The Influence of Small-Sided Football Games with Numerical Variability in External Training Load

Honorato Sousa, Élvio Rúbio Gouveia, Adilson Marques, Hugo Sarmento, Marcelo Pestana, Tomás Quintal, Helder Lopes and Andreas Ihle
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Honorato Sousa: University of Coimbra, Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
Élvio Rúbio Gouveia: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9000-072 Funchal, Portugal
Adilson Marques: The Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal
Hugo Sarmento: University of Coimbra, Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
Marcelo Pestana: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9000-072 Funchal, Portugal
Tomás Quintal: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9000-072 Funchal, Portugal
Helder Lopes: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9000-072 Funchal, Portugal
Andreas Ihle: Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-10

Abstract: Small-sided games (SSGs) are a motivational strategy and effective training method to develop skills and physical fitness at optimal intensity. This study investigates the influence of variability in the number of players on the physiological response using SSGs. The sample was composed of 10 field players with an average age of 15.9 ± 0.50 years old. Three sessions were held on 3 different days to collect information. The 10 min SSG exercise with temporal numerical variability was repeated twice on each day. The numerical ratio of players involved changed every 2 min without disrupting the practice. In a game space with 35 × 25 m, the exercise always started in a situation of 3 vs. 3. External training load metrics (i.e., physical activity counts, activity intensity, and energy expenditure) were assessed using Actigraph WGT3X accelerometers. The 3 vs. 3 format game had higher physical activity counts (i.e., higher vector magnitude) and requested more time spent in very vigorous physical activity intensity. Consequently, the 3 vs. 3 format in young football players had higher energy expenditure (i.e., a higher METs) than that in the other studied game formats. This study confirms the influence of SSGs with numerical variability in external training load.

Keywords: physiological response; external load; small-sided games; numerical variability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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