Effects of periodized small sided games on physical fitness performance among male young football players / Muhammad Fariq Abd Rahman

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of periodized Small Sided Games training programs on physical fitness performance (Aerobic Performance and Maximal Sprint Performance) in young football players. 20 males, young football players (age; 14±0.4 years, weight; 51.42±5.6 kg and height; 163±5.3 cm) from a Titiwangsa Sports School Kuala Lumpur were randomly selected and assigned into two groups which is a small sided game group (SSGG) and control group (CG). Both groups were completed training in twice per week for a period of four week training program. The SSGG performed 7 different small sided game sessions (4 vs. 4) of which games lasted for a 4 minutes duration for the selected numbers of games (ranged from 4 to 10) increasing over the intervention period with add 2 minutes active recovery. Meanwhile CG completed 7 sessions based on coach training programs with same progression overload in SSGG. For measuring the above physiological variables, 20 meters Shuttle Run Test and 30 meter Sprint Test was used, respectively. Data analysis of Paired t-test and Independent t-test was used and the level of significance in all statistical analyses was set at p ≤0.05. The result showed that 4-week training small sided games group displayed significantly improved in Aerobic Performance (p ≤ 0.00) and Maximal Sprint Performance (p ≤ 0.00). Besides, CG also showed significantly increased in Maximal Sprint Performance (p ≤ 0.03). Meanwhile, there is no significant improved in Aerobic Performance (p ≤ 0.054). Moreover, result also displayed a significant difference between SSGG and CG in Aerobic Performance (p ≤ 0.03) and Maximal Sprint Performance (p ≤ 0.05). In short, the present study demonstrates that implementing a periodized of small sided games training intervention during 4-week in-season competition is capable of improving physical fitness performance and greatly applicative in young football players.