Effects of two different small-sided games protocols on physiological parameters of professional soccer players

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two different small-sided game protocols on the internal and external training parameters of professional soccer players. Twenty-two (N = 22) Greek Superleague 2 team players (age: 28.69 ± 3.4yr.; stature: 179.0 ± 25 cm; body mass: 76.0 ± 5.6 kg; body fat: 7.68 ± 1.5 %) participated in this study. The small-sided games (SSGs) included two research protocols+: A) 6+6 vs 6+6+2GK (45x40 m; 150m2 per player) with a duration of 4x4 min and B) 10 vs 10+2GK (75x65 m; 244 m2 per player) with a duration of 4x8min. The heart rate of the players, the covered distances, the amount of sprints and the number of accelerations/decelerations were recorded during the above protocols via shortrange radio telemetry (Polar Team Sports System). The t-test (paired samples) was used to compare the differences between the two SSGs protocols. The results showed that the 6+6 vs 6+6+2GK SSGs induced significantly higher heart rate in relation to the 10 vs 10+2GK SSGs (p