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  • The effect of balanced versus unbalanced football small-sided games on decision-making in youth football players
    Publication . Ihle, Andreas; Lopes, Helder; Sarmento, Hugo; Marques, Adilson; Gouveia, Élvio Rúbio; Sousa, Honorato José
    Decision-making (DM) is an important ability targeted in the formation of young football players that can improve by using small-sided games (SSGs). The main purpose of this study was to assess players’ DM in different balanced and unbalanced SSG formats keeping the play area constant. The sample was composed of 10 field players plus 2 goalkeepers (13.55±0.51 years). This study consisted of 3 sessions, one day for each session, with an interval of 48 hours apart between sessions. Three different SSG formats (4vs.4; 4vs.5; 4vs.6), in a play area of 40x30 meters, were selected. The outcome was the decision-making index (DMI), assessed with the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI). Results showed that on two of the three days, there were statistical differences in DMI across the three different SSG formats. In the 4vs.6 format a higher median score than in the 4vs.4 format was recorded on day 2 (U=13.0, z=-2.34, p=.025, r=.57) and day 3 (U=5.50, z=-2.98, p=.003, r=.72). In conclusion, the use of unbalanced SSG formats in the training may benefit DM development, and therefore may constitute an important factor to be considered in the formation of young football players.
  • The influence of small-sided football games with numerical variability in external training load
    Publication . Sousa, Honorato; Gouveia, Élvio Rúbio; Marques, Adilson; Sarmento, Hugo; Pestana, Marcelo; Quintal, Tomás; Lopes, Helder; Ihle, Andreas
    : Small-sided games (SSGs) are a motivational strategy and effective training method to develop skills and physical fitness at optimal intensity. This study investigates the influence of variability in the number of players on the physiological response using SSGs. The sample was composed of 10 field players with an average age of 15.9 ± 0.50 years old. Three sessions were held on 3 different days to collect information. The 10 min SSG exercise with temporal numerical variability was repeated twice on each day. The numerical ratio of players involved changed every 2 min without disrupting the practice. In a game space with 35 × 25 m, the exercise always started in a situation of 3 vs. 3. External training load metrics (i.e., physical activity counts, activity intensity, and energy expenditure) were assessed using Actigraph WGT3X accelerometers. The 3 vs. 3 format game had higher physical activity counts (i.e., higher vector magnitude) and requested more time spent in very vigorous physical activity intensity. Consequently, the 3 vs. 3 format in young football players had higher energy expenditure (i.e., a higher METs) than that in the other studied game formats. This study confirms the influence of SSGs with numerical variability in external training load.