Abstract
Background: Small-sided games (SSGs) provide a practical approach for developing basketball skills under game-like conditions. However, evidence comparing different SSG formats while considering players' hand–eye coordination remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effects of 2v2 and 4v4 SSGs on basketball passing accuracy according to players' hand–eye coordination levels. Methods: A quantitative experimental study using a 2 × 2 factorial design was conducted. Thirty-two male adolescent basketball players (14.00 ± 1.05 years) participated in a six-week training program consisting of 16 sessions, including a pretest, 14 treatment sessions, and a posttest. The participants were categorized according to high and low hand–eye coordination and assigned to 2v2 or 4v4 SSG training groups. Passing accuracy was assessed before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: SSG format significantly affected passing accuracy (p = .043), as did hand–eye coordination level (p = .029). A significant interaction was found between SSG format and hand–eye coordination (p = .006). Among players with high hand–eye coordination, passing accuracy differed significantly between the 2v2 and 4v4 groups (p = .001), whereas no significant difference was found among players with low hand–eye coordination (p = .540). Within the 2v2 format, passing accuracy differed significantly between players with high and low hand–eye coordination (p = .001), whereas no significant difference was observed within the 4v4 format (p = .630). Conclusion: The effects of SSG format on passing accuracy varied according to hand–eye coordination level. The 2v2 format may provide greater opportunities for passing and ball involvement, whereas the 4v4 format may be more suitable for players with lower hand–eye coordination.