Health and performance effects of 12 weeks of small-sided street football training compared to grass football training in habitually active young men.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the health and exercise performance effects of street football training on very small pitches surrounded by boards in young habitually active men in comparison to small-sided football training on grass. METHODS: Thirty-nine habitually active men (30.7 ± 6.7 years, 90.9 ± 16.6 kg, 183.8 ± 4.5 cm, 39.6 ± 6.0 mL/min/kg) were randomly assigned to a street football training group (ST) or grass football group (GR) playing small-sided games for 70 min, 1.5 and 1.7 times per week for 12 weeks, respectively, or an inactive control group (CO). Intensity during training was measured using heart rate (HR) and GPS units. Pre- and post-intervention, a test battery was completed. RESULTS: Mean HR (87.1 ± 5.0 vs. 84.0 ± 5.3%HRmax; P > 0.05) and percentage of training time above 90%HRmax (44 ± 28 vs. 34 ± 24%; P > 0.05) were not different between ST and GR. VO2max increased (P < 0.001) by 3.6[95% CI 1.8;5.4]mL/min/kg in GR with no significant change in ST or CO. HR during running at 8 km/h decreased (P < 0.001) by 14[10;17]bpm in ST and by 12[6;19]bpm in GR, with no change in CO. No changes were observed in blood pressure, resting HR, total body mass, lean body mass, whole-body bone mineral density, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, plasma insulin, total cholesterol(C), LDL-C or HDL-C. Moreover, no changes were observed in Yo-Yo IE2 performance, 30-m sprint time, jump length or postural balance. CONCLUSION: Small-sided street football training for 12 weeks with 1-2 weekly sessions led to improvements in submaximal exercise capacity only, whereas recreational grass football training confirmed previous positive effects on submaximal exercise capacity as well as cardiorespiratory fitness.

Internal and external load during 8 v 8, 5 v 5 and 3 v 3 in Chinese elite youth male football players.

Aim to investigate internal and external load in three different game formats (8 v 8, 5 v 5, 3 v 3 with 80 m2 per player) of small-sided games (SSG) in Chinese elite youth football players. Twenty-nine elite male football players (age: 18.3 ± 0.5 years (mean ± SD), height: 175 ± 6 cm, weight: 65.5 ± 6.3 kg) participated in randomized order in the three formats. Each session consisted of 20 min: 3 v 3 on a 24 × 20-m pitch, 5 v 5 on a 32 × 25-m pitch, or 8 v 8 on a 40 × 32-m pitch all equalling 80 m2 per player. Each player was recorded once in each format. Using GPS-units and heart rate belts and blood lactate measured the two kinds of load. 8-10% higher total distance (P < 0.01) was observed in 8 v 8 and 5 v 5 compared with 3 v 3 (1627 ± 240 and 1595 ± 243 m vs. 1477 ± 179 m, ES = 0.55-0.71). Higher distance (P < 0.001) was covered with high speed running (HSR: > 14 km/h) in 8 v 8 and 5 v 5 than 3 v 3 (154 ± 94 m and 133 ± 59 m vs. 77 ± 35, ES = 1.09-1.15), whereas very high speed running distance (> 21 km/h) was higher (P < 0.01) in 8 v 8 than 5 v 5 and 3 v 3 (15.2 ± 19.5 vs. 5.3 ± 6.7 and 1.0 ± 0.4 m, ES = 0.69-1.03) and in 5 v 5 than 3 v 3. No difference was found between game formats in the number of intense accelerations nor intense decelerations. Blood lactate (3.5 ± 2.3 vs. 2.8 ± 1.9 vs. 2.4 ± 1.5 mmol · L-1, P = 0.201) and mean heart rate (155 ± 21 vs. 160 ± 11 vs. 157 ± 17 bpm, P = 0.254) was not different between 8v8, 5v5 and 3v3 game formats. Distance covered in total and in highest speed zones was higher in SSG formats with more players, which, however, did not lead to differences in internal load measured by heart rate and blood lactate.

Performance of Elite Women's Singles Badminton Players: The Influence of Left-Handed Players.

The purpose of the study was to analyze the influence of left-handed athletes on the opponent (right-handed players) of elite badminton women's singles. The study selected a total of 40 women's singles matches played by elite female players: twenty matches (42 games, n = 42) were played between left-handed and right-handed players and twenty matches (44 games, n = 44) were played between two right-handed players. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences in hitting positions, techniques, routes and landing points. No significant (p > 0.05) differences were found in scores per game and frequency distribution of rally outcomes. In conclusion, the details of technical and tactical application were different in two game forms, the main impact of the left-handed player on the opponent's (right-handed player) game was a decrease in the opponent's stroke in the overhead, an increase in the number of drives, predominance of small slashes and a decrease in big slashes.