Comparative analysis of external load in small-sided games versus official matches among professional football players

Background and Study Aim. Coaches frequently use small-sided games with numerical inequalities. However, it is unclear if these games accurately represent official matches. This study aims to identify the differences in external load between small-sided games and official matches among professional soccer players, incorporating the variance due to positional roles. Material and Methods. The analysis used GPS data collected from 20 professional football players from Turkish Super League club's first team during the 2023-2024 season. The small-sided games (SSGs) were structured as 4vs4+3, including three joker players. Players were divided into five groups based on their field positions: central defenders, fullbacks, midfielders, wingers, and forwards. The GPS metrics recorded included total distance (m), moderate-intensity running distance (16-20 km/h), high-intensity running distance (20-25 km/h), sprint distance (>25 km/h), the number of accelerations and decelerations, and high metabolic power distance, both in absolute and relative terms. Furthermore, the SSGs were compared based on the number of days prior to official matches when they were conducted. Results. The findings revealed that the highest values for all external load variables were recorded 4 to 5 days before official matches (p<0.001). However, the per-minute acceleration rate (2.5003±1.09288) and deceleration rate (2.4971±1.10671) in the SSGs were significantly higher than those observed in official matches (p<0.001). Conclusions. Coaches and conditioning trainers aiming to simulate match conditions in training should consider using 4vs4+3 SSGs with joker players more tactically. This approach is especially effective for enhancing possession, creating numerical superiority, and focusing on performance metrics such as acceleration and deceleration.