Bout duration and number of players of soccer small-sided games affect perceived enjoyment, physiological responses, and technical-tactical performance

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To compare perceived enjoyment (PE), % of heart rate peak (%HRpeak), blood lactate (La), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and technical-tactical performance of soccer players after four-a-side (4vs4) and three-a-side (3vs3) small-sided games (SSGs) with goalkeepers.

Methods

Sixteen males (20.7 ± 0.7 years; experience: 6.9 ± 1.2 years) completed and were measured after six sessions of SSGs (one twelve-minute bout (1x12), two six-minute bouts (2x6), and three four-minute bouts (3x4), both 3vs3 and 4vs4). Repeated measurements ANOVA evaluated significant differences (p ≤ 0.05).

Results

There was higher PE for 1 × 12 compared to 2 × 6 (effect sizes [ES] = 1.53 [3vs3 and 4vs4]) and 3 × 4 (ES = 3.13 [4vs4] and 4.16 [3vs3]). Continuous bout duration (1x12) was characterized by a significantly greater percentage of successful passes compared to 2 × 6 (ES = 2.57 [4vs4] and 1.79 [3vs3]) and 3 × 4 (ES = 2.14 [4vs4] and 1.73 [3vs3]), and minor ball loss rate (2x6: ES = 2.14 [4vs4] and 1.11 [3vs3]; 3x4: ES = 2.11 [4vs4] and 1.57 [3vs3]). The percentage of successful tackles was only significantly greater for 1 × 12 in 4vs4 (ES = 0.83 [2x6] and 0.86 [3x4]) and successful duels in 3vs3 (ES = 1.41 [2x6] and 1.43 [3x4]). Significantly greater %HRpeak for 1 × 12 compared to 2 × 6 (ES = 1.02 [4vs4] and 0.81 [3vs3]) and 3 × 4 (ES = 1.04 [4vs4] and 0.99 [3vs3]) was observed, La differences were only significant in 3vs3 (ES = 1.60 [2x6] and 1.30 [3x4]). Greatest RPE were encountered in 3 × 4 (4vs4) and 1 × 12 and 3 × 4 (3vs3). Significant differences existed between the 3vs3 and 4vs4 designs with a non-clear pattern of better results for neither of both.

Conclusion

Therefore, coaches should consider longer continuous bouts when programming SSGs-based training to significantly increase PE, technical-tactical performance, and training load.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth athletes
• Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES)
• lactate
• Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
• heart rate percentage
• YoYo test

Acknowledgements

We thank the Coach for his valuable help and the subjects for their participation. The authors declare no competing interest.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplemental data

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Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.