Differences in Acceleration and High-Intensity Activities Between Small-Sided Games and Peak Periods of Official Matches in Elite Soccer Players.

Abstract

Dalen, T, Sandmæl, S, Stevens, TGA, Hjelde, GH, Kjøsnes, TN, and Wisløff, U. Differences in acceleration and high-intensity activities between small-sided games and peak periods of official matches in elite soccer players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-The purpose of this study was to compare whether the physical performance of players during 4 vs. 4 + goalkeeper (4 vs. 4) and 6 vs. 6 + goalkeeper (6 vs. 6) small-sided games (SSGs) is equivalent to those experienced during the most intense 5-minute period of soccer match play. Twenty-six male soccer players from an elite Norwegian league team took part. Players were monitored during 18 matches, 56 SSGs: twenty-eight 4 vs. 4 and twenty-eight 6 vs. 6 games. The ZXY Sport Tracking System was used to measure for each player the total distance covered, high-intensity running distance, sprint distance, number of accelerations, and player load (all expressed per minute). To compare the physical performance variables on players during the SSGs formats and match play, a 1-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used. Players performed the same number of accelerations and player load in 4 vs. 4 (1.7 and 248, respectively) as in peak match (1.6 and 227, respectively), whereas in 6 vs. 6, there were 63% fewer accelerations and 15% lower player load (1.2 and 198, respectively), than in peak match. High-intensity running and sprint distance were significantly lower than mean match values in both 4 vs. 4 (4.1 and 0.2 m vs. 8.2 and 1.7 m) and 6 vs. 6 games (2.7 and 0.21 m vs. 8.2 and 1.7 m) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, only 4 vs. 4 SSGs are highly valuable, and in that, they elicit player load and accelerations to a level that is (at least) equivalent with peak periods of official match play.