Relationships Among Circuit Training, Small-Sided and Mini Goal Games, and Competition in Professional Soccer Players: A Comparison of On-Field Integrated Training Routines

Abstract

Giménez, JV and Gomez, MA. Relationships among circuit training, small-sided and mini goal games, and competition in professional soccer players: A comparison of on-field integrated training routines. J Strength Cond Res 33(7): 1887-1896, 2019-The aim of this study was to investigate and compare different physical variables and load indicators of 2 small-sided game (SSG) formats and ball circuit training (CT). Fourteen professional players participated in 3 training routines using a similar occupied area per player (90 m). The CT, SSGs, and mini goal games (MGs) consisted of 8 repetitions of 4-minute game play, interspersed by 2 minutes of active recovery, and data were compared with the first 32 minutes of 2 competitive match simulations (MS). All movement patterns from walking to sprinting were recorded using 10-Hz global positioning system devices, whereas player perception of exertion was recorded after trial using a visual analogue scale. Practical differences among the 3 drills and MS were analyzed using magnitude-based inferences. The results suggested that the training routines did not exactly replicate the movement patterns of a competitive match. Furthermore, this study provides evidence that if high-intensity play is preferred, then SSGs should be emphasized (because they provide more total accelerations compared with the other drills; most likely effects). Moreover, the CT showed lower load and distance covered (m) than the MGs and SSGs. In conclusion, these drills may be useful for competition and impact microcycles (i.e., intermittent efforts with accelerations, decelerations, and walking actions) to achieve the specific adaptations of high-intensity efforts.