Influence of the Number of Players on the Load of Soccer Players During Transition Games.

The aims of this study were to determine the effect of different compositions in transition games (TGs) on the load of soccer players and to evaluate their performance in physical tests. Using a GPS system, 18 players were monitored during: 3vs2, 2vs1 and 1vs1. Distance covered (DC), DC 18-20.9 km·h^-1, 21-23.9 km·h^-1,>24 km·h^-1, peak speed, accelerations (Acc) and decelerations (Dec)>1.0 m·s^-2 and>2.5 m·s^-2 and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded. Before and after each TG, countermovement-jump (CMJ), 15- (S₁₅) and 30 m (S₃₀) speed tests were assessed. TG_3vs2 showed greater DC and Dec>1.0 m·s^-2 than TG_2vs1, and DC, DC 18.0-23.9 km·h^-1, Acc>1.0 m·s^-2 and Dec>2.5 m·s^-2 than TG_1vs1 (p<0.01). TG_2vs1 achieved higher DC, DC 18.0-23.9 km·h^-1, and Acc>2.5 m·s^-2 (p<0.01) but lower peak speed (p=0.02) and RPE (p=0.02) than TG_1vs1. Post-intervention, TG_1vs1 showed lower CMJ and higher S₁₅ (p=0.02), while TG_3vs2, showed improvements in CMJ (p<0.01). The three tasks showed large variations for DC>24 km·h^-1, Acc>1.0 m·s^-2, Dec>1.0 m·s^-2 and Dec>2.5 m·s^-2. The load of TGs is sensitive to their player composition.