The Acute Effects of Small-Sided Games on Hamstring Strength in Young Soccer Players

Abstract

The study purpose.The Small-side games (SSG) are high intensity drills very popular in soccer training. The knowledge of the acute effects of the exercises that make up the training session is very relevant especially to reduce youth soccer injury risk. This study aim to assessment the acute effects of SSG on hamstring eccentric strength and to know the lower limb strength asymmetries (LLSA) in young soccer players.
 Materials and methods. The sample is composed of male young soccer players Under 17 (n = 24, 16.6 ± 0.5 years, 168.8 ± 4.6 cm, 58.2 ± 3.5 kg). Before and after SSG (4vs4, 3×4 min, 3min recovery, no goalkeepers) the hamstring eccentric strength and the lower limb eccentric strength asymmetry were evaluated used a specific dynamometer (N3 Easytech, Italy) and relative software. Every young soccer player performed a single repetition of the Nordic hamstring exercise with dynamometer; after about 2 minutes, instead, they performed 5 repetitions of the same exercise, without interruption. For both assessments, were detected the eccentric strength and the LLSA. 
 Results. The hamstring eccentric strength assessment show substantial and statistically significant differences in the assessment in comparison pre-post values. A significant reduction was observed for eccentric strength peak (p < 0.018 and p < 0.014 for right/left limb), for eccentric average strength (p < 0.017 and p < 0.006 for right/left limb). The eccentric peak strength asymmetry value and the average strength asymmetry value revealed a significant increase (p < 0.0001). 
 Conclusions. The reduction of strength after SSG requires careful consideration of the exercises order in the training session. The practitioners can plan training sessions and apply SSGs more effectively, with more attention to the effects on hamstrings.

How Can Games Be Functional in the Implementation of Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD) in Youth Sports?<br>—Exploratory Learning Experiences and Opportunities to Increase Physical Efficiency

“…These advantages also seem to derive from the use of other models, such as the Sport Education -Invasion Games Competence Model (Mesquita et al, 2012) in which the effects of modulating the number of participants in attacking actions, the so-called numerical superiority, were monitored: less pressure from defenders allows for a greater 'time window' to process the decision and thus the effectiveness of technical gestures with particular reference to the ability to transmit the ball (Mesquita et al, 2012;Práxedes et al, 2016 Confirming the extent to which game modulation is attracting the attention of research for the training of elite players (Koklu et al, 2011;Martins et al, 2016;Bergmann et al, 2021;Renshaw et al, 2019;Sannicandro, 2019Sannicandro, & 2022a, a study has also been published in the literature that aims to evaluate different physical and technical parameters during different SSG repetitions in order to determine whether this type of content can actually be effective in the long-term training process (Fenner et al, 2016).…”

Ecological Dynamic Approach and Young Soccer Player Training: The Aim Is the Flexible Behavior

“…the young player is busy to perform a technical gesture for an unspecified number of times that it will never be same as the previous one because it adapts (flexible) to the constraints/affordances that the game environment offers. Accordingly, all the variants of small-sided games and games on smaller spaces (Sannicandro, 2019(Sannicandro, & 2022 and with modified rules (even during the performance) are relevant, because they require a continuous discovery of the ways in which to perform the technical skill.…”

“…The dimensions and shapes of the court, in the small-side games, can be changed, even during the same exercise (without interruption) to constantly allow a technical and above all a cognitive adaptation (Sannicandro, 2019(Sannicandro, & 2022.…”

The Effects of Small-Sided Games and Behavioral Interventions on the Physical and Motivational Outcomes of Youth Soccer Players

“…Even though behavioral modification techniques have high applicability in the field of sports performance, as proven by the numerous studies carried out on samples from different sports [ 13 ], none of those studies have targeted the intensity of effort during SSGs. Recent studies are based on measuring the effects of small-sided games on different components: technical skills [ 14 , 15 ], VO 2max and skills improvement [ 16 ], heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and running demands in professional soccer players [ 17 ], the physical fitness [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], the development of endurance [ 23 ], hamstring eccentric strength [ 24 ].…”