Effect of In-Season Generic and Soccer-Specific High-Intensity Interval Training in Young Soccer Players

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different interval training regimes on the physical capacity and soccer-specific skills of young soccer players. Twenty-two subjects were divided into two groups: small-sided games group (SSGG; age: 15.8 ± 0.63 y, body mass: 61.6 ± 8.97 kg, height: 175.0 ± 6.23 cm) or interval-running group (IRG; age: 15.8 ± 0.55 y, body mass: 62.7 ± 8.69 kg, height: 177.6 ± 6.48 cm). The groups completed two different 8-week training programs. The intervention consisted of two training sessions per week (IRG – 7 × 3 min running where each bout consisted of 15 s of high-intensity running and 15 s of jogging with an active recovery period of 3 min; SSGG – 3 vs. 3 games for 7 × 3 min, with an active recovery period of 3 min). Significant changes over time were found in V̇O2max (p = 0.009, η2 = 0.29) and peak power (p = 0.014, η2 = 0.26). Post-hoc analysis revealed a significant increase in the maximal oxygen uptake only in the SSG group (p = 0.019). No significant improvement in running speed was found. The mean HR at AT increased significantly in both groups. A relevant correlation (group × time) was found for oxygen uptake at the AT intensity (p = 0.015, η2 = 0.26). A significant time effect was also present with respect to this variable (p = 0.000, η2 = 0.61). Post-hoc analysis of the V̇O2/AT index revealed no relevant (p = 0.19) improvements in the IRG (from 44.1 ± 5.72 to 46.0 ± 5.03 ml·kg−1·min−1), but there was a significant (p = 0.000) increase in the SSG (from 40.9 ± 3.51 to 46.0 ± 3.88 ml·kg−1·min−1). The improvement in soccer-specific skills was not significant (3.2 % in IRG and 5.3 % in SSGG). The results of this study show that small-sided games and running can both be efficient training strategies for developing aerobic capacity and soccer-specific skills.

Effects of Small-Sided Games vs. Conventional Endurance Training on Endurance Performance in Male Youth Soccer Players: A Meta-Analytical Comparison

“…We tentatively suggest that neither players or coaches would be as motivated to increase intensity in this way when undertaking CET only. In contrast to the findings of Jastrzebski et al [25], Eniseler et al [23], found larger effects with CET than they did in SSGs. The researchers speculated on a number of different potential explanations on the discrepancy in performances between the groups, the most compelling of which relates to the motivation of athletes to take full part in training.…”

“…Whilst the within-and between-mode analyses both reveal SSG training and CET to be equally effective in enhancing endurance performance in male youth soccer players, some of the effect sizes seen in individual studies warrant further investigation. Jastrzebski et al [25] found that SSGs exerted a moderate effect on performance whilst CET resulted only in a borderline trivial-small effect size. The authors reported that both groups experienced similar changes in V O2max but inspection of the effect sizes in our meta-analyses suggests that this was not the case (0.82 [SSG] vs. 0.21 [CET]).…”

“…The authors reported that both groups experienced similar changes in V O2max but inspection of the effect sizes in our meta-analyses suggests that this was not the case (0.82 [SSG] vs. 0.21 [CET]). Jastrzebski et al [25] allude to performance increases due to SSG being related to the competitive nature of that type of activity, with this feature not necessarily being as important in CET. It is worth noting that previous evidence indicates that despite training heart rate responses being similar in both SSGs and CET, the latter training type seems to induce perceptions of higher intensity in players [24].…”

Combined Small‐Sided Game and High‐Intensity Interval Training in Soccer Players: The Effect of Exercise Order

“…While HR‐based HIT interventions have not been successful in improving aerobic performance of soccer players in some studies (Jastrzebski et al, 2014; Radziminski et al, 2013), VIFT‐based HIT approaches have always been beneficial (Buchheit et al, 2009; Campos‐Vazquez et al, 2017; Dellal et al, 2012; Harrison et al, 2015; Rabbani and Buchheit, 2015). Therefore, the results of the present study together with findings from previous studies in which VIFT has been used as a reference for individualizing HIT (Buchheit et al, 2009; Campos‐Vazquez et al, 2017; Dellal et al, 2012; Harrison et al, 2015; Rabbani and Buchheit, 2015) suggest that using speed‐based HIT is an efficient method for improving high‐intensity intermittent running performance.…”

Effects of small-sided soccer games on internal and external load and lower limb power: a pilot study in collegiate players

“…high-intensity interval training) and SSGs [4][5][6]. Moreover, long-term adaptations after specific training programs based on traditional running activities and SSGs have also shown similar improvements in both methods [7,8]. For these reasons, the similarity between running activities and SSGs has led to a preference of the the latter owing to their specificity for soccer training [9].…”