Acute Effects of Small-Sided Games and Tabata High-Intensity Interval Training on Physical, Psychophysiological, and Cognitive Responses in Male Soccer Players
Question
How do acute responses to 4v4 small-sided games compare with running-based Tabata-HIIT for physical performance, heart rate, perceived effort, mental effort, and attention in amateur male soccer players?
Summary
In amateur male soccer players, a single Tabata-style running HIIT session and 4v4 small-sided games produced similar heart-rate loads and both were followed by better d2 attention scores. Tabata-HIIT caused a temporary countermovement-jump decline and higher perceived exertion and mental effort than small-sided games.
Methodology
- Male amateur soccer players
- 32 participants.
- Running shuttle intervals.
- Work intervals: 20 s maximal effort over repeated 10-20 m shuttle runs with 180-degree turns.
- Recovery: 10 s passive recovery.
- Intensity: Maximal effort; about 90% HRmax.
- 4 min main set.
- Acute single session.
- Counterbalanced within-subject crossover study
- Jump performance, Sprint and agility, Heart rate, and Attention were tracked.
Outcomes
CMJ
Tabata-HIIT reduced CMJ while SSG maintained it.
Protocol x time p<0.001, eta2p=0.370; Tabata within-condition p<0.001, d=0.69.
Heart rate
Heart-rate load did not differ between SSG and Tabata-HIIT.
HRmean p=0.425; HRpeak p=0.102; percent HRmean p=0.418; percent HRmax p=0.107.
Attention
Both protocols improved d2 attention variables with no between-protocol differences.
TN and CP increased and total errors decreased in both p<0.001; no protocol x time interactions.
Perceived strain
Tabata-HIIT produced higher perceived exertion and mental effort during recovery.
10-min Borg higher after Tabata vs SSG, p<0.001; mental effort also higher after Tabata in extracted results.
Insights
- Tabata shuttle HIIT can impose more strain than HR alone indicates.
- Use subjective and neuromuscular readiness cues, not only heart rate, when programming intense intervals.
Limitations
- Male amateur soccer sample only
- Acute effects only
- No nonexercise control
- Potential cognitive practice effects
- External load not measured with GPS
Safety
- No adverse events reported in the paper.
- Tabata-HIIT caused temporary neuromuscular performance decline.