Want Big Results?
Consider small-sided fields
By Mary Helen Sprecher
Wildly popular at the youth level, soccer and lacrosse are big tournament draws. One of the most successful formats—and one seeing tremendous growth—is small-sided play. By having fields lined to create multiple smaller fields, one large field can host multiple games at the same time.
Heavy & Athletic
In soccer, play formats can include 3v3, 4v4, 5v5, 7v7, 8v8 and 9v9 (as opposed to traditional 11v11). In lacrosse, the emerging small-sided format is 6v6. The format can be a valuable teaching tool for coaches.
The advantages of the format, say coaches and tournament organizers, are many. Developmentally, players get more touches on the ball, have less running to do, have a better sense of responsibility, and learn teamwork at a younger age. And with every player’s presence counting more, the game becomes more enjoyable for the children.
Other advantages from the operational side include increased access and optimization of field space. On the program manager’s side, an enormous plus is more affordable cost (one field may host multiple games in either recreational or competitive play, at one time) and happier parents (who get to see their children play more often).
And in case you think the trend has gone unnoticed beyond the youth-sports level, the health advantages of small-sided play were the subject of a research paper published by the National Institutes of Health (check out A Review on the Effects of Soccer Small-Sided Games, by Marco Aguiar, Goreti Botelho, Carlos Lago, Victor Maças, and Jaime Sampaio). That isn’t the only academic research being done; a number of studies have been published recently.
USA Lacrosse has noted the trend, and has developed a field-layout diagram that, according to Brian Logue, senior director of communications, “can be used for a variety of purposes. It can be used for 4v4 games for 8U and below, and up to 7v7 for youth boys and 8v8 for youth girls up to 12U under USA Lacrosse Youth Rules.”
Paul Arcella, president of Heavy & Athletic in Deerfield Beach, Fla., noticed the trend and has been marking fields accordingly. Additionally, he has noted that one type of field in particular seems to be hosting this format.
“All of the facilities we have built have been synthetic-turf fields,” he notes. “We have done both inlaid lines [when lines are actually white fibers on the green turf of the field] and paint.”
Both methods work, but Arcella believes that inlaid lines “seem to be the best approach in the long term.”
Marking Lines
Field managers who are interested in marking lines for small-sided play should take into consideration the type of field (synthetic or natural), the amount of use expected, and the budget available. If opting to add lines to any synthetic field, ask your contractor to recommend the correct paint; ultimately, it may be better if the contractor carries out the marking work.
Many fields that host both traditional, full-size games, as well as small-sided play, are opting to mark in an assortment of colors to delineate different playing spaces. It’s a trick that has been in use for years, and particularly now that many facilities in land-locked areas are multi-tasking to host various field sports.
In general, field builders prefer to use white lines for the sport that receives the most use (or for the field designed to host as the primary sport), and then mark lines for other sports in different colors. For example, when a field hosts football as a dominant sport, white lines will be used, while yellow lines will be used for soccer, and another color (silver, purple, etc.) for a third sport, such as lacrosse.
Most field builders warn against marking more than three sets of lines on any field, and recommend that plastic cones or even tick marks be used if additional sports are to be hosted. In addition to detracting from the field’s aesthetic value, too many lines can become distracting or confusing to players and/or officials.
Halo LAX
Field Maintenance
Before subjecting a field to the concentrated use that multiple small-sided games will bring, have a comprehensive maintenance program in place.
While, in many cases, a field manager is capable of cleaning and grooming the fields, more specific issues relating to synthetic-turf upkeep should be the domain of the pros. (These issues might include addressing spots where drainage seems to be a problem, or where concentrated play in certain areas, such as around the goal, has displaced some of the infill or caused wear.)
Natural-grass fields will also need extra TLC to cope with an increased workload, and play may need to be rotated among several fields to keep any one facility from becoming worn.
“If you have a maintenance agreement in place, you can work with your contractor to develop a schedule that works for your budget,” adds Arcella.
Big Business
Many facilities are jumping onto the small-sided sport field bandwagon. In some cases, fields are used for recreational play, such as park facilities that host regular league and camp play, while in others, fields are being marked to use as a draw for travel tournaments, which have also seen tremendous growth for this size field.
Arcella says that, even without hosting major competitions, small-sided fields can spell a win for an owner or manager.
“The parks we work with have seen a huge uptick in people coming to the park to play small-sided soccer; there is definitely more play this way. It certainly seems like a win/win for both parties. It is why I think more municipalities are looking to add these facilities to their existing parks, where space allows.”
The payback for entities who make the jump to small-sided fields can be enormous, he adds.
“We are extremely proud of being an integral part of these new facilities, and we like bringing an otherwise underused element of the park to more full usage, not only by youth but by adults as well. These fields stay rented sometimes until 11:00 to 11:30 at night for adult leagues and even pick-up games.”
Need information about field design, construction, and maintenance? The American Sports Builders publishes Sports Fields: A Construction and Maintenance Manual, covering both natural-grass and synthetic-turf sports fields. The manual can be purchased from ASBA by visiting sportsbuilders.org and mousing over the top blue toolbar for “Resources.” A drop-down menu will appear, including “Publications.” The book may be purchased in both hard copy and pdf format.
Mary Helen Sprecher is a technical writer for the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the professional association for those who design, build, maintain, and supply equipment and materials for the sports-facility construction industry. She is also the editor of ASBA’s publication, Sports Fields: A Construction and Maintenance Manual, and is the managing editor of Sports Destination Management. Reach her at mhsprecher@gmail.com.