# Acute Neurochemical, Psychophysiological, and Cognitive Responses to Small-Sided Games vs. Running-Based HIIT in Young, Male Soccer Players

PMID: 40724761
Journal: Healthcare
Published: 2025-07-18
Authors: Birinci YZ, Pancar S, Soylu Y, Topçu H, Koçyiğit A, Sarandöl E, Şimşek H, Şahin Ş

## Question

Do small-sided games and running-based HIIT produce different acute neurochemical, psychophysiological, and cognitive responses in young male soccer players?

## Summary

In a randomized crossover study, 24 young male soccer players completed one small-sided soccer game session and one running-based HIIT session. The two sessions produced similar heart-rate, lactate, perceived exertion, enjoyment, and BDNF responses, but small-sided games improved one processing-speed test compared with running HIIT.

## Population

- Semi-professional young male soccer players from the same team
- Sample size: 24
- Age: 19.2 +/- 0.8 years
- Sex: Male
- Fitness level: Semi-professional youth soccer players training at least 4 days/week
- Health status: Medically cleared, without recent severe lower-extremity injury or listed neurologic/psychiatric/musculoskeletal exclusions

## Methodology

- Acute randomized counterbalanced crossover trial
- Two acute experimental sessions separated by 1 week
- Outdoor artificial grass soccer field and pre/post testing
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- SSG versus running HIIT.
- Modality: 4-a-side small-sided soccer games or running intervals.
- Work intervals: 4-minute bouts; running HIIT used 15-second work intervals within bouts.
- Recovery: 3 minutes passive rest between bouts; running HIIT used 15-second passive rests.
- Sets or repetitions: 4 bouts.
- Intensity: SSG maximal effort; running at 110% MAS.
- Session duration: About 45 minutes including 20-minute warm-up.
- Frequency: Single acute session per condition.
- Program length: Acute crossover.
- Progression: None.
- Active crossover comparator.
- Modality: Each condition served as comparator to the other.
- Work intervals: Matched four 4-minute bouts.
- Recovery: 3 minutes passive rest.
- Sets or repetitions: 4 bouts.
- Intensity: Comparable high-intensity loads.
- Session duration: About 45 minutes including warm-up.
- Frequency: Single acute session.
- Program length: Acute crossover.
- Progression: None.

## Outcomes

### TMT-A processing speed
Status: improved
Small-sided games improved TMT-A time while running HIIT worsened it.

SSG 12.8 to 11.4 s; running HIIT 13.2 to 14.5 s; time x group p=.019.

### BDNF
Status: no clear change
BDNF did not significantly change by time, group, or interaction.

No significant time, group, or time x group effect.

### Psychophysiology
Status: no clear change
Mean HR, RPE, enjoyment, and lactate response did not significantly differ between conditions.

Lactate increased over time without group or interaction effect; enjoyment p=.973.

## Practical Insights

- Game-based HIIT may be useful when the goal includes sport-specific cognitive engagement.
- Do not imply acute BDNF improvement from either HIIT style.
- For app generation, the 4 x 4-minute framework and 15:15 intervals are more reusable than the team-game setup.

## Limitations

- Acute-only study.
- Young trained male soccer players only.
- No long-term adaptation data.
- BDNF measured only immediately post-session.
- Cognitive testing limited to Trail Making Test A/B.

## Safety And Adherence

- Adverse events were not reported.
- Participants were medically cleared and excluded for recent severe injury and relevant health conditions.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40724761/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13141738) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12294529/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.