Abstract
The aim of this research was to examine the influence of two variables, the type of marking (with or without man-marking) and the number of players per team (3, 6, or 9) on the physical and physiological demands of sided games in soccer. Eighteen amateur players were monitored with GPS and heart rate devices. The following variables were analyzed: a maximum heart rate, a mean heart rate, time spent in each intensity range, total distance covered and distance covered in different speed ranges, a player load, maximum speed reached, and a work:rest ratio. The results showed that the type of marking influenced the physical demands of players, with greater total distance, a player load and a work:rest ratio when man-marking was used in the 3 vs. 3 (737 m, 95 Arbitrary Units (AU) and 3.4 AU, respectively) and 6 vs. 6 (783 m, 95 AU and 5.3 AU, respectively) games (p<0.05). The number of players also had an effect on physiological intensity, with more time being spent at the <80%HRmax during the 9 vs. 9 and 6 vs. 6 games (more than 30%) compared with the 3 vs. 3 format (less than 15%) (p<0.05). These findings could help coaches to understand how the modification of different variables in sided games influences the physical and physiological demands of players.
Highlights
For a number of decades sided games (SGs) have been used in soccer as an alternative to fitness training without the ball (Allen et al, 1998; Hoff and Helgerud, 2004)
Physiological profile: heart rate Table 1 shows absolute mean values for HRmean and HRmax, as well as percentage mean values for both these measures (i.e., %HRmean and %HRmax),which were calculated relatively to the maximum individual value obtained on the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test 1 (YYIRT1)
When the data were pooled and analyzed regardless of the type of marking, the results showed that players performed significantly longer at an intensity
Summary
For a number of decades sided games (SGs) have been used in soccer as an alternative to fitness training without the ball (Allen et al, 1998; Hoff and Helgerud, 2004). The aim of SGs is simultaneously to improve technical, tactical, and physical aspects of players’ performance (Little, 2009) and research has shown that they are as effective as interval training (Hill-Haas, Coutts et al, 2009; Impellizzeri et al, 2006). Coaches can modify the intensity of SGs according to the aims of training (Aguiar et al, 2013), by changing several variables such as the number of players taking part (Brandes et al, 2011; Hill-Haas, Dawson et al., 2009; Köklü et al, 2011), dimensions of the playing area (Aslan, 2013; Casamichana and Castellano, 2010; Kelly and Drust, 2009), rules of the game (Hill-Haas et al, 2010), the use of “floater” players (Mallo and Navarro, 2008), the number of touches (San Román-Quintana et al, 2013), the game format (Castellano et al, 2013) or the number and duration of task repetitions (Casamichana et al, 2013; Fanchini et al, 2011; Hill-Haas, Rowsell et al, 2009).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
