Representativeness of training activities in competitive sports: A systematic review

This study aimed to systematically review the scientific literature evaluating the representativeness of training activities in sports. A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted in September 2024 and May 2026, with keywords relating to representative learning design, training activities and sport coaching. Studies which quantified the representativeness of a training activity, within any sport, involving participants of any age, gender, and playing experience were included. Nineteen studies met the eligibility criteria to be included. Small-sided games ( n = 13; 68%) and match simulations ( n = 11; 58%) were the most investigated training activities, whilst the influence of task constraints on representativeness of training activities has received limited investigation ( n = 3; 16%). Studies evaluated representativeness using technical ( n = 12; 63%), physical ( n = 10; 53%), and tactical (n = 5; 26%) variables, with no study using psychological variables. Furthermore, the majority of studies investigated the representativeness of Australian rules football ( n = 8; 42%) and included predominantly male ( n = 12; 63%) and national-level ( n = 10; 53%) participants. Overall, training activities, including match simulations, often failed to replicate competition demands. Coaches and coach education can use these findings to inform design, delivery and reflection of representative practices; however, results should be interpreted cautiously due to methodological limitations. Future research should quantify tactical variables, adopt multi-team, longitudinal designs and manipulate task constraints in isolation to identify causal drivers of representativeness. This will provide better support for coaches aligning practice with competition demands.