TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - Small-sided football games on sand are more physical-demanding but less technical-specific compared to artificial turf
JO  - Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness
A1  - Rago, Vincenzo
A1  - Rebelo, António N.
A1  - Pizzuto, Federico
A1  - Barreira, Daniel
SP  - 385
EP  - 391
VL  - 58
IS  - 4
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-4707
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -