It is crucial to understand the fatigue associated with sided games (SGs) of soccer in the training context, in order to establish the appropriate intervals between training sessions. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different SGs on internal load, measured by the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), and on sprint performance. Ten outfield players (age: 14.5 ± 0.5 years, height: 169 ± 6 cm, body mass: 59.7 ± 6.4 kg) belonging to U15 age category participated in this study. The participants played four SG formats with modifications in the pitch size and in the bout duration, but with the same total duration for the SGs (SG1, SG2, SG3, and SG4). All the players performed a 10 and a 30 m sprint test before and after the SGs. The internal load was measured by the sRPE. The results showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the sRPE registered by the soccer players for the different SGs, but worse sprint performances over the 10 m (p < 0.05; ES: 0.74-1.38, large) and 30 m (p < 0.05; ES: 0.70-2.10, moderate to large) distances after completion of the SGs, except the 10 m sprint after SG2 and SG3 (p > 0.05; ES: 0.43-0.55, moderate). In addition, no correlation (p > 0.05) was reported between the sprint performances for the 10 and 30 m distances and the sRPE registered during the SGs. These results could be useful for technical staff wishing to design the playing area and bout duration of their training tasks effectively.
Keywords: football; perceived exertion; quantification; sprinting performance; training context.