Small-sided games activities with external wildcard soccer players

Abstract

Aim: The Small-Sided Games (SSG) is technical exercises presented as modified games by coaches and conditioning trainers according to the objective of the training session. The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the external load of the professional player using GPS devices and to describe the speed run and power events in 6vs6 and 7vs7 SSG with external wildcard players. Methods: 14 professional soccer players Results: The study shows that values ​​of average speed, average power and the power events number were statistically significant in 6vs6 versus 7vs7 (p<0.05); the low intensity (p<0.05) and moderate intensity travel volumes are higher in 6vs6, while the high intensity runs and the sprint number are clearly higher in 7vs7 (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results showed that the two SSG formats determine very different external workload in professional soccer players. The 7vs7 format shows a greater sprint number while the 6vs6 imposes average running speeds up to medium intensity but does not require, if not to a very small extent, high speed and sprint performance.