JSAMS-227; No.

of Pages 4 ARTICLE IN PRESS

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (2007) xxx, xxx—xxx

SHORT REPORT

Variability of acute physiological responses and

performance profiles of youth soccer players
in small-sided games
Stephen Hill-Haas a,c,∗, Aaron Coutts b, Greg Rowsell c, Brian Dawson a

a University of Western Australia, Australia

b University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
c South Australian Sports Institute, Australia

Received 30 April 2007 ; received in revised form 19 July 2007; accepted 20 July 2007

KEYWORDS Summary The aim of this study was to examine the variability in physiological and
Reliability; perceptual responses and time—motion profiles of various small-sided soccer game
Reproducibility; (SSG) formats (2 versus 2, 4 versus 4 and 6 versus 6 players) and regimes (interval and
Heart rate; continuous). Typical error (TE) was calculated for mean heart rate as a percentage
Lactate; of maximum heart rate (%HRmax ), global ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), blood
Training load lactate [La− ] and various time—motion characteristics for 16 male soccer players
(mean 16.2 years, range 15.6—17.9). The TE for HR responses were <5% for all SSGs.
RPE also demonstrated small variability across all SSGs, with TE ranging between 1
and 2 units. In contrast, the TE% for [La− ] was higher, ranging from 16% (2 versus
2-interval) to 34% (4 versus 4-interval). The TE% for total distance (TD) and distance
covered at 0—6.9 km/h was <5% for all SSGs, with 2 versus 2 interval and contin-
uous games recording the lowest TE (2.2% and 2.9%, respectively). An increase in
game format size does not appear to influence the variability of the acute physio-
logical responses to SSGs, although continuous formats display less variability than
interval formats. The TD, distance covered and percentage of total time moving at
0—6.9 km/h demonstrated small variability across all formats and regimes. However,
higher movement speeds zones (>8 km/h) reflected increased variability, irrespec-
tive of game format or regime. Collectively, these results suggest that SSG training
can provide a reliable aerobic training stimulus.
© 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Introduction well established.1,2 However, SSGs are increasingly

being used as an alternative to interval training as
The use of small-sided games (SSGs) for techni- an aerobic training stimulus. Although some studies
cal and tactical development of soccer players is support this approach,1,3,4 a better understanding
of the reliability of the acute physiological and per-
∗ Corresponding author. ceptual responses (heart rate, blood lactate and
E-mail address: hillhs01@[Link] (S. Hill-Haas). ratings of perceived exertion) and performance

1440-2440/$ — see front matter © 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/[Link].2007.07.006

Please cite this article in press as: Hill-Haas S, et al., Variability of acute physiological responses and performance
profiles of youth soccer players in small-sided games, J Sci Med Sport (2007), doi:10.1016/[Link].2007.07.006
JSAMS-227; No. of Pages 4 ARTICLE IN PRESS
2 S. Hill-Haas et al.

profiles (quantified using global positioning system Results

units) during SSGs is needed. Consequently, the aim
of this study was to examine the reliability of var- The TE% scores (Table 1) for %HRmax and HRpeak
ious small-sided game (SSG) formats (2 versus 2, 4 demonstrated good reliability (<5%) across all for-
versus 4 and 6 versus 6 players) and regimes (inter- mats and regimes. Similarly, RPE also demonstrated
val, SSGI and continuous, SSGC ). good reliability, with absolute TE scores ranging
between 1 and 2 units. However, [La− ] was more
variable across all formats and regimes.
The time—motion characteristics of total dis-
Methods tance (TD), distance covered and percentage of
time moving at 0—6.9 km/h displayed small vari-
Sixteen male soccer players (mean 16.2 years, ability (TE% < 11%) across all formats and regimes,
range 15.6—17.9) participated in the study. All although absolute TE scores increased as game for-
participants were notified of the research pro- mat size increased (Table 1). Variability of TE%
cedures, requirements, benefits and risks before increased in the higher running speed categories,
giving informed consent. irrespective of format or regime.
The games were played (in duplicate) over a Additionally, absolute TE scores for the physi-
9-week in-season period in random order, with ological responses to SSGI were higher than SSGC
participants selected on the same teams against with some exceptions (Table 1). In contrast, sprint
the same opponents as often as possible. All SSGs duration and distance appear more variable in SSGC
were played at the start of each training session compared with SSGI (Table 1).
(with consistent coach encouragement), held twice
weekly, with at least 48 h separating each train-
ing session. The participants were well familiarised
with all SSG formats and regimes. The duration Discussion
of SSGC was 24 min. The SSGI regime involved
4 × 6 min bouts with 1.5 min passive rest. The pitch In contrast to previous research,7 the results
sizes (length × width) used for 2 versus 2, 4 versus 4 demonstrated that with the exception of [La− ],
and 6 versus 6 games were 28 m × 21 m, 40 m × 30 m alterations in format do not appear to affect
and 49 m × 37 m, respectively. the reliability of acute physiological or percep-
Heart rate (HR) was measured (5 s recording tual responses. Greater variability of [La− ] may
intervals) via short-range radiotelemetry (Polar be attributed to measurement variability and the
Team Sport System, Polar Electro, Finland). Maxi- stochastic nature of SSGs,3 which may limit its
mum heart rate was determined from a 20 m shuttle usefulness as an indicator of internal training
test. Global ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) load.8 However, the consistent HR response 2 and
were recorded immediately after the SSGs using the magnitude of TE scores (lowest for heart rate,
Borg scale (6—20 scale).5 Capillary blood samples followed by RPE and [La− ]) agree with previous
were drawn from an earlobe at rest and imme- research.2,3
diately following each SSG. Blood lactate [La− ] This is the first study to report on the test—retest
was determined using a blood-gas analyser (ABL variation in GPS data as a measure of external
625 Radiometer, Copenhagen). Time—motion char- training load during SSG soccer training. In this
acteristics were measured using portable global study, TD, distance covered and percentage of
positioning system (GPS) units (SPI 10, GPSports, total time at 0—6.9 km/h exhibited small variabil-
Canberra, Australia). The distance and time spent ity across all formats and regimes. However, the
in six speed zones were selected for analysis: test—retest variability increased for higher velocity
zone 1 (0—6.9 km/h); zone 2 (7—9.9 km/h); zone movement speeds zones, irrespective of SSG format
3 (10—12.9 km/h); zone 4 (13—15.9 km/h); zone 5 or regime. A possible explanation for the greater
(16—17.9 km/h) and zone 6 (>18 km/h). The GPS variation in the higher movement velocity zones is
sampling rate was 1 Hz. that the GPS units only sample distance at 1 Hz.
The within group reliability of each dependent Given that the duration of high intensity efforts
measure was calculated using the typical stan- during soccer are usually very brief (often <2 s),9
dard error of measurements (TE).6 The TE was it is possible that a higher sampling rate may have
also expressed as a percentage of the mean (TE%). demonstrated lower variation between the training
Scores were calculated for mean heart rate as a sessions.
percentage of maximum heart rate (%HRmax ), RPE, The results of this study also showed that phys-
([La− ]) and various time—motion characteristics. iological, perceptual and time—motion measures

Please cite this article in press as: Hill-Haas S, et al., Variability of acute physiological responses and performance
profiles of youth soccer players in small-sided games, J Sci Med Sport (2007), doi:10.1016/[Link].2007.07.006
 Variability of acute physiological responses and performance profiles of youth soccer players in small-sided games3

JSAMS-227; No. of Pages 4

profiles of youth soccer players in small-sided games, J Sci Med Sport (2007), doi:10.1016/[Link].2007.07.006
Please cite this article in press as: Hill-Haas S, et al., Variability of acute physiological responses and performance

Table 1 Reliability of physiological, perceptual and time—motion variables

Format regime 2 versus 2C 2 versus 2I 4 versus 4C 4 versus 4I 6 versus 6C 6 versus 6I
Variable
%HRmax TE (%) 1.7 2.9 3.8 2.1 2.2 2.8
TE% 1.9 3.3 4.4 2.5 2.6 3.4
HRpeak TE (bpm) 2.2 6.0 4.3 4.1 5.4 6.9
TE% 1.1 3.0 2.3 2.1 2.8 3.6
RPE TE (AU) 1.7 0.8 1.2 1.4 1.6 0.8

ARTICLE IN PRESS
TE% 12.6 5.9 9.6 12.2 15.3 7.4
Blood [La− ] TE (mmol L−1 ) 2.0 0.8 1.4 1.8 0.6 1.4
TE% 25.8 16.5 28.3 34.4 16.6 32.2
Time—motion characteristics
Total distance TE (m) 97.9 57.7 108 124.5 134 167.9
TE% 3.8 2.2 4.1 4.6 5.2 6.4
Distance (0—6.9 km/h) TE (m) 33.8 39.8 50.1 38.5 45.3 40.2
TE% 2.9 3.4 4.5 3.4 3.9 3.5
Distance (13—15.9 km/h) TE (m) 39.1 38.3 64.5 42.1 53.9 63
TE% 14.2 14.4 23.5 14.4 21.3 21.0
Distance (>18.0 km/h) TE (m) 23.4 12.5 16.3 25.5 38.4 25.9
TE% 51.1 25.7 31.2 32.5 56.0 31.3
% Time (0—6.9 km/h) TE (%) 2.5 3.8 6.4 5.6 6.4 6.7
TE% 4.0 6.1 11.0 9.0 10.1 10.7
% Time (13—15.9 km/h) TE (%) 0.1 3.5 1.2 1.5 1.0 2.8
TE% 16.3 54.2 20.9 22.5 19.2 44.7
% Time (>18.0 km/h) TE (%) 0.4 1.4 0.2 0.4 0.5 1.4
TE% 51.7 141.7 29.1 41.0 54.1 105.9
Mean sprint duration TE (s) 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.2
TE% 16.4 8.5 14.4 22.1 26.1 13.0
Mean sprint distance TE (m) 1.38 1.27 1.44 1.95 3.04 1.26
TE% 21.2 20.4 16.8 23.3 30.5 14.5
TE, typical error; TE%, typical error as % of mean; C, continuous; I, intermittent; AU, absolute units.
JSAMS-227; No. of Pages 4 ARTICLE IN PRESS
4 S. Hill-Haas et al.

from interval SSGs are generally more variable than higher priority on player’s HR and RPE responses
continuous formats. A possible explanation may when monitoring soccer training.
be that SSGI superimpose an additional intermit-
tent element in the form of planned rest between
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Please cite this article in press as: Hill-Haas S, et al., Variability of acute physiological responses and performance
profiles of youth soccer players in small-sided games, J Sci Med Sport (2007), doi:10.1016/[Link].2007.07.006