Edited by Dr. Davide Sganzerla
The Small Side Games or in Italian "Theme Matches", are usually classified as a specific training tool based on the "game activity. The Theme Matches in practice, are exercises where, compared to the classic 11 vs 11, the dimensions are changed of the field, the number of players and some rules of the game to give particular and different training stimuli to the players.
Training with themed matches brings numerous advantages, as at the same time you can train the technical-tactical and physical qualities of the player with exercises that reflect the real match situation. Another advantage of the Small Side Games is that they force themselves players to solve game situations under pressure and in conditions of fatigue; moreover, from a motivational point of view, Themed Matches are better accepted by the players than the classic physical "dry" jobs.
The variables that influence the intensity of the exercise in themed matches are:
- The size of the field;
- The number of players involved;
- The encouragement given by the coach and staff during the exercise;
- The working time - recovery time ratio;
- The rules of the match;
- The presence or absence of goalkeepers.
The modification of one or more of these variables can lead to a significant modification of the intensity of the proposed exercise. The intensity of the Theme Matches can be determined by measuring the Heart Rate, by measuring the Lactate accumulated in the blood and by using the Fatigue Perception Scale (RPE).
The table below shows a summary, in chronological order, of the studies that dealt with verifying the intensity of the exercise using different types of themed matches.
5vs5
1x15 "
37x27
100
82.0
Nd
Nd
3vs3
4vs4
3x4 "rec 90"
3x6 "rec 90"
30x20
30x20
100
75
87.0 ± 3.0
70.0 ± 9.0
4.9 ± 2.0
2.6 ± 1.7
14.5 ± 1.7 (6-20)
13.3 ± 0.9 (6-20)
1vs1
1vs1
2vs2
2vs2
2vs2
3vs3
3vs3
3vs3
4vs4
4vs4
5vs5
5vs5
5vs5
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
1x3 "rec 12"
15x10
20x15
15x10
20x15
25x20
20x15
25x20
30x25
25x20
30x25
30x25
35x30
40x35
75
150
38
75
125
50
83
125
63
94
75
105
140
88.0
89.0
84.2
87.4
88.1
81.7
81.8
84.8
72.0
78.5
75.7
79.5
80.2
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
4vs4 + GK
8vs8 + GK
8vs8 + GK (pressure)
4x4 "rec 2.5"
4x4 "rec 2.5"
4x4 "rec 2.5"
33x33
50x30
50x30
109
83
83
88.8
82.0
91.0
6.2 ± 1.4
3.3 ± 1.2
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
3vs3
3vs3
Nd
Nd
25x20
30x15
83
125
166 ± 9 (bpm)
171 ± 11 (bpm)
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
3vs3 (CE)
3vs3 (CE)
4vs4 (CE)
4vs4 (CE)
4vs4 (CE)
5vs5 (CE)
5vs5 (CE)
5vs5 (CE)
6vs6 (CE)
6vs6 (CE)
6vs6 (CE)
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
3x4 "rec 6"
25x15
30x18
24x16
30x20
36x24
28x20
35x25
42x30
32x24
40x30
48x36
63
90
48
75
108
56
88
126
64
100
144
90.5 ± 2.3
90.9 ± 2.0
88.7 ± 2.0
89.4 ± 1.8
89.7 ± 1.8
87.8 ± 3.6
88.8 ± 3.1
88.8 ± 2.3
86.4 ± 2.0
87.0 ± 2.4
86.9 ± 2.4
6.3 ± 1.5
6.5 ± 1.5
5.3 ± 1.9
5.5 ± 1.8
6.0 ± 1.6
5.2 ± 1.4
5.0 ± 1.7
5.8 ± 1.6
4.5 ± 1.5
5.0 ± 1.6
4.8 ± 1.5
8.4 ± 0.4 (CR10)
8.5 ± 0.4 (CR10)
7.6 ± 0.5 (CR10)
7.9 ± 0.5 (CR10)
8.1 ± 0.5 (CR10)
7.2 ± 0.9 (CR10)
7.6 ± 0.6 (CR10)
7.5 ± 0.6 (CR10)
6.8 ± 0.6 (CR10)
7.3 ± 0.7 (CR10)
7.2 ± 0.8 (CR10)
3vs3
2x3 "rec 90"
30x20
100
80.8 ± 1.7
Nd
15.8 ± 0.2 (6-20)
3vs3
4vs4
5vs5
6vs6
8vs8
4x3.5 "rec 90"
4x4 "rec 2"
4x6 "rec 90"
3x8 "rec 90"
4x8 "rec 90"
32x23
37x27
41x27
46x27
73x41
123
125
111
104
187
91.0 ± 0.8
90.1 ± 1.5
89.3 ± 2.5
87.5 ± 2.0
87.9 ± 1.9
8.5 ± 0.8
9.5 ± 1.1
7.9 ± 1.7
5.6 ± 1.9
5.8 ± 2.1
15.7 ± 1.1 (6-20)
15.3 ± 0.7 (6-20)
14.3 ± 1.5 (6-20)
13.6 ± 1.0 (6-20)
14.1 ± 1.8 (6-20)
8vs8
1x10 "
60x40
150
79.0
Nd
Nd
2vs2
4vs4 + GK
8vs8 + GK
8vs8
10vs10 + GK
6x2.5 "rec 2.5"
2x4 "rec 3"
2x10 "rec 5"
4x4 "rec 3"
3x20 "rec 5"
20x20
30x25
60x45
60x45
90x45
100
94
169
169
203
80.1 ± 8.7
77.1 ± 10.7
80.3 ± 12.5
71.7 ± 6.3
75.7 ± 7.9
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
3vs3 + GK
1x5 "
33x20
83
88.0
Nd
Nd
5vs5 (CE)
5vs5 (CE)
4x4 "rec 2"
4x4 "rec 2"
40x30
50x40
120
200
90.0 ± 4.0
89.0 ± 2.0
Nd
Nd
Nd
Nd
4vs4
6vs6
1x24 "
1x24 "
40x30
49x37
150
150
85.0 ± 4.0
83.0 ± 4.0
4.7 ± 1.6
4.1 ± 2.0
12.2 ± 1.8 (CR10)
10.5 ± 1.5 (CR10)
6vs6
10x4 "rec 3"
40x30
100
82.8 ± 3.2
Nd
Nd
- Legend: CE = encouragement - GK = presence of the goalkeeper - RPE = scale of perception of fatigue
As can be seen in the table, the increase in the size of the field leads to an increase in Heart Rate, Lactate and RPE. The reduction in the number of players participating in the exercise also leads to an increase in intensity, verified by the increase in HR, Lactate and RPE. The combined effect of these two variables is interesting, in fact it seems that the intensity of play decreases when both the players and the size of the field increase. Another aspect that can affect the intensity of the exercise is the type of rules adopted and the presence or absence of goalkeepers. The effects of this last variable, however, are not clear as there are studies where their presence decreases the HR of players (Sassi et al. 2004 - Mallo and Navarro 2008) and studies where it increases (Dellal et al. 2008). Finally, the intensity of the themed matches is also very influenced by the relationship between exercise duration and recovery duration and by the encouragement of the coach and technical staff (Rampinini et al. 2007).
Numerous studies have been carried out to verify if the work with the ball can reach the same intensity and have the same effects as the dry work on medium-short and long distances; Reilly & White have shown that 6 weeks of training in which a 5vs5 was proposed twice a week for 6 times of 4 ", has the same training effect of 6 weeks for 2 times a week of 6 times the 4" of running at one time. heart rate of 85% -90% of the maximum. Impellizzeri et al. , have shown almost similar changes in the levels of Maximum Oxygen Consumption, Lactacid Threshold and Running Economy, proposing 2 times a week, for 12 weeks, to a group a work of "Theme Matches" with a frequency close to 90% of the ceiling and at the other repeated at the same time and at the same Heart Rate (85% -90% HR Max).
If from a theoretical point of view the Small Side Games or Themed Matches have numerous advantages, first of all that of training the player's technique and physicality, from a practical point of view these jobs can have problems. In fact, very gifted players from a technical and physical point of view struggle to reach high intensities and when these jobs are offered to athletes with very poor technical skills, the intensity of the match can be low. Even the technical disparity between two teams could cause reduce the intensity of the exercise. Finally, the last problem is the organization of these exercises, as it is necessary to take into account the number of players, the space of the pitch where the game is played and the number of supervising technicians who check the success Matches and encourage the players.
Themed matches: some examples "
