EFFECTS OF SMALL-SIDED GAMES AND HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING ON TRAINING LOAD AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN AMATEUR SOCCER PLAYERS.

Aim. This study was designed to compare the effects of 8-weeks of small-sided games versus high-intensity interval training on the internal training-load and physiological responses in the amateur soccer players' Under-17. Methods.15 participants (aged 16.2 ± 0.2years, height 173 ± 2.5cm, weight, 56.4 ± 2.4Kg, body mass index 19.01 ± 1.3Kg/m2) performed pre and post measurements in training program for 8-weeks of small-sided games and high-intensity interval training. Measuring sessions in (resting heart-rate, maximum heart-rate, reserve heartrate bpm and training-load with Borg rating of perceived exertion scale. Results. The results indicated that the small-sided games (4vs4) displayed significantly higher heart-rate values in (maximum heart-rate, reserve heart-rate) and rating of perceived exertion indicators (monotony and constraint) compared with the high-intensity interval training (30/30s) (p <0.05), in contrast to resting heart-rate and weekly load, which did not record statistical differences between both groups (p <0.05). Conclusions. These results indicate that the small-sided games (4vs4) group achieved greater improvements than the high-intensity interval training (30/30s) group, However, coaches should be aware that both training methods are applicable methodologies to improve in season heart-rate responses and training-load in amateur soccer players' under-17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]