The Relationship among Acceleration, Deceleration and Changes of Direction in Repeated Small Sided Games

Abstract

The change of direction (COD) ability is perhaps the most significant fitness component in team sport games. One of the best ways to develop COD as well as other components of the game in soccer is the regular inclusion of small sided games (SSGs) in the training process. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine changes in physiological and kinematic variables in repeated SSGs in youth soccer players. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between selected IMA variables such as acceleration, deceleration and changes of direction. Participants included sixteen U17 soccer players from a 2nd league professional team with a high aerobic capacity. The study design involved six 3-min 4 × 4 SSGs with goalkeepers and with a 3-min rest interval between games, during two training sessions played on a field of 25 x 35 m. The results showed that the intervention protocol consisting of repeated SSGs generated an intensity below the anaerobic threshold. This allowed for the maintenance of all variables (Heart Rate, Total Distance Covered, Velocity, Acceleration, Deceleration, Change of Direction) at a similar level throughout the subsequent six SSGs. The analysis revealed that in the six SSGs, players performed the most Acc and Dec, then COD Right and the least COD Left. From the third game on, a decrease in the number of COD Right was noticed. We hypothesized that progressive neuromuscular fatigue on the dominant side caused a more symmetrical trend in COD.

The effects of high-intensity interval training at the anaerobic and psychomotor fatigue thresholds on physiological parameters in young soccer players: a prospective study

“…It makes sense for HIIT to include SSGs since the players would also improve technical and tactical elements and their decision-making processes, which are required for playing soccer ( Davids et al, 2013 ; Trecroci et al, 2020 ) Therefore, the next aim was to determine if participants would exceed the ANT and achieve PFT intensity during four-versus-four matches on a 25 m × 35 m pitch that reflect the game conditions required in the specific HIIT proposed. The parameter frequently used in coaching practice to determine the effort intensity during the game is HR ( Brandes et al, 2012 ; Aşçı, 2016 ; Konefał et al, 2023 ), which can be measured with precision and accuracy using available measurement technologies ( Beenham et al, 2017 ; Gómez-Carmona et al, 2020 ; Pop et al, 2022 ). In this study, soccer players achieved HR max values that exceeded the intensity found at the ANT five-fold during six 3-min matches, even though they did not reach such intensity at the PFT during any of the games.…”

“…Indeed, the analysis of kinematic parameters demonstrated a requirement of six consecutive games for the players to maintain their TDC, V max, and Acc levels. Nonetheless, values for V mean and Dec indicated a need to reduce the number of games to five since these parameters significantly decreased in the final game ( Konefał et al, 2023 ).…”

“…Stage two comprised six 3-min soccer matches (four versus four) that included goalkeepers, with a 3-min break between games. The games were played on a 25 (m) by 35 (m) field as described previously ( Konefał et al, 2023 ).…”

“…Most studies report an increase in HR as the playing area increases and the number of players decreases ( Hill-Haas et al, 2011 ; Randers et al, 2014 ; Arslan et al, 2017 ). A proven training exercise is the four-versus-four games ( Konefał et al, 2023 ), which generate high-intensity exercise and may increase VO 2 max ( Little, 2009 ).…”

Agreement, Accuracy, and Reliability of a New Algorithm for the Detection of Change of Direction Angle Based on Integrating Inertial Data from Inertial Sensors

“…In a recent investigation, thanks to the information obtained from an IMMU and its processing by means of a specific algorithm, it was possible to be highly precise in detecting CoDs at different angulations, compared to high-resolution video recording [19]. To the authors' knowledge, only five studies have quantified CoDs during competition using inertial sensors, namely in players of basketball [20,21], handball [22,23], and soccer [24]. From our point of view, the number of studies related to CoD monitoring is low, although it is an important aspect of performance [25].…”