Small-side games and size pitch in elite female soccer players: A short narrative review
Keywords:
Small-sided games, Female soccer players, Pitch sizeAbstract
Introduction: In recent years, in the soccer training have found widespread diffusion the games modified by rules, use of wildcard players, configuration field, players’ number, size of the playing area, defined as small-sided games or SSG. Methodology: For the bibliographic search PubMed and Sport Discuss databases were used selecting articles published between 01/01/2016 and 01/12/2020. Two keyword groups were identified, using synonyms and similar terms, using the operator “OR”:1) “small-sided games” OR “elite female soccer players” OR “field size” 2) “small-sided games” OR “elite female football players” OR “field size”. Subsequently, all the categories were combined together using the “AND” operator. Results: The initial database search produced 77 results. After removing the duplicates (3), study on injury incidence (21), amateur soccer players (3), endocrine and biomechanical aspects (20), assessment preventive issue (12) and other aspects not related to performances (15), three studies were selected, analysed, and included in the narrative review. Discussion and conclusions: The physiological responses of female soccer players during SSGs have only been investigated relative to the players’ number. The field size is considered a key factor in soccer training because the players’ density conditions internal and external load. The studies analysed suggest that the most suitable format for achieving a high intensity of exercise with female soccer players, is precisely the medium filed size, that is, in the case observed for 4vs4, a size equal to 24.5m x 24.5m. The load control of specific sport exercises is useful for the injury’s prevention and for relevant training organization to respond to the competitions’ demands.
Downloads
References
Aguiar, M., Botelho, G., Lago, C., Maças, V., and Sampaio, J. (2012). A review on the effects of soccer small-sided games. Journal of human kinetics, 33, 103-113. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-012-0049-x
Baptista J., Gonçalves B., Sampaio J., Castro J., Abade E., and Travassos B.,(2019), The influence of coaches' instruction on technical actions, tactical behaviour, and external workload in football Small-Sided Games, Monten J Sports Sci Med, 8, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.26773/mjssm.190305
Bujalance-Moreno P., Latorre-Román P.A., and García-Pinillos F.,(2018), A systematic review on small-sided games in football players: acute and chronic adaptations, J Sports Sci, 29, 1-29.
Casamichana D., Castellano J., and Dellal A., (2013), Influence of different training regimes on physical and physiological demands during small-sided soccer games: continuous vs. intermittent format, J Strength Cond Res, 27, 690-697. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31825d99dc
Castellano J., Casamichana D., and Dellal A., (2013), Influence of game format and number of players on heart rate responses and physical demands in small-sided soccer games, J Strength Cond Res, 27, 1295-1303. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318267a5d1
Ceruso, R., Altavilla, G., and D'Elia, F. (2020)- Evaluation of the coordinative aspects attached to the foundations of the football of the young player, Sport Science, 13 (1), 90-94.
Ceruso, R., Esposito, G., and D'Elia, F. (2019a). Coordination attached to the qualitative aspects of football, Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 19, 260, 1773-1776.
Ceruso, R., Esposito, G., and D'Elia, F. (2019b). Analysis and evaluation of the qualitative aspects of the young players, Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 19, 266, 1814-1819.
Clemente F., Couceiro M., Martins F.M., and Mendes R., (2012), The usefulness of small-sided games on soccer training, J Physic Educ Sport, 12, 93-102.
Clemente, F. M., Wong, d., Martins, F. M., and Mendes, R. S. (2014). Acute effects of the number of players and scoring method on physiological, physical, and technical performance in small-sided soccer games. Research in sports medicine (Print), 22(4), 380-397. https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2014.951761
Clemente, F. M., Sarmento, H., Rabbani, A., Van Der Linden, C., Kargarfard, M., and Costa, I. T. (2019a). Variations of external load variables between medium- and large-sided soccer games in professional players. Research in sports medicine, 27 (1), 50-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2018.1511560
Clemente, F. M., Nikolaidis, P. T., Rosemann, T., and Knechtle, B. (2019b). Shorter Small-Sided Game Sets May Increase the Intensity of Internal and External Load Measures: A Study in Amateur Soccer Players. Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 7(5), 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7050107
Coutinho D., Gonçalves B., Travassos B., Abade E., Wong D.P., and Sampaio J.,(2018a), Effects of pitch spatial references on players' positioning and physical performances during football small-sided games, J Sports Sci, 11, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1523671
Coutinho D., Gonçalves B., Santos S., Travassos B., Wong Del P., and Sampaio J. (2018b), Effects of the pitch configuration design on players' physical performance and movement behaviour during soccer SSG, Research in Sports Medicine, 27:3, 298-313, https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2018.1544133
Cronin J., Harrison C.B., Lloyd R., and Spittle M., (2017), Modifying games for improved aerobic fitness and skill acquisition in youth, Strength Cond J, 39, 82-88. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000283
Dellal, A., Hill-Haas, S., Lago-Penas, C., and Chamari, K. (2011). Small-sided games in soccer: amateur vs. professional players' physiological responses, physical, and technical activities. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 25 (9), 2371-2381. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181fb4296
Di Domenico, F., D'Isanto, T., and Raiola, G. (2019). Role of speed and agility in the effectiveness of motor performance, Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 19, 271, 1836-1842.
D'Isanto, T., D'Elia, F., Raiola, G., and Altavilla, G. (2019). Assessment of sport performance: Theoretical aspects and practical indications, Sport Mont, 17, 79-82. https://doi.org/10.26773/smj.190214
Elia, F.D., Domenico, F., D'Isanto, T.D., Altavilla, G., and Raiola, G. (2020). From biomechanics to motor learning, Acta Medica Mediterranea, 36 (5), 3073-3078.
Esposito, G., and Raiola, G. (2020) Monitoring the performance and technique consolidation in youth football players, Trends in Sport Sciences, 27 (2), 93-100.
Folgado H., Bravo J., Pereira P., and Sampaio J.,(2018), Towards the use of multidimensional performance indicators in football small-sided games: the effects of pitch orientation, J Sports Sci, 14, 1-8.
Gaudino, P., Alberti, G., and Iaia, F. M. (2014). Estimated metabolic and mechanical demands during different small-sided games in elite soccer players. Human movement science, 36, 123-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2014.05.006
Giovanni, E., Francesca, D., and Gaetano, R. (2020). A method to promote the Development of intelligence and game skills in youth football, Teoria ta Metodika Fizicnogo Vihovanna, 20 (3), 142-148. https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2020.3.03
Gonçalves B, Esteves P, Folgado H, et al. (2017) Effects of Pitch Area-Restrictions on Tactical Behavior, Physical, and Physiological Performances in Soccer Large-Sided Games. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 31(9):2398-2408. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001700
Halouani J., Chtourou H., Gabbett T., Chaouachi A., and Chamari K., (2014). Small-sided games in team sports training: a brief review, J Strength Cond Res, 28, 3594-3618. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000564
Halouani J., Chtourou H., Dellal A., Chaouachi A., Chamari K.,(2017a). Soccer sm andall-sided games in young players: rule modification to induce higher physiological responses, Biol Sport, 34, 163-168. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2017.64590
Halouani J., Chtourou H., Dellal A., Chaouachi A., and Chamari K.,(2017b). The effects of game types on intensity of small-sided games among pre-adolescent youth football players, Biol Sport, 34, 157-162. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2017.64589
Hammami A., Gabbet T.J., Slimani M., and Bouhlel E.,(2018). Does small-sided games improve physical fitness and team-sport-specific skills? A systematic review and meta-analysis, J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 58, 1446-1455.
Hill-Haas, S. V., Dawson, B., Impellizzeri, F. M., and Coutts, A. J. (2011). Physiology of small-sided games training in football: a systematic review. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 41(3), 199-220. https://doi.org/10.2165/11539740-000000000-00000
Hill-Haas S.V., Dawson B.T., Coutts A.J., and Rowsell G.J., (2009a). Physiological responses and time-motion characteristics of various small-sided soccer games in youth players, J Sports Sci, 27, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410802206857
Hill-Haas S.V., Coutts A.J., Rowsell G.J., and Dawson B.T., (2009b). Generic versus small-sided games training in soccer, Int J Sports Med, 30, 636-642. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1220730
Idrizovic, K. (2014). Physical and anthropometric profiles of elite female soccer players. Med Sport, 67 (2), 273-87.
Joo C.H., Hwang-Bo K., Jee H.,(2016), Technical and Physical Activities of Small-Sided Games in Young Korean Soccer Players, J Strength Cond Res, 30:2164-2173. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001319
Köklü, Y., Alemdaroğlu, U., Dellal, A., and Wong, D. P. (2015). Effect of different recovery durations between bouts in 3-a-side games on youth soccer players' physiological responses and technical activities. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 55(5), 430-438.
Lacome, M., Simpson, B. M., Cholley, Y., and Buchheit, M. (2018). Locomotor and heart rate responses of floaters during small-sided games in elite soccer players: Effect of pitch size and inclusion of goal keepers. Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 13, 668-671. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2017-0340
Little T., (2009). Optimizing the use of soccer drills for physiological development, Strength Cond J, 31, 67-74. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e3181a5910d
Leser R., Hoch T., Tan X., Moser B., Kellermayr G., Baca A., (2019), Finding efficient strategies in 3-versus-2 small-sided games of youth soccer players, Kinesiology, 51, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.26582/k.51.1.7
López-Fernández, J., Sánchez-Sánchez, J., Gallardo, L., and García-Unanue, J. (2017). Metabolic Power of Female Footballers in Various Small-Sided Games with Different Pitch Surfaces and Sizes. Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 5(2), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports5020024
López-Fernández, J., Sánchez-Sánchez, J., Rodríguez-Cañamero, S., Ubago-Guisado, E., Colino, E., and Gallardo, L. (2018). Physiological responses, fatigue and perception of female soccer players in small-sided games with different pitch size and sport surfaces. Biology of sport, 35(3), 291-299. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2018.77829
López-Fernández, J., Gallardo, L., Fernández-Luna, Á., Villacañas, V., García-Unanue, J., and Sánchez-Sánchez, J. (2019). Pitch Size and Game Surface in Different Small-Sided Games. Global Indicators, Activity Profile, and Acceleration of Female Soccer Players. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 33(3), 831-838. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002090
Mara, J. K., Thompson, K. G., and Pumpa, K. L. (2016). Physical and Physiological Characteristics of Various-Sided Games in Elite Women's Soccer. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 11(7), 953-958. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2015-0087
Martone D., Giacobbe M., Capobianco A., Imperlini E., Mancini A., Capasso M., Buono P., and Orrù S.,(2017), Exercise intensity and technical demands of small-sided soccer games for under-12 and under-14 players: effect of area per player, J Strength Cond Res, 31, 1486-1492. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001615
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., and Altman, D.G. (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Medicine, 6, e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
Olthof SB., Frencken WG., and Lemmink KA., (2015), The older, the wider: on-field tactical behavior of elite-standard youth soccer players in small-sided games, Hum Mov Sci., 41, 92-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2015.02.004
Raiola, G. (2014). Motor control and learning skills according to cognitive and ecological dynamic approach in a vision on behaviorism, cognitive, Gestalt and phenomenology theories, Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 15, 504-506. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n15p504
Raiola, G. (2017). Motor learning and teaching method, Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 236, 2239-2243.
Raiola, G., and Altavilla, G. (2020). Testing motor skills, general and special coordinative, in young soccer. Journal of Human Sport & Exercise, 15, Supplementary Issue, 1Proc., 206-212. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2020.15.Proc2.11
Raiola, G., Esposito, G., and Sgrò, F. (2020). The formative value of soccer rules, Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 15, S656-S663. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2020.15.Proc3.18
Ruiz-Esteban, C., Olmedilla, A., Méndez, I., and Tobal, J. J. (2020). Female Soccer Players' Psychological Profile: Differences between Professional and Amateur Players. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(12), 4357. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124357
Sampaio J., Garcia G., Maças V., Ibáñez J., Abrantes C., and Caixinha P., (2007), Heart rate and perceptual responses to 2x2 and 3x3 small-sided youth soccer games, J Sports Sci Med, 6, 121-122.
Sánchez A.J., Mendo H. A., Martínez M.I., Reigal Garrido R.E., and Chirosa Ríos L.J.,(2018), Efectos de un programa de juegos reducidos sobre la toma de decisiones en chicas adolescentes, Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte, 18, 21-30.
Sanchez-Sanchez J., Hernández D., Casamichana D., Martínez-Salazar C., Ramirez-Campillo R., and Sampaio J.,(2017), Heart Rate, Technical Performance, and Session-RPE in Elite Youth Soccer Small-Sided Games Played With Wildcard Players, J Strength Cond Res, 31, 2678-2685. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001736
Sanchez-Sanchez J. Sánchez García M., Asián-Clemente J.A., Nakamura F.Y, and Ramírez-Campillo R. (2019). Effects of the Directionality and the Order of Presentation Within the Session on the Physical Demands of Small-Sided Games in Youth Soccer, Asian J Sports Med, 10, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.87781
Sannicandro I., and Cofano G., (2018). Small-sided games activities with external wildcard soccer players, MOJ Sports Med; 2, 128-131.
Sannicandro I., and Cofano G., (2017a). Small-Sided Games in Young Soccer Players: Physical and Technical Variables, MOJ Sports Med, 1, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.15406/mojsm.2017.01.00001
Sannicandro I., and Cofano G.,(2017b) Small-Sided Games: Analysis of the Internal Load and Technical Skills in Young Soccer Players, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 6, 735-739.
Sannicandro, I. (2019). Small-Sided Games configuration pitch and external motor load relationship in young soccer players: narrative literature review. Journal of Physical Education and Sport,19, (Supplement issue 5), 1989-1993.
Sannicandro I., Piccinno A., Rosa A.R., Raiola G., and Cofano G., (2020). Analysis of external load during SSG 5vs5 with and without external wildcard (jolly) soccer players. Sport Science 14, 65-71.
Sarmento H., Clemente F.M., Harper L.D., Teoldo da Costa I., Owen A., and Figueiredo A.J.,(2018). Small sided games in soccer - a systematic review, International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 18, 693-749. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2018.1517288
Sedano, S., Vaeyens, R., Philippaerts, R. M., Redondo, J. C., and Cuadrado, G. (2009). Anthropometric and anaerobic fitness profile of elite and non-elite female soccer players. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 49(4), 387-394.
Sparkes W., Turner A., Weston M., Russell M., Johnston M., and Kilduff L.,(2018), The neuromuscular, biochemical, endocrine and mood responses to small-sided games training in professional soccer, J Strength Cond Res, 32, 2569-2576. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002424
Tan C.W., Chow J.Y., and Davids K., (2012). "How does TGfU work?": Examining the relationship between learning design in TGfU and a nonlinear pedagogy, Phys Educ Sport Pedagog, 17, 331-348. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2011.582486
Travassos B., Coutinho D., Gonçalves B., Pedroso P., and Sampaio J.,(2018). Effects of manipulating the number of targets in U9, U11, U15 and U17 futsal players' tactical behavior, Hum Mov Sci, 61, 19-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2018.06.017
Vescovi J. D. (2012a). Sprint profile of professional female soccer players during competitive matches: Female Athletes in Motion (FAiM) study. Journal of sports sciences, 30(12), 1259-1265. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.701760
Vescovi J. D. (2012b). Sprint speed characteristics of high-level American female soccer players: Female Athletes in Motion (FAiM) study. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 15(5), 474-478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2012.03.006
Vescovi, J. D., and Favero, T. G. (2014). Motion characteristics of women's college soccer matches: Female Athletes in Motion (FAiM) study. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 9(3), 405-414. https://doi.org/10.1123/IJSPP.2013-0526
Downloads
Statistics
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Journal of Human Sport and Exercise
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Each author warrants that his or her submission to the Work is original and that he or she has full power to enter into this agreement. Neither this Work nor a similar work has been published elsewhere in any language nor shall be submitted for publication elsewhere while under consideration by JHSE. Each author also accepts that the JHSE will not be held legally responsible for any claims of compensation.
Authors wishing to include figures or text passages that have already been published elsewhere are required to obtain permission from the copyright holder(s) and to include evidence that such permission has been granted when submitting their papers. Any material received without such evidence will be assumed to originate from the authors.
Please include at the end of the acknowledgements a declaration that the experiments comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed. The editors reserve the right to reject manuscripts that do not comply with the abovementioned requirements. The author(s) will be held responsible for false statements or failure to fulfill the above-mentioned requirements.
This title is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
You are free to share, copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
Transfer of Copyright
In consideration of JHSE’s publication of the Work, the authors hereby transfer, assign, and otherwise convey all copyright ownership worldwide, in all languages, and in all forms of media now or hereafter known, including electronic media such as CD-ROM, Internet, and Intranet, to JHSE. If JHSE should decide for any reason not to publish an author’s submission to the Work, JHSE shall give prompt notice of its decision to the corresponding author, this agreement shall terminate, and neither the author nor JHSE shall be under any further liability or obligation.
Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article, except as disclosed on a separate attachment. All funding sources supporting the Work and all institutional or corporate affiliations of the authors are acknowledged in a footnote in the Work.
Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the protocol for any investigation involving humans or animals and that all experimentation was conducted in conformity with ethical and humane principles of research.
Competing Interests
Biomedical journals typically require authors and reviewers to declare if they have any competing interests with regard to their research.
JHSE require authors to agree to Copyright Notice as part of the submission process.