Health and performance effects of 12 weeks of small-sided street football training compared to grass football training in habitually active young men.

Morten B Randers, Marie Hagman, Jesper F Christensen, Susana Póvoas, Jens Jung Nielsen, Peter Krustrup

Journal: European journal of applied physiology 2024;124(3):805-813

PMID: 37714931

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Plain Language Summary

Physical activity is essential in the prevention of non-communicable diseases. In recent years, many studies have shown that recreational team sports and especially football are very effective in improving participants’ health profile as these sports provide broad-spectrum training stimuli. The primary aim was to investigate the health and exercise performance effects of street football training on small pitches surrounded by boards, compared to small-sided football training on grass. This study was a randomised controlled trial involving 39 habitually active men. Participants were divided into three groups: a street football training group, a grass football training group, and an inactive control group. Results showed that 12 weeks of 1–2 weekly 60-min street football training sessions led to improved submaximal exercise capacity but had no significant effects on maximal oxygen uptake or other health-related or performance variables, despite a high heart-rate during the street football training sessions. Authors concluded that governing bodies of recreational football for health should be aware of how training is organised as this may well influence the health outcomes.

Abstract

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the health and exercise performance effects of street football training on very small pitches surrounded by boards in young habitually active men in comparison to small-sided football training on grass.

METHODS

Thirty-nine habitually active men (30.7 ± 6.7 years, 90.9 ± 16.6 kg, 183.8 ± 4.5 cm, 39.6 ± 6.0 mL/min/kg) were randomly assigned to a street football training group (ST) or grass football group (GR) playing small-sided games for 70 min, 1.5 and 1.7 times per week for 12 weeks, respectively, or an inactive control group (CO). Intensity during training was measured using heart rate (HR) and GPS units. Pre- and post-intervention, a test battery was completed.

RESULTS

Mean HR (87.1 ± 5.0 vs. 84.0 ± 5.3%HRmax; P > 0.05) and percentage of training time above 90%HRmax (44 ± 28 vs. 34 ± 24%; P > 0.05) were not different between ST and GR. VOmax increased (P < 0.001) by 3.6[95% CI 1.8;5.4]mL/min/kg in GR with no significant change in ST or CO. HR during running at 8 km/h decreased (P < 0.001) by 14[10;17]bpm in ST and by 12[6;19]bpm in GR, with no change in CO. No changes were observed in blood pressure, resting HR, total body mass, lean body mass, whole-body bone mineral density, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, plasma insulin, total cholesterol(C), LDL-C or HDL-C. Moreover, no changes were observed in Yo-Yo IE2 performance, 30-m sprint time, jump length or postural balance.

CONCLUSION

Small-sided street football training for 12 weeks with 1-2 weekly sessions led to improvements in submaximal exercise capacity only, whereas recreational grass football training confirmed previous positive effects on submaximal exercise capacity as well as cardiorespiratory fitness.

Address: Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, SDU Sport and Health Sciences Cluster (SHSC), University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense, Denmark. [email protected].; School of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway. [email protected].; Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, SDU Sport and Health Sciences Cluster (SHSC), University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense, Denmark.; Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.; The Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.; Digestive Disease Center, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.; Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, University of Maia, Maia, Portugal.; Sport of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.; Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.; Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05308-y