Does Man Marking Influence Running Outputs and Intensity During Small-Sided Soccer Games?

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Soccer Training

Background:

• Small-sided games (SSGs) are crucial for soccer training, allowing manipulation of physical demands.
• Understanding how tactical approaches like man marking (MM) affect player output is key for optimizing training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare physiological, perceptual, and time-motion characteristics of MM versus non-man marking (NMM) in 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4 SSGs.
• To determine the influence of MM on running outputs and intensity during soccer SSGs.

Main Methods:

• Eight amateur soccer players participated in a crossover design study.
• Players engaged in 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4 SSGs under both MM and NMM conditions.
• Physiological (heart rate), perceptual (RPE), and Global Positioning System (GPS) data were collected.

Main Results:

• Man marking (MM) significantly increased total distance covered and high-intensity running (HIR) compared to non-man marking (NMM).
• Perceptual load (RPE) was substantially higher with MM, though it decreased with more players.
• Internal load (heart rate) showed small to moderate effects with MM, with higher player numbers decreasing heart rate.

Conclusions:

• Man marking (MM) substantially elevates perceptual load and distances covered at higher speeds (striding to HIR) irrespective of player numbers in SSGs.
• Differences in internal load between MM and NMM remain unclear.
• MM can be used to condition players for demanding game phases, and larger SSG formats can increase high-velocity distance covered.