# Acute Effects of Small-Sided Games and Tabata High-Intensity Interval Training on Physical, Psychophysiological, and Cognitive Responses in Male Soccer Players

PMID: 42073456
Journal: Life (Basel, Switzerland)
Published: 2026 Apr 11
Authors: Civan AH, Civan A, Uzun ME, Akgün S, Akdemir E, Yılmaz AK

## 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.

## Population

- Male amateur soccer players
- Sample size: 32
- Age: 20.53 +/- 1.65 years
- Sex: Male
- Fitness level: Licensed amateur players training at least 3 days/week
- Health status: No recent serious musculoskeletal injury or chronic limiting condition

## Methodology

- Counterbalanced within-subject crossover study
- Acute sessions separated by 48 hours
- Soccer training field and performance testing environment
- Controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Tabata-HIIT.
- Modality: 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.
- Sets or repetitions: 1 set of 8 repetitions.
- Intensity: Maximal effort; about 90% HRmax.
- Session duration: 4 min main set.
- Program length: Acute single session.
- Progression: No progression.
- 4v4 SSG.
- Modality: Small-sided soccer game.
- Work intervals: 4-min 4v4 bouts.
- Recovery: 2-min passive recovery.
- Sets or repetitions: 4 bouts.
- Intensity: Game-based; similar HR load about 90% HRmax.
- Session duration: 22 min including rests.
- Program length: Acute single session.
- Progression: No progression.

## Outcomes

### CMJ
Status: worse/safety concern
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
Status: no clear change
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
Status: improved
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
Status: worse/safety concern
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.

## Practical 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 And Adherence

- No adverse events reported in extracted text.
- Tabata-HIIT caused temporary neuromuscular performance decline.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42073456/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040646) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13117200/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

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