Small-Sided and Conditioned Games in Basketball Training

SMALL-SIDED AND CONDITIONED GAMES (SSCGS) ARE SMALLER AND ADJUSTED VERSIONS OF FORMAL TEAM SPORTS. THESE GAMES ARE VERY POPULAR TRAINING DRILLS FOR PLAYERS OF ALL ABILITY AND COMPETITIVE LEVELS AND CONSTITUTE AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL FITNESS TRAINING. THE AIM OF THIS REVIEW WAS TO CONSTITUTE A USEFUL SYNTHESIS OF ALL RESEARCH INTO SSCGS IN BASKETBALL AND JUSTIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE GAMES FOR BASKETBALL TRAINING. THE REVIEWED STUDIES REVEAL THAT SMALLER FORMATS PLAYED IN FULL COURT, WITH LIMITATIONS ON DRIBBLING, WITH COACHES' ENCOURAGEMENT, AND IN A CONTINUOUS TRAINING REGIMEN MAY INCREASE HEART RATE RESPONSE, BLOOD LACTATE CONCENTRATION, AND PERCEIVED EXERTION.