Citation

Owen AL, Wong DP, Paul D, Dellal A. Int. J. Sports Med. 2014; 35(4): 286-292.

Affiliation

Santy Orthopedic Clinic, Sport Science and Research Department, Lyon, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-0033-1351333

PMID

24022576

Abstract

This study compared the technical activity and physical movements of various-sided games within professional soccer. It also examined the test-retest reliability of sided games using various numbers of players. 10 elite male players from a Scottish Premier League performed small- (SSGs: 4 vs. 4), medium- (MSGs: 5 vs. 5 to 8 vs. 8) and large- (LSGs: 9 vs. 9 to 11 vs. 11) sided games each lasting for 3×5 min.

RESULTS show significant physical differences (p<0.05) between SSGs, MSGs and LSGs for most of the variables measured. It was shown that SSGs induce a significantly faster playing speed when compared to MSGs and LSGs (150.5 vs. 108.3 vs. 120.4 m.min-1, p<0.01) but significantly less (p<0.01) repeated high-intensity efforts (0.88 vs. 4.40 m), high-intensity running (7 vs. 39 m) and sprint distance (0 vs. 11 m) when compared to LSGs.

FINDINGS also revealed significant differences (p<0.05) between SSGs, MSGs and LSGs in technical demands (passes, dribbles, shots, headers). High levels of reproducibility (ICC=0.99) were yielded when using the same-sided games, pitch sizes and possession rules. This study provided information on different-sided games to facilitate its use as part of a periodised weekly structure.

Language: en