ORIGINAL PAPER
Effect of floaters on female players’ technical and physical responses in 3v3 small-sided soccer games
1
Department of Human Movement and Therapeutic Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
2
School of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Submission date: 2026-03-29
Acceptance date: 2026-06-09
Online publication date: 2026-08-26
Corresponding author
Alliance Kubayi
Department of Human Movement and Therapeutic Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, 0001, Pretoria, South Africa
Department of Human Movement and Therapeutic Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, 0001, Pretoria, South Africa
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to analyse and compare the technical and physical responses of professional female soccer players with and without floaters during 3v3 small-sided games (SSGs).
Methods:
Twelve female soccer players (age: 24.08 ± 4.25 years; body mass: 62.08 ± 9.29 kg; body height: 1.62 ± 0.05 m) from a South African professional league played in 3v3 small-sided games. Players’ physical and technical metrics were captured using commercially available foot-mounted inertial measurement units (PlayerMaker™, Tel Aviv, Israel).
Results:
The results showed players covered greater total distances when floaters were present than when they were not (p < 0.001, d = 1.45, large effect). Furthermore, players in SSGs without floaters recorded significantly greater accelerations (p < 0.05, d = 0.80, large effect) and decelerations (p < 0.001, d = 1.01, large effect) than those in SSGs with floaters.
Conclusions:
The findings demonstrate that adding floaters during SSGs in female soccer offers an effective means to modulate physical demands on players, offering coaches and sport scientists a practical tool for tailoring training approaches to specific technical and physical objectives.
The purpose of this study was to analyse and compare the technical and physical responses of professional female soccer players with and without floaters during 3v3 small-sided games (SSGs).
Methods:
Twelve female soccer players (age: 24.08 ± 4.25 years; body mass: 62.08 ± 9.29 kg; body height: 1.62 ± 0.05 m) from a South African professional league played in 3v3 small-sided games. Players’ physical and technical metrics were captured using commercially available foot-mounted inertial measurement units (PlayerMaker™, Tel Aviv, Israel).
Results:
The results showed players covered greater total distances when floaters were present than when they were not (p < 0.001, d = 1.45, large effect). Furthermore, players in SSGs without floaters recorded significantly greater accelerations (p < 0.05, d = 0.80, large effect) and decelerations (p < 0.001, d = 1.01, large effect) than those in SSGs with floaters.
Conclusions:
The findings demonstrate that adding floaters during SSGs in female soccer offers an effective means to modulate physical demands on players, offering coaches and sport scientists a practical tool for tailoring training approaches to specific technical and physical objectives.
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