Effect of Boards in Small-Sided Street Soccer Games on Movement Pattern and Physiological Response in Recreationally Active Young Men.

The present study investigated whether street soccer might be proposed as an alternative to recreational small-sided games on grass as a health-enhancing activity, and specifically the effects of the boards surrounding the pitch. Eleven recreationally active young males (28.4±4.2 (±SD) yrs, 19.9±4.2% body fat, 47.7±6.0 mlminkg), after familiarization, completed one to two sessions of 20x13-m 3v3 street soccer games with boards (WB) and one to two sessions without boards (WOB) in a randomized order. Movement pattern was measured using GPS and heart rate recordings, blood sampling and RPE scales were used to evaluate exercise intensity and physiological strain. Total number of accelerations (19%) and Player Load (18%) were higher (p < 0.05) in WB than in WOB, whereas total distance covered (12%), high-speed running (59%) and peak speed (11%) were lower (p < 0.05) in WB than in WOB. Moreover, HRmean was higher in WB than in WOB (85.7±5.4 vs. 81.3±8.2%HRmax, p = 0.012, ES = 0.64), whereas time with HR>90%HRmax did not differ between WB and WOB (42±34 vs. 32±30%, p = 0.243, ES = 0.32). Plasma ammonia increased more in WB than in WOB, with no differences found in mean and peak blood lactate. RPE was higher after WB than after WOB (7.1±1.0 vs. 5.5±1.2, p < 0.001, ES = 1.39). In conclusion, intensity was sufficiently high in both game formats to expect short- and long-term health improvements as a result of regular participation. Boards affected movement pattern and physiological demands, producing higher number of accelerations, Player Load, average heart rate, plasma ammonia, and rating of perceived exertion, but lower total distance, number of intense runs and peak speed.