The Use of Small-Sided Games as an Aerobic Fitness Assessment Supplement within Elite Level Professional Soccer

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to quantify the association between 5 vs. 5 small sided games (SSG) running performance and physiological performance during the Yo-YoIR1 test to ascertain the utility of SSGs as a potential fitness test modality within elite professional soccer players. Twenty-three (n = 23) elite male professional soccer players (mean ± SD age 25.3 ± 3.1 yrs, mass: 76 ± 9 kg, height: 176 ± 9 cm) were assessed. Players completed an intermittent aerobic fitness test (Yo-YoIR1) and a 5 vs. 5 SSGs protocol for the purpose of the study. During all SSGs players wore GPS (Statsports 10-Hz, Viper Pod, Newry, Northern Ireland) and HR monitors (Polar, Oy Kemple, Finland) with these measures related to Yo-YoIR1 running performance. Results revealed SSGs running performance (TD; m) and physiological performance (HR) showed the lowest CV% (< 5%), with high speed movements, accelerations and decelerations highlighting higher CV% during SSGs. Possibly small to possibly very large associations were observed for running performance during 5 vs. 5 SSGs and Yo-YoIR1 performance, with negative associations observed between physiological performance during SSG and YoYoIR1 running performance. To conclude, the current study observed how running performance during a standardised 5 vs. 5 SSG protocol within elite soccer cohorts is associated with the Yo-YoIR1 running performance. Given the low CV%, repeatability and large association of global running performance and internal load measures during a 5 vs. 5 SSG with Yo-YoIR1 performance, this particular soccer specific SSG protocol potentially supplements traditional non-sport specific testing assessments.

Relationships Between Aerobic Performance, Hemoglobin Levels, and Training Load During Small-Sided Games: A Study in Professional Soccer Players

“…The large-to-very-large relationships between V IFT and TD measures revealed in the present study are in line with other study that demonstrated a strong association between Yo-Yo IR scores and total distance covered and high-intensity running speeds during match play, suggesting a strong validity ( Aquino et al, 2020 ). In fact, in a study conducted on 23 elite soccer players with the aim to analyze the relationships between a 5v5 SSG and the YYIR1 running performance, it was found that TD during the SSGs was very strongly associated with YYIR1 performance ( r = 0.88; Owen et al, 2020 ). In our study, the final 30-15 IFT score (V IFT ) revealed similar associations with TD ( r range: 0.69; 0.87) during SSG drills.…”

“…Considering SSGs, moderate-to-large correlations were observed when examining the relationships between external loads during 6v6 drills and YYIR performance ( Stevens et al, 2016 ). Also, moderate-to-very large negative relationships were reported between heart rate measures, such as time spent above 80% HR max (red zone), %HR max , during SSGs and YYIR performance ( Stevens et al, 2016 ; Owen et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Although there are several field testing methods used for assessing a player’s performance capacity, these methods tend to be time-consuming, and coaches tend to reject these types of assessments given their maximal or sub-maximal nature ( Turner et al, 2011 ). Researchers, however, have analyzed the relationships between traditional aerobic fitness tests with external and internal training load measures during SSGs, as well as the capacity of SSGs to assess the intermittent aerobic fitness of soccer players ( Owen et al, 2020 ). In an interesting study ( Owen et al, 2020 ) using a 5v5 format, it was found a moderate-to-very large and large-to-very-large associations between external and internal measures, as well as with aerobic performance (in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test [YYIR], respectively.…”

“…Researchers, however, have analyzed the relationships between traditional aerobic fitness tests with external and internal training load measures during SSGs, as well as the capacity of SSGs to assess the intermittent aerobic fitness of soccer players ( Owen et al, 2020 ). In an interesting study ( Owen et al, 2020 ) using a 5v5 format, it was found a moderate-to-very large and large-to-very-large associations between external and internal measures, as well as with aerobic performance (in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test [YYIR], respectively. In that same study, the authors also found low coefficient of variation (CV%) values in external and internal measures, suggesting the potential use of the assessed 5v5 format protocol as an intermittent aerobic fitness assessment tool for soccer players.…”

Small sided games meningkatkan kebugaran jasmani dan keterampilan bermain sepakbola

“…Beberapa penelitian telah menunjukkan bahwa kegiatan olahraga tim seperti sepak bola, bola voli, bola basket, dan bola tangan secara efektif mengurangi tekanan darah (Trajković, et al, 2020). Di era milenial saat ini, sepakbola merupakan cabang olahraga beregu yang diminati dan digemari mulai dari anak-anak, remaja, sampai dewasa (Kristianto, et al, 2020), terlepas dari faktor usia, jenis kelamin dan faktor sosial (Gema, et al, 2016 (Castillo, et al, 2021 (Owen, et al, 2020). (Práxedes, et al, 2018) 19 orang Metode eksperimen dengan instrument GPET SSG memberikan pengaruh terhadap pemain dalam mengambil keputusan dan melakukan keterampilan teknik passing (Reinhardt, et al, 2020) 18 (Perdana, et al, 2017) 24 (Hammami, et al, 2018…”