Influence of game format and team strategy on physical and perceptual intensity in soccer small-sided games

The aim of the study was to compare internal and external load responses of different small-sided games, using balanced (5v5 Possession and small-sided games formats) and unbalanced (6v4) teams. Ten elite youth male soccer players were monitored at the start of the in-season period using global positioning system, heart rate and subjective ratings of intensity. Results showed higher physiological stress (>90% HRmax) in Possession and small-sided games formats when compared to the unbalanced teams (ES = 1.3-2.3). Total and high-intensity distance in small-sided games (28 +/- 25 m) and Possession (67 +/- 35 m) were greater compared to teams of 6 and 4 in the unbalanced scenario. Small-sided games format and team with six players had higher proportion of distance running at sub-maximal velocities (0-5.8 m/s(2)). Small-sided games format and team with four players saw greater mean acceleration effort (mean acceleration intensity in small-sided games 1.91 +/- 0.27 vs. Possession 1.80 +/- 0.20 m/s(2), ES = 0.4 and Team 4 1.56 +/- 0.24 vs. Team 6 1.44 +/- .0.19 m/s(2), ES = 1.3). Small-sided games format and team with 6 players had lower starting velocities prior to acceleration efforts (small-sided games 0.90 +/- 0.08 and Team 6 1.11 +/- 0.11 m/s(2), ES = 1.5 and ES = 1.8), while velocity at the end of each acceleration effort was greater in the Possession format and Team 4 compared to small-sided games and Team 6 (Possession 3.54 +/- 0.23 m/s(2) and Team 4 3.13 +/- 0.22 m/s(2)) compared to the small-sided games format (ES = 0.1) and the team with six players (ES = 2.3). These data demonstrate that using unbalanced teams can provide an additional form of training prescription to facilitate player specific training within a squad environment by providing different internal and external training responses within a combined drill.

Automated summary

The study compared internal and external load responses of different small-sided games with balanced and unbalanced teams. It found that balanced games led to higher physiological stress and greater total and high-intensity distances covered compared to unbalanced scenarios, indicating potential benefits for player-specific training within a squad environment.