Movement pattern and physiological response in recreational small-sided football – effect of number of players with a fixed pitch size

Abstract

Recreational soccer is an effective health-promoting activity, but it is unclear how different game formats influence internal and external load. Thus, to be able to advise how to maximise the outcome of recreational football, we examined movement pattern and physiological response in 11 untrained men (32.6 ± 6.7 yrs, 23.3 ± 4.9 fat%, 43.4 ± 5.3 ml·min·kg) during three football sessions comprising 4 × 12 min of 3v3, 5v5 or 7v7 with a constant pitch size of 20 × 40 m. Movement pattern, heart rate (HR), blood lactate and RPE were measured during and after the 12-min periods. Greater (P < 0.05) total distance and high-speed distance was covered during 3v3 than 5v5 (14 and 30%) and 7v7 (15 and 75%). Mean HR was higher in 3v3 (85.7 ± 5.7%HRmax) and 5v5 (84.2 ± 5.1%HRmax) than in 7v7 (80.7 ± 4.6%HRmax, P < 0.05) and percentage time >90%HR was higher in 3v3 (43 ± 18%, P < 0.05) than in 5v5 (28 ± 21%) and 7v7 (18 ± 14%). Blood lactate was higher in 3v3 (7.4 ± 2.7 mmol·l) than in 7v7 (4.5 ± 2.2 mmol·l, P < 0.001) but not in 5v5 (6.1 ± 2.1 mmol·l, P = 0.061). RPE was higher in 3v3 (6.7 ± 2.3, P < 0.01) than in 5v5 (5.2 ± 2.2) and 7v7 (4.3 ± 2.3). In conclusion, higher external and internal load was found with fewer players, when the pitch size is fixed.

The Physiological, Physical, and Biomechanical Demands of Walking Football: Implications for Exercise Prescription and Future Research in Older Adults

“…This relatively high post-session blood lactate concentration suggests that walking football places a significant demand on the anaerobic system, in particular the glycolytic pathway, supporting the notion that walking football is a vigorous-intensity exercise for older adults. As expected, the observed concentrations were not as high as previously observed during small-sided recreational football matches in young (early 30's) untrained males (Randers, Nielsen, Bangsbo, & Krustrup, 2014;Randers et al, 2010;Randers, Ørntoft, Hagman, Nielsen, & Krustrup, 2018) but comparable data in older adults is not available. Due to logistical constraints we were unable to measure blood lactate at regular intervals (e.g., every 15 min) during the sessions, which would have allowed us to assess transient changes in blood lactate.…”

Biomarkers of insulin action during single soccer sessions before and after a 12-week training period in type 2 diabetes patients on a caloric-restricted diet

“…The aerobic intensity during the soccer sessions were moderate-to-high for the male and female patients. As reported by Krustrup 10 and Randers 35 , even with the modification of the rules, pitch size and number of players during small-sided soccer are enough to achieve high-intensity exercise for all participants.…”

Game format alters the physiological and activity demands encountered during small-sided football games in recreational players

“… 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 Given the link between training intensity and positive outcomes in cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal health, 5 , 6 the high physiological and activity demands underpinning football SSG may be central to their use as a health promotion intervention. 7 Despite the popularity of football SSG, few studies 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 have identified the influence of game format (e.g. pitch size, team sizes) on the physiological and activity intensities encountered by recreational players.…”