The inclusion of wildcard players during small-sided games causes alterations on players’ workload

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Small-sided games are a popular training method that have shown its effectiveness in improving athletic performance in football players. OBJECTIVE: To compare the acute physiological and neuromuscular responses and time-motion characteristics during small-sided games played with and without wildcard players. METHODS: Sixteen amateur male football players completed two small-sided games protocol: 4-a-side and 4-a-side with wildcard players. Time-motion characteristics during games, muscular performance parameters before and after small-sided games protocols, physiological response in terms of heart rate and muscle oximetry and rate of perceived exertion were collected. RESULTS: Both small-sided games formats induced changes in sprint performance (before-after comparison), in the rate of perceived exertion, heart rate-related variables and time-motion parameters (p< 0.05). In a comparison between small-sided games formats, lower values of oxygen saturation, heart rate, rate of perceived exertion and time-motion parameters (p< 0.05) were reported during small-sided games with wildcard players in both working and recovery periods. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of wildcard players during small-sided games cause a reduction in perceptual, physiological demands and time-motion parameters when compared to control condition.