dc.description | Purpose: To purpose of this study was to quantify and compare the
internal and external load imposed on players during 3-, 4-, and 5-aside
recreational football and handball games, as well as 1-, 2-, and 3-
a-side recreational basketball games.
Methods: Recreationally active, male college students were
monitored across 2 x 20 min of 3-, 4-, 5-a-side football and handball
games, and 10 min of 1-, 2- and 3-a-side basketball small-sided
games (SSG). Internal load variables included continuous
measurement of heart rate (HR) responses, as well as blood lactate
concentration (BLa) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) following
each game. External load variables included measurement of the total
distance covered as well as the frequency of accelerations and
decelerations.
Results:
Football. Mean HR was higher during 5-a-side (85.4 ± 6.3% HRmax)
than 4-a-side (81.5 ± 9.3% HRmax, p = 0.05, small) and 3-a-side SSG
(80.9 ± 7.1% HRmax, p < 0.001, moderate). In contrast, BLa tended to
be higher in 3-a-side (5.2 ± 1.6 mmol·L-1) than in 4-a-side (4.4 ± 1.1
mmol·L-1, p = 0.12, moderate). No significant differences in RPE (3-
a-side: 5.5 ± 1.8, 4-a-side: 5.0 ± 2.1, 5-a-side: 5.0 ± 1.5) were
observed between game formats. The total distance covered was
lower during 5-a-side than 4-a-side SSG (p = 0.02, large), while the
total number of accelerations (p = 0.01, large) and decelerations (p =
0.02, large) were higher during 5-a-side than 4-a-side SSG.
Handball. No significant differences in relative mean HR (3-a-side:
84.8 ± 5.2% HRmax, 4-a-side: 81.7 ± 6.4% HRmax, 5-a-side: 82.3 ± 8%
HRmax), and BLa (3-a-side: 4.4 ± 1.3 mmol·L-1, 4-a-side: 4.4 ± 1.5
mmol·L-1, 5-a-side: 3.9 ± 1.6 mmol·L-1) were observed between game
formats. A significant effect was observed for RPE in which 3-a-side
elicited higher RPE (p = 0.03, large) than 5-a-side game formats. In
addition, no significant differences in total distance, total
accelerations, and decelerations were observed between game
formats.
Basketball. No significant differences in relative HR (1-a-side: 88.4 ±
5.4% HRmax, 2-a-side: 87.8 ± 5.6% HRmax, 3-a-side: 86.1 ± 5.8%
HRmax) were observed between game formats. BLa and RPE were
greater in 1-a-side SSG than 3-a-side SSG (BLa: p = 0.01, moderate;
RPE: p = 0.004, moderate). Total accelerations and decelerations
were higher in 1-a-side (accelerations: p = 0.03, moderate;
decelerations: p = 0.002, large) and 2-a-side (accelerations: p = 0.02,
large; decelerations: p = 0.003, large) compared to 3-a-side SSG.
Conclusion: Football, handball and basketball elicits activity
intensities that can improve cardiovascular health and fitness in the
general population when administered in recreational settings.
Football. The number of players competing in SSG affected the
physiological responses and activity demands encountered by players
with the highest HR as well as acceleration and deceleration demands
evident during 5-a-side games. In addition, the 4-a-side game format
imposed a greater overall volume of activity, while the 3-a-side game
format resulted in higher BLa compared to other formats.
Handball. Our findings suggest overlap in physiological and activity
demands across 3-, 4-, and 5-a-side game formats.
Basketball. Recreational basketball SSG with only 1 player per team
elicits higher BLa, RPE, distances covered at low speeds, as well as
acceleration and deceleration volumes than format with 3 players per
team. | en |