Relationships Between Aerobic Performance, Hemoglobin Levels, and Training Load During Small-Sided Games: A Study in Professional Soccer Players

Abstract

The purposes of this study were (1) to analyze between-session variations of external and internal load measures during small-sided games (SSGs) and (2) to test the relationships between the maximum speed reached (VIFT) during the last stage of the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test, hemoglobin levels, and training load measures during SSG intervals among professional soccer players. Sixteen professional soccer players (mean ± SD; age 27.2 ± 3.4 years, height 174.2 ± 3.6 cm, body mass 69.1 ± 6.4 kg, and body fat 10.4 ± 4.1%) participated in this study. Hemoglobin and aerobic performance were first tested, and then a 3-week SSG program was applied using a 3 vs. 3 format. During those 3 weeks, internal and external load of entire sessions were also monitored for all training sessions. Trivial-to-small, standardized differences were observed between sessions for external and internal measures during SSGs. Total distance (TD) and mechanical work (MW) were the only variables that indicated small changes. Large-to-very-large relationships were found between VIFT and external loads: TD (r range: 0.69; 0.87), high-intensity running (HIR; r range: 0.66; 0.75), and MW (r range: 0.56; 0.68). Moderate-to-large negative relationships were found between hemoglobin levels and internal loads: Edwards’ TRIMP (r range: −0.36; −0.63), %HRmax (r range: −0.50; −0.61), and red zone (r range: −0.50; −0.61). VIFT had unclear relationships with overall internal loads, while hemoglobin levels presented unclear relationships with overall external loads. In conclusion, no meaningful changes were found between sessions considering the format of play used. Additionally, the detected relationships indicate that VIFT and hemoglobin levels are good indicators of the performance capacity and physiological profile of players during SSGs. Also, the use of SSGs protocols as a monitoring complement of the 30-15IFT is suggested.

Effects of recreational soccer on fat mass in untrained sedentary adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis

“…The calculated ES values were interpreted by using the following scale: < 0.2, trivial; 0.2-0.6, small; > 0.6-1.2, moderate; > 1.2-2.0, large; > 2.0-4.0, very large; > 4.0, extremely large [38]. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I 2 statistics, with values of < 25%, 25-75%, and > 75% considered to represent low, moderate, and high levels of heterogeneity, respectively [39]. The risk of bias was explored by using the extended Egger's test [40].…”

“…However, the recreational soccer groups are expected to present more intra-and inter-subject variations in exercise intensity during the interventions [39]. Given that, it seems that a more longitudinal recreational soccer approach (i.e., more than 12 weeks of practice) is required to produce greater changes (reduction) in fat mass [32].…”

Submaximal Fitness Tests in Team Sports: A Theoretical Framework for Evaluating Physiological State

“…HRex [61,70,85,89,92,95,112], specific fixed time points [5,45,59,75,82,83,87,90,97,104,105,107,121], or peak values observed [81,101].…”

Effects of Three Preseason Training Programs on Speed, Change-of-Direction, and Endurance in Recreationally Trained Soccer Players

“…In fact, due to the professionalization of sport that has led to a sharp increase in the number of competitions while reducing training and recovery times (Issurin, 2008(Issurin, , 2010, coaches progressively left out those traditional running-based conditional exercises inspired by track and field training methods (Moran et al, 2019) to focus on more ecological methods but equally effective on fitness and football-specific performance (Hill-Haas et al, 2011;Bujalance-Moreno and Garc-a-Pinillos, 2017) such as small-sided games (SSGs). Those SSGs reproduce on a smaller scale of all the aspects of soccer that are required during competitions , Younesi et al, 2021. They encompass the psychological, physical, technical, and tactical aspects of the game (Clemente et al, 2012) and thus are much more accepted by soccer players (Jastrzebski et al, 2014).…”

“…Moreover, recent studies reported strong relationships between traditional aerobic fitness tests with external and internal training load measures during SSGs (Stevens et al, 2016;Owen et al, 2020). Nevertheless, other authors suggested that SSGs themselves may not be enough to promote the same patterns of the required physical demands during a soccer match, mainly due to the reduced frequency of high-intensity distance-based metrics of this training approach (Lacome et al, 2017;Younesi et al, 2021). For instance, Hoff and Helgerud (2004) showed that the most skilled the players are, the lower the aerobic fitness adaptations will be elicited by SSGs.…”