Default and individual comparison of physiological responses and time-motion analysis in male and female soccer players during small-sided games

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to report sex differences in the distances covered in the respective speed zones during small-sided games using default and individualized time–motion analyses. Eight male and 8 female soccer players performed small-sided games (4vs4, 4x4 min, 3 minutes of active recovery). Time-motion analysis was calculated in two ways. The first analysis was based on default speed zones, whereas the second was performed according to individual potential of each player (velocity at lactate threshold - V/LT and maximal running speed - Smax). The mean Smax and V/LT values in male soccer players were significantly higher (p=0.0002) than that in female soccer players (Smax: 8.38 vs 7.60 m∙s-1, p=0.0002; V/LT: 3.88 vs 3.12 m∙s-1, p=0.0000). The results of the default time-motion analysis demonstrated that men covered a significantly longer distance than women in standing and walking; p=0.0024; running, p=0.0141; high-intensity running (HIR), p=0.0052. In contrast, the results of the individual analysis showed that the distance covered in the HIR was significantly shorter in male soccer players (391.4 vs 590.63 m, p=0.0024). The results of this study show that using the default criteria may result in an underestimation of the distance covered by female soccer players in high-intensity running and sprinting.