PMID 41048228

Research
All papers

The effect of small-sided games and HIIT formats and competitive level on enjoyment and exercise intensity in young adult male soccer players

Xu W, Trybulski R, Silva RM, Zhao Y, Castro HO, Costa GCT, Clemente FM

Question

How do small-sided game and HIIT formats, and Tier 2 versus Tier 3 competitive level, affect enjoyment and exercise intensity in young male soccer players?

Summary

In 77 male university soccer players, enjoyment and exercise intensity differed across 5 v 5 games, 1 v 1 games, long HIIT, and short HIIT. Smaller-sided games and short HIIT were generally more enjoyable than long HIIT, and competitive level changed enjoyment and effort responses.

Methodology

  • Young adult male university soccer players at Tier 2 and Tier 3 competitive levels.
  • 77 participants.
  • Running on soccer pitch.
  • Work intervals: 4 minutes for long HIIT; 1 minute for short HIIT.
  • Recovery: 3 minutes for long HIIT; 2 minutes for short HIIT with 5 minutes between sets 4 and 5.
  • Intensity: 80% VIFT for long HIIT; 95% VIFT for short HIIT.
  • 25 minutes.
  • One exposure per format over two weeks.
  • Two weeks.
  • Cross-sectional repeated-session training-format comparison
  • Enjoyment, Mean heart rate, and Perceived exertion were tracked.

Outcomes

Enjoyment

Training format and competitive level interacted; Tier 2 reported higher PACES than Tier 3 in several formats.

Format x level interaction F(3,225)=3.83, p=0.011.

Mixed

Long HIIT

Long HIIT had lower enjoyment than 5 v 5 in both tiers and lower than 1 v 1 and short HIIT in Tier 3.

Tier 2 long HIIT vs 5 v 5 p=0.001; Tier 3 long HIIT vs 1 v 1 p<0.001.

Safety concern

Heart rate

Mean HR differed by format and competitive level, but no format-by-level interaction was found.

Level p<0.001; format p<0.001; interaction p=0.218.

Mixed

RPE

RPE differed by format and level; Tier 3 rated short HIIT harder than Tier 2.

Interaction p=0.009; short HIIT tier difference p=0.005.

Mixed

Insights

  • Shorter intervals may preserve enjoyment better than long intervals.
  • Small-sided play can provide conditioning while supporting engagement in sport contexts.
  • Competitive level changes perceived training experience.

Limitations

  • Convenience sample.
  • Male soccer players only.
  • Prior format preferences were not assessed.
  • No lactate or muscle-fatigue markers.
  • No long-term adherence or performance adaptation outcomes.

Safety

  • Players with injury or illness were excluded.
  • No adverse events were reported in the viewed article text.