External and internal training load comparison between sided-game drills in professional soccer

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Team Sports Analytics

Background:

• Understanding training load is crucial for optimizing performance and preventing injury in professional team sports.
• Sided-game drills are commonly used to simulate match demands, but their external and internal load characteristics require detailed quantification.
• Variations in drill design, such as large-sided games (LSG) and small-sided games (SSG), likely influence physiological and biomechanical responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare the external training load (distance, high-speed running, sprinting) and internal training load (Rating of Perceived Exertion - RPE) of various sided-game drills.
• To analyze how different sided-game formats (LSG vs. SSG) influence key performance indicators in professional soccer players.
• To assess the extent to which these drills replicate the intensity parameters observed in official matches.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four professional male soccer players participated, with data collected during the competitive season.
• External load was measured using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) STATSports Apex units, tracking distance, high-speed running (HSR), sprinting, accelerations, and decelerations (per minute).
• Internal load was assessed via Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Drills included various LSG and SSG formats with specific player numbers and pitch dimensions.

Main Results:

• Significant differences (p < 0.01, large effect) were observed across drills for distance covered, HSR, and sprinting distance, with LSG formats generally demanding more.
• Acceleration and deceleration demands (per minute) were significantly higher (p < 0.01, large effect) in smaller formats (SSG 6vs6, Possession 6vs4).
• Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was lowest in the Possession gate 8vs8+2 drill (p < 0.01, large effect), indicating lower perceived intensity despite potentially high external loads in other drills.

Conclusions:

• Sided-game drills can effectively replicate and, in some aspects, exceed match-specific intensity parameters.
• LSG formats are superior for developing aerobic and speed endurance components (distance, HSR), while SSG formats better elicit acceleration and deceleration demands.
• Despite their utility, common sided-game drills may not consistently achieve the high-speed running and sprinting volumes seen in official matches, suggesting a need for careful drill design and selection.