Influence of pitch size and age category on the physical and physiological responses of young football players during small-sided games using GPS devices

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to compare the physical and physiological responses of young football players of different categories during small-sided games (SSGs) played on different pitch sizes. Forty-eight (24 U-13 and 24 U-14) athletes played a 3 vs. 3 + 1 SSG in two experimental conditions: regular (36 × 27 m) and large pitch sizes (40 × 29 m). The total distance covered, the distances covered at different speed zones (0 to 6.9 km/h, 6.9 to 14.3, and 14.3 to 21.4), maximum heart rate, and mean heart rate were recorded. The results showed that older athletes covered larger distances during SSGs (p = 0.001; d = 0.937; large effect) and lower distances at the lowest (0–6.9 km/h) speed zone (p = 0.001; d = 0.657; moderate-to-large effect). Neither the physical nor physiological variables (except for distance covered between 14.3 and 21.4 km/h) differed between pitch sizes. This result indicates that pitch size may not impact the physical or physiological responses of U-13 and U-14 players during SSGs, but differences between categories were found. In conclusion, the development of tactical skills may be desirable to better explore the available space in the same age categories.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth football
• GPS devices
• task constraints
• time–motion variables
• physical conditioning

Acknowledgments

To Clube Atlético Mineiro for supporting the data collect.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

We are thankful to Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (grant APQ-00531-18), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and Pró-reitoria de Pesquisa/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais for financial Support.