<p>Small-Sided Games are More Enjoyable Than High-Intensity Interval Training of Similar Exercise Intensity in Soccer</p>

Abstract

Introduction: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and small-sided games (SSG) have been applied and tested for athletes in order to enhance the soccer performance. For this reason, this experimental study aimed to compare the effects of SSGs and HIIT on power, physiological responses and perceived enjoyment. Materials and Methods: Sixteen youth soccer players (age, 17.5±0.6 years, mean±standard deviation; height, 178.2±6.4 cm; body mass, 70.4±5.4 kg; body fat, 10.6±0.8%) completed one session each of HIIT and SSG on separate days with 1 week between sessions. Each session lasted 25 mins (4x4 mins work with 3 mins of passive recovery in-between). SSGs consisted of 4 versus 4 player games on a 25×35 m pitch, and HIIT consisted of intermittent 15-s runs at 110% maximal aerobic speed separated by 15 s of passive recovery. Psychological responses following each protocol were assessed using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). Heart rate (HR) was continuously recorded, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and lactate concentration [La] were measured after each training session. Lower body muscular power was assessed using the 5-jump test relative to leg length (5JT-relative) before and after each training session, where greater average distance per stride over five sequential jumping strides indicated greater muscular power. Results: HIIT and SSG showed no significant difference in HR, RPE and [La] responses (p=0.70, ES=0.11; p=0.61, ES=0.08 and p=0.38, ES=0.21, respectively). 5JT-relative decreased significantly for SSG and HIIT (p<0.05, ES=0.50 and p<0.05, ES=0.40, respectively). PACES score was greater in SSG compared to HIIT (ES=5.35, p<0.001). Conclusion: HIIT and SSG sessions induced similar physiological responses; however, SSGs induced a higher enjoyment level than HIIT. Coaches could choose between these training modalities according to the objective of their training session, considering the enjoyment-related advantages of SSGs.

Changes in Perceived Exertion, Well-Being, and Recovery During Specific Judo Training: Impact of Training Period and Exercise Modality

“…When asked to attribute pleasure scores to exercises used in their training routine, Olympic judo athletes reported high values for judo-specific exercises, which were their main training activities ( Franchini and Takito, 2014 ). Additionally, the results of the present study are consistent with those of Selmi et al (2020) which reported that high-intensity training leads to positive affective responses when using sport-specific exercise modalities (i.e., small-sided games in soccer players) compared with a non-specific training modality. Therefore, it is likely that sport-specific exercises are preferred by and more motivating for athletes, resulting in lower stress scores compared with non-sport-specific exercises.…”

“…Previously, performing technical actions and specific combat skills produced better emotional responses compared with running training in Olympic judo athletes (Franchini and Takito, 2014). Furthermore, a recent study in soccer players demonstrated that exercise based on technical actions (e.g., small sided games) was perceived to be more enjoyable than general athletic training (Selmi et al, 2020). Altogether, physical enjoyment appears to reflect attitude, sport preference, and intrinsic motivation and varies according to exercise modality.…”

Relationship between Perceived Training Load, Well-Being Indices, Recovery State and Physical Enjoyment during Judo-Specific Training

“…Considering each training modality separately, physical enjoyment was largely unrelated to well-being indices, RPE, and TQR for all groups during both training periods suggesting that these variables minimally contribute to altered physical enjoyment during judo training modalities. Rather, physical enjoyment may be more closely related to positive emotional reactions and motivation during training [ 15 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. The nuances of physical enjoyment during different training phases among combat sports athletes warrant further investigation.…”

The Global Session Metric Score (GSMs): A Modified Session-Specific Exertional Index

“…Future analysis should consider interconnected factors accompanying sport-specific to non-specific training that may influence objective and subjective measures of training load. For instance, recent analysis of high-intensity interval training via running vs. small-sided games demonstrated athlete's report greater enjoyment during small-sided games (Selmi et al, 2020 ). This leads to the potential that while similar physiological stress may occur between two sessions, the player's perception of the stress may vary according to the dynamics of the player experience.…”