Title: Comparison between continuous and fractional game format on the internal and external load during small-sided games in soccer

Abstract:

Training load has become relevant for coaches in recent years. Several studies were carried out to verify the impact on the training load during the performance of Small- Sided Games in soccer. Furthermore, the literature has described that the performance of the exercise by continuous or fractionated methods can cause changes in the training load, particularly by the changes that occur in the intensity distribution during the different periods of performance. The differences regarding its application are not yet clear, and only a few studies have investigated the effects of applying the continuous or fractional method on Small-sided games in soccer. These highlights that the differences in the use of both methods remain inconclusive and further studies are required to clarify the theme. Thus, the main aim of this study was to identify the effects of continuous and fractionated game formats on internal and external load in small-sided games in soccer. Twenty male professional soccer players participated in the study performing the same exercise (5 vs. 5 players) continuously (1×24 min) and in a repeated/fractioned format (2×12 min, 4×6 min, and 6×4 min). A comparison between playing conditions was assessed by means of standardized mean differences calculated with combined variance and respective confidence intervals of 90%.  The limits for the statistics were 0.2, trivial;0.6, small; 1.2, moderate; 2.0, large; and>2.0, very large. The results indicate that the use of the continuous method seems to present the tendency of less physical impact on the internal and external loads compared to the use of fractionated method. In addition, the higher number of exercise repetitions in the fractionated method was found to increase the external load compared to the continuous method. This study showed that application of small-sided games by the fractionated method tends to result in higher training loads. However, it is important to note that the choice of the training method must always be dependent on the specific goals of the trainer for the training session, given that there are numerous possibilities where both methods can be beneficial for improving sports performance.

Biography:

Luis Branquinho is a Ph.D in Sports Sciences at University of Beira Interior. He published several scientific articles, and books in the area of sport sciences and his area of specialization are soccer training. Collaborated as a professor in the Department of Sport Sciences, at the University of Beira Interior. In 2016, he received a research grant and won two awards at the University of Beira Interior for his research project for his doctoral thesis. He is a UEFA licensed coach