Third-Man-Passing Small-Sided Games Induce Higher Anaerobic Energy Contributions Than Regular-Passing Small-Sided Games in Football Players.

Purpose: This study compared the physiological profiles and energy-system contributions of trained football players engaged in regular-passing and third-man-passing small-sided games (SSGs) that included 4 versus 4 and a goalkeeper. Methods: Ten male trained football players participated in this crossover study. All participants were randomly assigned to either regular-passing SSG or third-man-passing SSG (4 vs 4 with a goalkeeper, 35-m × 17-m pitch size, and 6-min match duration). During these SSGs, physiological parameters including peak and mean heart rate, oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 peak and V ˙ O 2 mean), metabolic equivalents in V ˙ O 2 peak and V ˙ O 2 mean , and blood lactate concentrations (peak La⁻ and delta La⁻ [Δ La⁻]), were measured. Energy contributions (oxidative [W_Oxi], glycolytic [W_Gly], and phosphagen [W_PCr] systems) and Global Positioning System (GPS) variables (total distance, total acceleration counts, mean speed, and maximum speed) were also analyzed. Results: No significant differences in physiological parameters and GPS variables were found between regular- and third-man-passing SSGs. W_Oxi in kilojoules and percentages was significantly higher during both SSGs than W_PCr and W_Gly (P <.0001, respectively). W_PCr and W_PCr + W_Gly values during third-man-passing SSGs were significantly higher than those during regular-passing SSGs (P <.05). Additionally, low to moderate positive correlations were observed between W_Oxi, W_Gly in kilojoules, V ˙ O 2 peak , V ˙ O 2 mean , peak La⁻, Δ La⁻, total acceleration counts, and mean speed (r =.39–.64). Conclusions: Third-man-passing SSGs may be useful for increasing anaerobic capacity. More third-man-passing SSG sessions in preparation for football games may support high metabolic power and repeated powerful anaerobic performances in trained football players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]