Abstract
Background: Small-sided games (SSG) are spontaneous forms of specific training where exercise intensity can be manipulated mainly by modifying external factors. When using the SSG, there is a risk that the variability of intensity between players and on repetition of SSG may lead to some players training at inappropriate exercise intensities. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine intra-individual repeatability and inter-individual variability in exercise intensity in small-sided 4on4 football games. Methods: Twenty five highly trained junior football players (age 17.68 ± 1.52 years; BMI 23.8 ± 1.92 kg . m-2) participated in the study. Distance covered (software package Video Manual Motion Tracker 1.0) and heart rate (HR, expressed as a percentage of peak heart rate) were measured. All participants completed three measurements of 4-a-side games for three consecutive weeks. Results: The high intraclass correlation coefficient value (Heart rate [HR]: ICC = .88, 95% CI [.65, .94]; Distance covered [DC]: ICC = .76, 95% CI [.66, .96]) implies a very high level of intra-individual repeatability. The Pearson's correlation coefficient value (HR: r = .93; DC: r = .85) indicates a high correlation between the results of any measurement. Bland and Altman's 95% limits of agreement were ± 10.32 beats . min-1 and ± 65.46 m of distance covered. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that measured SSG elicit consistent heart rate responses and external load of the players.
Highlights
Football is a very popular team sport with nearly 200 million players (Dupont, Blondel, Lensel, & Berthoin, 2002)
Bland and Altman’s 95% limits of agreement were ± 10.32 beats · min–1 and ± 65.46 m of distance covered error interval of intra-individual reproducibility
The CV analysis showed high level of inter-individual stability of heart rate measurement (2.13%) and distance covered (5.16%) during monitored Small-sided games (SSG)
Summary
Football is a very popular team sport with nearly 200 million players (Dupont, Blondel, Lensel, & Berthoin, 2002). Little and Williams (2006), and Reilly (2005) indicated that high specificity of loading, For the loading description the heart rate monitoring, rate of perceived exertion, and distance covered was used in the studies of small-sided games (Aslan, 2013; Casamichana & Castellano, 2010; Castellano, Casamichana, & Dellal, 2013; Dellal, Hill-Haas, LagoPenas, & Chamari, 2011; Hill-Haas, Rowsell, Dawson, & Coutts, 2009; Rampinini et al, 2007). The purpose of this study is to determine intraindividual reproducibility, inter-individual variability in exercise loading measurement (expressed by average heart rate and distance covered) in chosen 4-a-side football and futsal game at indoor environment. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that measured SSG elicit consistent heart rate responses and external load of the players
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
