REVIEW PAPER
Effects of pitch configuration on internal and external load during small-sided games with stop-ball rule in young soccer players
1
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
2
Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, Italy
Submission date: 2025-02-11
Acceptance date: 2025-06-03
Publication date: 2025-12-23
Corresponding author
Nicola Trotta
Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, Via Felice Casorati (43), Verona, Italy
Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, Via Felice Casorati (43), Verona, Italy
Hum Mov. 2025;26(4):159-169
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
Small-sided games (SSGs) are currently one of the most common drills used and have been progressively growing in youth soccer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different pitch sizes for SSGs-stop ball (SB) on external and internal load in young soccer players.
Methods:
Ten young soccer players (13.8 ± 0.42 years; 168.8 ± 6.21 cm; 55 ± 7.07 kg) performed 4 vs 4 SSGs-SB (4 × 3 min, 2 min recovery) on 20 × 25 m and 30 × 38 m fields. Distance covered (DC) in jogging 3–8 km/h, distance covered at moderatespeed running 8–13 km/h, at high-speed running 13–18 km/h, at sprint running > 18 km/h, peak speed (PS), sprint number (SN), maximal acceleration (MA), maximal deceleration (MD), distance in acceleration > 2.5 m/s2 (ACC) and deceleration < –2.5 m/s2 (DEC), high metabolic load distance (HMLD, 35–50 W/kg; > 50 W/kg) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) (CR-10) were measured.
Results:
Large SSGs-SB produced higher values than smaller pitches for PS (p < 0.001, lines 14–19: ES: 1.62), SN (p < 0.001, ES: 1.64), MD (p < 0.05, ES: 1.24), DC at moderate-speed running 8–13 km/h (p < 0.05, ES: 0.95), high-speed running 13–18 km/h, (p < 0.05, ES: 1.10), sprint running > 1 8 km/h (p < 0.05, ES: 1.02), HMLD (35–50 W/kg, p < 0.05, ES: 0.92; > 50 W/kg, p < 0.001, ES: 1.40). Small SSGs-SB displayed higher values than larger pitches for MA (p < 0.001, ES: 1.52), DC in jogging 3–8 km/h (p < 0.001, ES: 2.01), both for distance in ACC and in DEC (p < 0.001, ES: 1.77; p < 0.05, ES: 1.30, respectively).
Conclusions:
Large SSGs-SB elicited a significant increase in external and internal load, while lower dimensions affected MA, DC in jogging 3–8 km/h, in ACC and in DEC. Finally, practitioners should take this information into account in order to properly schedule training sessions.
Small-sided games (SSGs) are currently one of the most common drills used and have been progressively growing in youth soccer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different pitch sizes for SSGs-stop ball (SB) on external and internal load in young soccer players.
Methods:
Ten young soccer players (13.8 ± 0.42 years; 168.8 ± 6.21 cm; 55 ± 7.07 kg) performed 4 vs 4 SSGs-SB (4 × 3 min, 2 min recovery) on 20 × 25 m and 30 × 38 m fields. Distance covered (DC) in jogging 3–8 km/h, distance covered at moderatespeed running 8–13 km/h, at high-speed running 13–18 km/h, at sprint running > 18 km/h, peak speed (PS), sprint number (SN), maximal acceleration (MA), maximal deceleration (MD), distance in acceleration > 2.5 m/s2 (ACC) and deceleration < –2.5 m/s2 (DEC), high metabolic load distance (HMLD, 35–50 W/kg; > 50 W/kg) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) (CR-10) were measured.
Results:
Large SSGs-SB produced higher values than smaller pitches for PS (p < 0.001, lines 14–19: ES: 1.62), SN (p < 0.001, ES: 1.64), MD (p < 0.05, ES: 1.24), DC at moderate-speed running 8–13 km/h (p < 0.05, ES: 0.95), high-speed running 13–18 km/h, (p < 0.05, ES: 1.10), sprint running > 1 8 km/h (p < 0.05, ES: 1.02), HMLD (35–50 W/kg, p < 0.05, ES: 0.92; > 50 W/kg, p < 0.001, ES: 1.40). Small SSGs-SB displayed higher values than larger pitches for MA (p < 0.001, ES: 1.52), DC in jogging 3–8 km/h (p < 0.001, ES: 2.01), both for distance in ACC and in DEC (p < 0.001, ES: 1.77; p < 0.05, ES: 1.30, respectively).
Conclusions:
Large SSGs-SB elicited a significant increase in external and internal load, while lower dimensions affected MA, DC in jogging 3–8 km/h, in ACC and in DEC. Finally, practitioners should take this information into account in order to properly schedule training sessions.
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