Abstract
This study aims to describe and analyse the internal and external load deriving from LSG exercises carried out on two fields, defined as SLSG and BLSG, in the 4vs4 format, with goalkeepers. 22 professional soccer players participated (average age: 23.59±4.87 years, weight: 77.8±7.6 kg; height: 183.5±7.5 cm) including 20 forward players and 2 goalkeepers; the goalkeepers were not considered in the data collection of the external and internal load. The LSG 4vs4 + 2 goalkeepers exercises were carried out on a natural grass playing field. The exercises were performed on a field 55x49m (269.5 m<sup>2</sup> per player) defined as "small" (SLSG) and on a field 60 x 54 meters (324 m<sup>2</sup> per player) defined as "big" (BLSG). The results of the internal load analysis show how the BLSG provides higher and more significant HR values than those emerged during the SLSG exercise. Instead, the analysis of the external load related to the observed and described parameters shows that the values emerged from the exercise carried out on the BLSG are higher, except for the distance travelled by walking (<7.30 km/h), in which the SLSG exercise provided higher values, although not relevant statistically. No significant data emerge from the statistical analysis in all the observed parameters. This is the first study that analyses the 4vs4 format in an LSG exercise. The results of this study show that large sided games prove to be very valid exercises if the goal is to modulate the intensity of the game related to what really happens during the match.
Highlights
The results of the internal load analysis show how the Big Large Side Games (BLSG) provides higher and more significant heart rate (HR) values than the those emerged during the Small - Large Side Games (SLSG) exercise
ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) appears to be higher during the BLSG (7.67±0.68 vs 7.61±1.15) statistically, no significant difference appears
The analysis of the external load related to the observed and described parameters shows how the values emerged from the exercise carried out on the BLSG are higher, except for the distance travelled by walking (
Summary
Technical staff and coaches are constantly looking for new training methods in order to achieve better adaptations and better performances for players [1 - 4].For these reasons, the staff must precisely know the parameters of the internal (heart rate, blood lactate or evaluation of perceived exertion) and external load (distances covered in different speed zones, number of accelerations and decelerations, etc.) that emerge from the proposed exercises [1, 5].Nowadays, these parameters can be monitored through the use of heart rate monitors, lactate meters or GPS: these findings become relevant for load control and for monitoring the correspondence between training and session objectives [5 - 6].For this reason, the scientific literature has recently focused on the analysis and understanding of the loads related to the use of sport-specific exercises carried out by both professionals, non-professionals and young soccerInternational Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences 9(6): 1470-1476, 2021 players [7 - 8]. Technical staff and coaches are constantly looking for new training methods in order to achieve better adaptations and better performances for players [1 - 4] For these reasons, the staff must precisely know the parameters of the internal (heart rate, blood lactate or evaluation of perceived exertion) and external load (distances covered in different speed zones, number of accelerations and decelerations, etc.) that emerge from the proposed exercises [1, 5]. The staff must precisely know the parameters of the internal (heart rate, blood lactate or evaluation of perceived exertion) and external load (distances covered in different speed zones, number of accelerations and decelerations, etc.) that emerge from the proposed exercises [1, 5] Nowadays, these parameters can be monitored through the use of heart rate monitors, lactate meters or GPS: these findings become relevant for load control and for monitoring the correspondence between training and session objectives [5 - 6]. They are better known as small sided games (SSG): in the literature, these exercises have been extensively analysed in order to understand how different formats can influence the internal load [9 - 12], the external load [13 - 15] or both [16 - 18]
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