Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of increasing the duration of the recovery periods separating serial bouts of small sided games (SSG) of football on technical skills (TS). Twelve semi-professional footballers (mean ± SD; age 21 ± 3 years; VO2peak 64 ± 7 mL∙min∙kg−1; playing experience 15 ± 3 years) completed two SSG sessions, consisting of 3 vs. 3 players and 6 bouts of 2 min, separated by either 30 s recovery (REC-30) or 120 s recovery (REC-120). Sixteen TS, including passing, possession, and defensive related variables, and exercise intensity (heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, time motion descriptors) during the bouts were measured. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to determine differences between-conditions, for TS. The number of successful tackles was significantly higher, and the average time each team maintained possession was significantly lower in REC-120 compared to REC-30. There were no significant differences for all other TS variables, or exercise intensity measures between REC-30 and REC-120. Overall, a four-fold increase in the duration of recovery separating SSG bouts did not alter the technical skill execution of players. The experience and skill level of the players, combined with an apparent regulation of effort through pacing, may have assisted in the maintenance of technical skill execution.
Highlights
The execution of technical skills (TS) is the fundamental component of football [1,2]
From the TS that were analyzed in the current study, only two out of the sixteen variables vertheless, the consistency ofNevertheless, the means between the consistency the conditions ofNevertheless, the and means across between the theconsistency bouts the conditions indicates of thethat and means across between the bouts the conditions indicates that and across the bouts indic were significantly different
The high percentage of successful first touch passing in the current study indicates that small sided games (SSG) played with 3 vs. 3 could provide an appropriate stimulus to develop the information processing required for performance in the normal competitive environment
Summary
The execution of technical skills (TS) is the fundamental component of football [1,2]. Successful execution of TS by football players could be decreased by the fatigue that occurs during a match [2,7]. The mechanisms responsible for the accumulation of fatigue in players during match-play are varied, complex and not completely understood [9,10]. Depletion of energetic substrates (e.g., muscle glycogen, muscle creatine phosphate), increased metabolic by-products (e.g., lactate, potassium), increased pH, and dehydration, have all been proposed to contribute to the accumulation of fatigue during a football match [10]. Despite the lack of a definitive conclusion regarding the mechanisms of fatigue during a match, it is implied that a decline in TS in the later stages of a match is attributable to fatigue [9,11]
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
