Acute effects of small-sided games combined with running drills on internal and external loads in young soccer players.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of regular small-sided games (SSGreg) and SSGs combined with running drills (SSGcom) on players’ internal and external loads. Eighteen young male soccer players (average age: 18.2 ± 0.5 years) participated in 3 vs. 3 and 4 vs. 4 games, under both SSGreg and SSGcom conditions. SSGreg bouts were played for 4 minutes without additional running drills, while SSGcom bouts consisted of 3 min 30 s SSG and 15 s running before and after the bout, making the duration of each bout 4 minutes. During all SSGs, measurements of heart rate (HR) responses as well as distances covered in four different speed zones – walking (WLK), low-intensity (LIR), moderate-intensity (MIR) and high-intensity running (HIR) – were recorded. Technical characteristics were monitored during the SSGs, and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and blood lactate (La-) responses were determined at the end of each SSG condition. Compared to the SSGreg in both 3 vs. 3 and 4 vs. 4 formats, the SSGcom condition resulted in higher La- and RPE responses (p < 0.05), greater distance covered at MIR and HIR speeds and greater total distance (p < 0.05). The results of this study show that replacing 30 s within the 4-min bouts of SSGs (both 3- and 4-a-side) by 2 x 15 s of running drills is effective in increasing internal (La- and RPE) and external loads (MIR and HIR) without a significant decrease in total passes and successful passes in young soccer players.

Internal and External Load Variations in Young Students: Comparisons between Small-Sided Games and Small-Sided Games Combined with Strength Training during Physical Education Classes

“…Comparing the external load with previous studies, Köklü and colleagues (2020) [16] obtained results for the total distance between 1900 and 2300 m. These results are higher than those of our study, that is, 1000 and 1300 m. In our study, the activity time was 45 min, while for Köklü and colleagues (2020) [16], the activity duration is 90 min. Furthermore, the size of the SSGs format of Köklü and colleagues (2020) [16] was larger (20 × 30 m), causing an increase in total distance. With SSGs formats like the one in our research, Castellano and colleagues (2016) [30] obtained a total distance lower than in our study (530 m).…”

“…This difference could be because the group of SSGs performed a greater number of movements and accelerations, producing an increase in heart rate compared with the group of strength training combined with SSGs. Compared with previous research in the variables of HR and a%HR, the work of [ 16 ] obtained a HR between 173 and 176 and a %HR max of around 88% in SSGs in 3 × 3 and 4 × 4 formats in young soccer players. Owing to the smaller size of the practice space (our study’s SSGs were approximately 20 × 10 m in size), our study obtained better results in both physical training programs, with 191 bpm and 96% HR max, and in SSGs, with 189 bpm and 92%, respectively.…”

“…The effectiveness in improving neuromuscular-based qualities (e.g., strength, power) is low [ 15 ]. Additionally, the great intra- and inter-variability of SSGs stimulus, as well as the low demanding in high intensity running demands (e.g., high-speed running, sprinting), are threats that must be considered in physical education classes by teachers [ 16 ]. For this reason, specific strategies for developing the neuromuscular status of youth students should be considered.…”

“…Because of the limited research related to both training programs [ 16 , 22 , 23 ] in young soccer players, as well as the fact that no related studies have been found in the school and educational setting, the objective of this research is to analyze the training load (internal and external) in schoolchildren divided into two groups during physical education lessons. We emphasize the importance of the internal load, which is more interesting to plan both training programs.…”

Effects of including endurance and speed sessions within small-sided soccer games periodization on physical fitness

“…In line with this, our results demonstrated higher RPE values on Tuesday for ES-SSG in comparison to G-SSG, but no differences were found for the other training sessions. A previous study showed that replacing 30 s within the 4-min bouts of SSG (both 3- and 4-a-side) with 2 x 15 s of running drills was effective in increasing internal (blood lactate and RPE) and external loads (moderate and high-intensity running) in young soccer players [ 49 ]. Bearing these findings in mind, it would be advisable to use a tapering strategy during the last 2 weeks of the intervention in amateur and professional soccer players, by reducing exponentially the training volume by 41–60% while maintaining both the intensity and the frequency of sessions, in order to maximize performance gains [ 50 – 52 ].…”