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Persons with intellectual disabilities are often characterized by having motor difficulties and limitations expressed in the performance of sports skills. These difficulties may influence cognitive, social emotional and other areas of functioning or be influenced by them. Therefore, work on the motor field serves both as a therapeutic and rehabilitative tool for each functioning domain (Hemayattala & Movahedi, 2010). The development of the motor domain is of great significance to the independence of a person living in the community as a disabled person. (Hotzler, 2004; Almosni, 2007). This article will presents the advantages of exercise for people with intellectual disabilities. Research in the field of sports with people with intellectual disabilities mostly shows positive influences of physiological aspects such as gaining weight, fitness and health, quality of life, coordination aspects and muscular flexibility, a sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem Ninot & Maiano, 2007;Lejcarova, 2009)

The objective of this study was to test the effects of two types of intervention, one based on small-sided games (SSGs), and the other one that had, in addition, a behavioral component consisting of goal setting, public posting, and positive reinforcement. The participants were 16 male soccer players aged 12–14 years old who participated in a couple of training sessions per week between August and November 2021. We used Playr Catapult GPS devices to assess the effect of the intervention on the total distance covered and total sprint distance in the task of playing SSGs. We used Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 to test the effect of the intervention on players’ aerobic capacity and the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire to investigate levels of motivational climate. Multiple two-way mixed ANOVAs were conducted and the results indicated that our intervention had a positive effect on the total distance and total sprint distance covered during SSGs. For aerobic capacity, even if the results were not significant, they indicate a high effect size. The effect of the intervention on task-oriented motivational climate and ego-oriented motivational climate was not significant. Discussions focus on the application of the intervention in team training settings.