Author(s): MCQUILLIAM, S., OLTHOF, S., Institution: LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 1556

INTRODUCTION:
Coaches use small-sided games (SSGs) to develop players skills. Varying pitch size, team numbers, and rules allow coaches to target specific objectives and influence workload. While these factors impact movement, they do/may not fully capture physiological load. Differential RPE (dRPE) can be used to discriminate between different dimensions of effort/ internal load; central, peripheral and cognitive. This study investigated the influence of team size and playing area on internal load and locomotion.
METHODS:
35 female academy soccer players (17±1 years) completed nine SSGs using 25%, 50%, and 75% of a competitive playing area with 5v5 (4x4 min), 7v7 (3x6 min), and 9v9 (3x8 min) formats (including goalkeepers). After each game, participants rated perceived exertion using CR-10 (RPE) and CR-100 scales (dRPE). Player tracking (Catapult S7) provided total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSRD; 12.5-19.0 km/h), very high-speed running distance (VHSRD; 19.0-22.5 km/h), sprint distance (SD; >22.5 km/h), and accelerations/decelerations (ACC-DEC). Goalkeepers were removed from the analysis and locomotor variables were normalised for SSG duration (m/min). A univariate ANOVA was conducted, with team size and playing area as fixed factors and post-hoc tests with Bonferroni corrections; (significance set at p<.05).
RESULTS:
Team size did not impact any dRPE. However, there was a significant interaction between team size and playing area for central (p<0.001) and peripheral (p<0.001) RPE scores, which both peaked at 75% in 5v5, 50% in 7v7 and 25% in 9v9. Cognitive RPE showed a significant change with playing area (p=0.02), with smaller playing areas resulting in greater scores (25%: 44±13, 50%: 43±12, 75%: 39±15). Team size and playing area had a significant interaction effect on TD and HSR. TD peaked at 75% in 5v5 (96±43m/min), 50% in 7v7 (136±68m/min), and 75% and 9v9 (150±46m/min). While HSR increased with playing area, there were greater demands placed on the smallest compared to the largest team size at 50% (21±8 vs. 15±8 m/min), and 75% (23±10 vs 18±8 m/min) of competitive playing area. Larger pitch sizes significantly increased VSHR and SD (p<0.001), irrespective of team size. Whereas the number of ACC-DEC decreased with larger team sizes (p<0.001) and larger playing areas (p=0.004), with no significant interaction.
CONCLUSION:
There was a distinct difference in dRPE based on team size and playing area. Central and peripheral RPE depended on the interaction of team size and playing area but neither individually. Smaller areas would better develop agility and decision-making drills due to the increased cognitive and ACC-DEC demands and could be incorporated on less physically demanding training days. Larger pitch sessions should be incorporated into high-intensity training days due to the central and peripheral load, and to elicit greater HSRD and SD. Adjusting these variables helps optimize training intensity and recovery.