Can small-sided games assess the training-induced aerobic adaptations in elite football players?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether or not SSGs could be used to evaluate the aerobic fitness status and the longitudinal training-induced adaptations in football players. Additionally, the capacity of SSGs to recreate the official match demands was investigated.METHODS: Twenty-five elite football players were monitored. Total distance (TD), high-speed running, very high-speed running, sprint and accelerations plus decelerations distance were measured during 20 SSGs formats and 25 official-matches; in SSGs, average heart rate was also collected. During submaximal Yo-Yo test, heart rate at peak exercise, heart rate post-60s recovery and rate of perceived exertion were collected. Coefficient of variation, interclass correlation-coefficient and correlationcoefficient analysis were used to calculate validity, reliability, construct validity and, internal and external responsiveness of SSGs demands. RESULTS: In SSGs, a small variability (~6.0%) with moderate reliability (~0.542 to ~0.663) was found in TD and heart rate, while a high variability (~20.8% to ~60.3%) with poor to moderate reliability (~0.358 to ~0.605) was observed in the other metrics; in submaximal Yo-Yo, heart rate showed small variability (~3.7%) with good reliability (~0.933 to ~0.916). The SSGs demands showed poor internal and external responsiveness (p>0.05) to the training-induced aerobic adaptations as assessed by submaximal Yo-Yo. The construct validity of SSGs showed overall large to very large correlations (r=0.53 to 0.90, p<0.05) between SSGs and official match demands across the season. CONCLUSIONS: SSGs should not replace standardized field tests to detect the training-induced aerobic adaptations. However, SSGs could be confidently used to recreate specific contextual factors in elite football players.

Effects of a short-term in-season break on repeated-sprint ability, jump height and locomotor performance in small-sided games in female soccer players

“…These similar physical demands before and after the inactivity period may be due to the following: (a) a short period of detraining, not originated changes in physical fitness, however, as in previous studies, 2,35 a lower performance in the RSA after detraining has been detected; (b) the variability of physical demands in small games 41 and (c) SSGs are not considered sensitive for assessing physical fitness level. 39,46 In conclusion, the results showed that the effects of 2-week in-season break inactivity are dependent on the type of capacity assessed, as significant impairment in CMJ, RSA Sdec and RSA mean performance was observed, without changes in RSA best or locomotor performance in SSGs. However, contrary to previous studies showing that a short period of time without training can cause a taper effect and increase performance, only 2-week in-season break inactivity decreases RSA performance, a determining capacity for performance in female soccer players.…”

“…These similar physical demands before and after the inactivity period may be due to the following: (a) a short period of detraining, not originated changes in physical fitness, however, as in previous studies, 2,35 a lower performance in the RSA after detraining has been detected; (b) the variability of physical demands in small games 41 and (c) SSGs are not considered sensitive for assessing physical fitness level. 39,46…”

The Effects of 8 Aerobic Endurance Training Weeks of 4vs.4+GK Small-Sided Games versus Traditional Training on Physical Fitness and Skills among U18 Football Players

“…Thus, the authors concluded that HIIT is not superior to constant intensity endurance training (CIET) in improving aerobic or anaerobic parameters in adolescents. The research regarding the importance of SSG on the optimization of sports performance in sports games in general [54][55][56][57][58], and in football in particular, is numerous, as is made evident by their positive impact on psychological, physical, tactical and technical skills in the sports training process and in competitive games, for all age groups [59][60][61][62][63][64][65].…”