) Emphasis

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Repeatability (Work Capacity) Emphasis

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Repeatability (Work Capacity) Emphasis

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Repeatability (Work Capacity) Emphasis

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Perception Emphasis

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      Perception Emphasis

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      Perception Emphasis

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      Perception Emphasis

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      Perception Emphasis

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      Cognition Emphasis

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      Cognition Emphasis

    23. (Included in full purchase)

      Cognition Emphasis

    24. (Included in full purchase)

      Cognition Emphasis

    25. (Included in full purchase)

      Cognition Emphasis

  19. 19

    Gamespeed Principles

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      5 Gamespeed Principles

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Appreciating Space

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Respecting Speed

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Managing Uncertainty

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Being Comfortable in Uncomfortable Conditions

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Team Synergies

  20. 20

    Rate Limiters & Enhancers

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Strengths & Weaknesses vs. Rate Limiters & Enhancers

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Individual Constraints

  21. 21

    Skill Adaptation is Non-Linear

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Non-Linear Process

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Patience

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Long-Term Mindset

  22. 22

    Training Guidelines

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Training Parameters

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Gameplay Guidelines

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Pre-Training 1v1 Guidelines

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Agility Guidelines

  23. 23

    Programming & Training Frequency

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      5-Day

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      4-Day

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      3-Day

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2-Day

Testimonials

Real Feedback from Real Coaches

”
As a coach working at a high level, I’m constantly evaluating whether what we do in training truly transfers to competition. This course challenged and refined my lens. This framework moves beyond drill design and into environment design. It respects the perceptual demands of sport and shows you how to systematically manipulate constraints to drive adaptable, game-ready behaviors. What I appreciated most is that it doesn’t abandon physical development, it integrates it. Speed, change of direction, acceleration, decision-making, they’re all trained in context. This course elevates small sided games from chaotic activities to intentional performance tools. It’s a serious upgrade for the traditional coaches who care about transfer.
Alex Sarama

Cleveland Cavaliers  Assistance Coach & Director of Player Development

”
This framework gave me a performance edge I wasn’t getting from traditional strength and speed programs alone. I had the physical tools, but his SSGs forced me to apply them in context, under pressure, with real-time decision-making, timing, spatial awareness, and constraints that mirrored competition. The competitive environment sharpened my gamespeed, elevated my ability to execute skills at game pace, and exposed gaps that linear training never revealed. It wasn’t just conditioning or volume, it was directly transferable performance. That layer was pivotal in helping me make the adjustments my game required to compete at the professional and Olympic level. It bridged the gap between physical preparation and true high-level performance.
Rachel Llanes

San Jose Barracuda Head Strength & Conditioning Coach

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