External and internal loads on soccer players in various organisational forms of small-sided games

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify differences between the external and internal loads on soccer players in small−sided games with different content orientations. We assumed that the way to score a goal (gain a point) significantly affects the movement characteristics and reaction of the circulatory system of players during the games. The research group consisted of 18 players (n = 18) from the junior team (age: 16.5 ± 0.21 years, VO2max 56.06 ± 2.84 ml.kg−1 .min−1, HRmax 196.42 ± 5.31 b.min−1) from the football club in Slovakia who participate in the highest level competitions. Based on the data obtained using sports testers and software from Polar Team PRO, we evaluated the external and internal loads on the monitored players such as the total distance, distance covered during high-intensity run (17 km/hod < ), number of accelerations (2 m·s–