Intensity of Soccer Players’ Training Load in Small-Sided Games with Different Number of Players

The main aim of this research was to compare differences in heart rate values (HR) of soccer players during small-sided games (SSGs) with different number of players. We assumed that the number of “neutral” player or players in small-sided games will significantly affect the intensity of SSGs and in this case the heart rate values of participating players. The experimental group consisted of older junior players from the FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda soccer club (n = 9). The heart rate values were evaluated on the basis of collected data, which we obtained using Polar sport testers and special software Polar Team². In order to find out the statistical significance of the difference in heart rate was used the One-Way ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc test. The level of statistical significance we set at 5 %. We found out that with increasing number of “neutral” players’ the intensity of small-sided games gradually decreased. During SSG1 (3 vs. 3), we recorded the highest achieved average heart rate values of the monitored players, in average 171.33 ± 9.39 beats.min^-1. This form of the SSGs was the most intense, but not statistically significant. Our recommendation is to employ SSGs in the systematic training process with different number of players, because we can adequately prepare the players for the match load itself. Attention need to be paid for the playing position requirements.