Temporal changes in intensity and volume of external training loads during a 1 × 1 short-bout, small-sided games in elite youth soccer players

Abstract

This study compared external training load (ETL) and its temporal changes across repetitions during a speed endurance production (SEP) training comprised of 1 × 1 short-bout, small-sided games (SSGs) in elite youth soccer players. Twenty U18 players were divided into two groups (SEP1 and SEP2) performing six 30 s and 45 s bouts of SSG (work-to-rest ratio 1:4) on a 10 by 15 m field. ETL was characterized by the total distance covered, Player Load, the total number of accelerations/decelerations, and their relative values (per minute). Significant overall decreases in the ETL parameter values across six repetitions in both SSG groups were observed relative to the measurement in the first set beginning in 3rd (SEP1) or 4th (SEP2) repetitions. Significant greater decreases in Player Load (F(5.90) = 2.99, p < 0.05, η P2 = 0.14), Player Load per minute (F(5,90) = 11.32, p < 0.001, η P2 = 0.39), total distance per minute (F(3.43,61.73) = 7.72, p < 0.001, η P2 = 0.30) and accelerations per minute (F(5,90) = 2.59, p < 0.05, η P2 = 0.13) were observed in the 30-s games than in the 45-s games. In conclusion, the use of SSGs in SEP training is associated with a decrease in the effectiveness of physical work performed across repetitions. In practice, due to the decrease in the measured ETL indicators already in the 3rd or 4th repetition (especially in the SEP1 group), the work-to-rest ratio could be increased from the applied 1:4 to 1:6.

Locomotor profile of a new soccer modality played in 1v1 format

“…X1 players performed approximately 20-31 high accelerating actions (> 3m/s 2 ) during the matches, and even a higher number of high decelerating (> -3m/s 2 ), ranging from 28 to 39 actions. The number of high accelerating and decelerating actions were similar to what was reported in a previous study conducted in 1x1 SSG, which described 26-35 high accelerating actions, and 20-28 high decelerating actions [20]. However, the distance covered while accelerating and decelerating was higher than what was detailed in previous studies using different pitch sizes [19,26].…”

“…Those values are indeed greater than what is observed in our study with the X1 modality. Notably, players in X1 reached a maximum speed of 28.11 and 29.47 km/h, while in the study ofKryściak et al (2023), players attained only 17.2 and 16.5 km/h. Another previous study also showed that 1x1 SSG with 60s of effort only resulted in 0.2 m/min of sprinting distance (> 25 km/h)[26], which is 5 times less than what was found in the X1 matches.…”

“…Castagna et al (2019) compared reductions in the pitch size (30x10m, 20x10m and 10x10 m) in 1x1 SSG and observed that in smaller pitch areas, athletes covered 109 to 111 meters less distances ≥ 16 km/h, and covered 35 to 63 meters less distance in acceleration and deceleration [19]. Kryściak et al (2023), on the other hand, found that increasing the duration of effort in 1x1 SSG from 30 to 45 seconds resulted in an increase of 26.1 meters on average in the total distance covered in every bout,, as well as a decrease of 11 actions of acceleration and deceleration [20]. Thus, given the differences in rules and game format, it is di cult to assume that 1x1 SSGs would impose a similar physical demand as experienced in the X1 modality.…”

“…In the First Division of Spanish soccer league, athletes covered 109.6-114.7 m/min[25]. Even higher gures were observed in futsal, where around 223 meters per minute were covered by Portuguese athletes playing in the Portuguese Futsal Cup 2018[23].Perhaps 1x1 SSG formats are the closest modality to X1, even though the rules are not xed in SSG as it is in X1 Kryściak et al (2023). used a 1v1 SSG format with different bout durations and investigated their effects on the internal and external load of soccer players.…”