Quantifying Exposure and Intra-Individual Reliability of High-Speed and Sprint Running During Sided-Games Training in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Sided games (i.e., small sided, medium sided, large sided) involve tactical, technical, physical, and psychological elements and are commonly implemented in soccer training. Although soccer sided-games research is plentiful, a meta-analytical synthesis of external load exposure during sided games is lacking. Objective The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to: (1) synthesize the evidence on high-speed and sprint running exposure induced by sided games in adult soccer players, (2) establish pooled estimates and intra-individual reliability for high-speed and sprint running exposure, and (3) explore the moderating effects of game format and playing constraints. Methods A literature search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. Four databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science Core Collection) were systematically searched up to 25 January, 2022. Eligibility criteria were adult soccer players (population); training programs incorporating sided games (intervention); game manipulations including number of players, pitch dimension, and game orientation (comparator); and high-speed, very high-speed, and sprint relative (m$$\cdot$$ · min−1) running distances and associated intra-individual reliability (outcome). Eligible study risk of bias was evaluated using RoBANS. Pooled estimates for high-speed and sprint running exposure, and their intra-individual reliability, along with the moderating effect of tracking device running velocity thresholds, pitch dimension (i.e., area per player), and game orientation (i.e. score or possession), were determined via a multi-level mixed-effects meta-analysis. Estimate uncertainty is presented as 95% compatibility intervals (CIs) with the likely range of relative distances in similar future studies determined via 95% prediction intervals. Results A total of 104 and 7 studies met our eligibility criteria for the main and reliability analyses, respectively. The range of relative distances covered across small-sided games, medium-sided games, and large-sided games was 14.8 m$$\cdot$$ · min−1 (95% CI 12.3–17.4) to 17.2 m$$\cdot$$ · min−1 (95% CI 13.5–20.8) for high-speed running, 2.7 m$$\cdot$$ · min−1 (95% CI 1.8–3.5) to 3.6 m$$\cdot$$ · min−1 (95% CI 2.3–4.8) for very high-speed running, and 0.2 m$$\cdot$$ · min−1 (95% CI 0.1–0.4) to 0.7 m$$\cdot$$ · min−1 (95% CI 0.5–0.9) for sprinting. Across different game formats, 95% prediction intervals showed future exposure for high-speed, very high-speed running, and sprinting to be 0–46.5 m$$\cdot$$ · min−1, 0–14.2 m$$\cdot$$ · min−1, and 0–2.6 m$$\cdot$$ · min−1, respectively. High-speed, very high-speed running, and sprinting showed poor reliability with a pooled coefficient of variation of 22.8% with distances being moderated by device speed thresholds, pitch dimension, and game orientation. Conclusions This review is the first to provide a detailed synthesis of exposure and intra-individual reliability of high-speed and sprint running during soccer sided games. Our estimates, along with the moderating influence of common programming variables such as velocity thresholds, area per player, and game orientation should be considered for informed planning of small-sided games, medium-sided games, and large-sided games soccer training. Clinical Trial Registration Open Science Framework available through https://osf.io/a4xr2/.

External and internal training load comparison between sided-game drills in professional soccer

“…Therefore, a practical recommendation for practitioners is to use formats with a relative space size > 200 m 2 to generate HSR and sprinting distance with their players. The values found in this study are supported by a previous systematic review that found HSR ranged from 2.7 m⋅min −1 to 3.6 m⋅min −1 and sprinting distance ranged from 0.2 m⋅min −1 to 0.7 m⋅min −1 in a large sample (n = 104) of sided-games studies (8). It is clear from the previous research and from the results of this study that sidedgames enable for a limited HSR exposure (apart from LSG, mean ranges = 5.9 and 5.6 m.min −1 ) and very limited (if not trivial) sprinting distance exposure.…”

“…Coaches also manipulate the objectives of games (possession or goal-oriented) and vary rules (goal size, presence of neutral players, or numerical player overloads) to achieve different psychophysical (e.g., RPE, heart rate) and mechanical load (e.g., accelerations) objectives and stimuli (7,15). However, a recent systematic review by Dello Iacono et al (8), reported that sidedgames (ranging from small to large) are inadequate for training the higher speed demands of the game. Specifically, sided-games consistently offered a lower dose of high-speed running and sprinting distance (per unit of time) compared to official matches (8).…”

“…Coaches use sided-game drills that vary in pitch size, rules and in number of players to develop the physical ( e.g ., aerobic fitness, speed), psychological, technical and tactical ( e.g., possession skills, pressing) skills needed in soccer ( 7 ). Although sided-games are commonplace in training, the application of such drills may insufficiently replicate the physical demands of the game ( 8 ).…”

“…, RPE, heart rate) and mechanical load ( e.g., accelerations) objectives and stimuli ( 7 , 15 ). However, a recent systematic review by Dello Iacono et al ( 8 ), reported that sided-games (ranging from small to large) are inadequate for training the higher speed demands of the game. Specifically, sided-games consistently offered a lower dose of high-speed running and sprinting distance (per unit of time) compared to official matches ( 8 ).…”

High-speed running and sprinting in professional adult soccer: Current thresholds definition, match demands and training strategies. A systematic review

“…When soccer players use smaller relative areas during training compared with those used for official games, the number of accelerations and decelerations increase, but it is difficult to achieve adequate volumes of HSR ( 83 ). For instance, matches are played on a 105 × 68 m pitch (i.e., 357 m 2 per player) that allow for an HSR distance of 8.4 m·min −1 and sprinting distance of 2.2 m·min −1 , while during SSG 4v4 using a pitch of 39 × 39 m (i.e., 190 m 2 per player), the HSR distance is of 2.7 ± 0.9 m·min −1 and sprinting distance of 0.1 ± 0.1 m·min −1 , and during medium sided games (6v6) played on pitch of 47 × 43 m (i.e., 168 m 2 per player) the HSR distance is 3.7 ± 2.1 m·min −1 and sprinting distance of 0.2 ± 0.5 m·min −1 ( 41 ).…”