Effect of Small-Sided Games with and without the Offside Rule on Young Soccer Players: Reliability of Physiological Demands.

This study aimed to compare the physiological demand between three vs. three small-sided games (SSGs) with (3vs.3WITH) and without (3vs.3WITHOUT) the offside rule, as well as the within- and between-session reliability of this demand. Twenty-four U-17 soccer athletes performed various three vs. three (plus goalkeepers) SSGs with and without the offside rule. The data collection was performed within an eight-week period. Athletes' heart rate was monitored during the SSG. The variables analyzed were the percentage mean heart rate (HRMEAN%) and the percentage peak heart rate (HRPEAK%). For the analysis of within-session reliability, the mean value of the first two and last two SSG bouts performed within one day were used. The between-session reliability was calculated using the mean value of the four SSG bouts of each SSG type performed on two different days. In both SSGs, the values for reliability were significant and were classified as moderate to excellent. There were no significant differences in the physiological demand among SSG types. We concluded that the offside rule does not influence the physiological demand in a three vs. three SSG and the HRMEAN% and HRPEAK% present moderate to excellent reliability in a three vs. three SSG with and without the offside rule.

The influence of the offside rule on players' positional dynamics in soccer small-sided games.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on soccer small-sided games (SSGs) chose between with and without offside rule conditions without evidence-based criteria. The current study aimed to compare the positional dynamics of 3v3 SSGs with and without the offside rule. METHODS: Twenty-four Brazilian U-17 national-level soccer players were recruited. They were split into eight teams and played SSGs with and without the offside rule . Positional data were gathered by a Global Positioning System, and teams' length, width, the length per width ratio (LPWratio), stretch index and players' spatial exploration index were calculated. Data were compared between the experimental conditions by a paired t-test. RESULTS: Results showed that SSGs with the offside rule presented lower values of length (~16.63%, large effect), the LPWratio (~19.74%, large effect), and players' spatial exploration (~4.13%, small-to-moderate effect). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the offside rule impacts players' positional behavior in SSGs, inducing a less exploratory behavior mainly in the width axis. For this reason, we recommend caution when interpreting previous results on SSG when the offside rule was not applied since adopting this rule might elicit different responses to the players . Coaches can manipulate this rule aiming to achieve specific tactical goals for the training session.

Análise da influência da plataforma vibratória no desempenho do salto vertical em atletas de futebol: ensaio clínico randomizado / Analysis of the influence of the vibrating platform in vertical jump performance in soccer players: a randomized clinical trial

Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a influência da Plataforma Vibratória no desempenho do salto vertical de atletas de futebol. Materiais e métodos: A amostra foi composta de 30 atletas de futebol do sexo masculino,idade (18,57 ± 0,81 anos), peso (75,49 ± 7,463 kg), altura (1,79 ± 0,057 cm), percentual de gordura corporal (9.6 ± 1,327 por cento) e IMC (22,89 ± 1,354 kg/m2) alocados aleatoriamente em Grupo 1 (VCI) e Grupo 2 (CIQ). Valores de p ≤ 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos. Resultados: A altura do CMJSBB aumentou significativamente (p = 0,0001) após ambas as intervenções (VCI e CIQ), reduzindo também de forma significativa no período de follow-up (p = 0,0003). Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos em todos os períodos (p = 0,524). No CMJCBB, houve um aumento significativo na altura do salto ao se comparar o grupo antes e depois das intervenções por VCI e CIQ (p = 0,001) e uma diminuição significativa comparando as medidas após as intervenções com o follow-up. Em relação aos tratamentos (G1 vs G2) não houve diferença estatística entre eles em todos os períodos (p = 0,675). Discussão: De acordo com os resultados, houve diferenças em relação ao fatortempo (pré, pós e follow-up). No entanto, não foram observadas mudanças em relação aos tratamentos propostos ao G1 e ao G2. O período de exposição de quatro semanas de VCI não produziu ganhos adicionais nas características morfológicas e/ou nas propriedades neuromusculares em longo prazo no G1 quando comparados como G2. Conclusão: O treinamento por VCI pode ser introduzido com fins complementares à rotina de treinamentode atletas de futebol, objetivando a melhora do desempenho muscular nos membros inferiores atribuídos deforma quantitativa na capacidade de saltar desses indivíduos.