@article{ref1,
title="Small-sided football games on sand are more physical-demanding but less technical-specific compared to artificial turf",
journal="Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness",
year="2018",
author="Rago, Vincenzo and Rebelo, António N. and Pizzuto, Federico and Barreira, Daniel",
volume="58",
number="4",
pages="385-391",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The use of sand has been suggested as fitness-enhancing surface in field-based team sports. However, concerns have arisen in regard whether physical responses associated to sand training are sport-specific. We compared physical and technical demands during small-sided football games (4v4 + goalkeeper; SSGs) played on artificial turf and on sand. <br><br>METHODS: Movement patterns, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and technical parameters were obtained from eight adult male footballers (20.1±1.0 years, 176±4 cm and 70.1±2.0 kg) using Global Positioning Systems, Visual Analogue Scale questionnaires and Notational analysis respectively. <br><br>RESULTS: High-intensity actions (high intensity running, high intensity activities), low changes of speed, as well as peak and average speed were higher on artificial turf (p<0.05; Effect sizes (ES) from 0.41 to 0.82). In contrast, time spent by jogging as well as high and maximum changes of speed was higher on sand (p<0.05; ES from 0.59 to 0.82). Moreover, players perceived more demanding to play on sand (p<0.05; ES=0.72). Rating of successful actions was higher during turf SSGs than sand SSGs (p<0.05; ES from 0.44 to 0.73), whereas actions requiring lifting the ball were higher on sand (p<0.05; ES from 0.47 to 0.50). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The use of sand can be considered as complemental to on-turf football training, when the training goal is to tax lower-limb muscle strength or to require high-ball situations. Nonetheless, sand training is not appropriate when the achievement of maximal speed is desired. Further research should clarify the suitability of sand training within football conditioning programmes.  Keywords: Soccer<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4707",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}