The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of playing small-sided games of soccer with a change in pitch area per player. Two types of small-sided games, “small pitch area per player”, and “large pitch area per player”, were played by two first year junior high school PE classes. Twenty students participated in the game with a small pitch area per player (S group), and 20 students participated in the game with a large pitch area per player (L group). Before and after the classes, a skill test (ball lifting), a fitness test (150 m sprint with changing direction: 25 m×6 times, rest interval 30 s), and a test game were conducted. In addition, students' formative evaluation was conducted after each class. The main results were as follows: 1)  There were no significant inter-group differences in the rate of change in ball lifting. 2)  The mean time for 6 sprints improved significantly after class in both groups. 3)  The distance covered and heart rate during the game increased significantly after classes in the L group. 4)  The score for the students' formative evaluation tended to increase as class progressed in the L group. These results suggest that improvement of energy-related physical fitness can be obtained regardless of the pitch area in small-sided soccer games.