Article 2024 · 5 citations

Small-sided-games with coaches' verbal encouragement have a positive effect on aerobic performance, mood state, satisfaction and subjective effort in male semi-professional soccer players

Romdhani, Zouheir, Ceylan, Halil Ibrahim, Hammami, Raouf, Sahli, Faten, Dhahbi, Wissem, Souissi, Nizar, Zghibi, Makram, Oliveira, Rafael, Morgans, Ryland, Nikolaidis, Pantelis

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the impact of high-intensity Small-Sided Games (SSGs) with coaches' verbal encouragement (VE) on soccer players' aerobic performance, mood state, satisfaction and subjective effort. Forty-three semi-professional male soccer players were randomly assigned to three distinct groups: a control group (CG, n = 14), an experimental group with verbal encouragement (EGVE, n = 14), and an experimental group without verbal encouragement (EGNE, n = 15). Participants performed the VAMEVAL aerobic test, Total-Mood-Disorder (TMD), and the Satisfaction Scale for Athletes (SSA) tests before and following the 6-week SGGs program that included ten training sessions. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was collected 5-minutes post-training session. The SGGs program with coaches' VE showed a significant improvement in maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) and TMD scores (p < 0.05). Except for the SSA scores (p = 0.268), the percentage of change was higher for MAV (p = 0.001; d: 1.36-1.48 (large)) and TMD scores (p = 0.001; d: 1.45-1.48 (large)) in the EGVE group when compared with the other groups (i.e., EGNE and CG). Overall, RPE scores were significantly higher (p < 0.05; d: 0.99-5.00 (large)) in the EGVE group than other groups. The present study highlights the positive effects of integrating SSGs with coaches VE to improve aerobic performance and mental well-being of semi-professional soccer players. Nevertheless, notably the SSA did not exhibit a statistically significant difference. Furthermore, the experimental EGVE group reported elevated RPE, potentially suggesting that SSGs may entail greater physical and mental challenges, yet may yield more sport-specific outcomes for soccer players.

Keywords

Aerobic fitness Coaching Football performance Intermittent exercise Motivation Mood PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSES TRAINING VOLUME EXERCISE FOOTBALL ENDURANCE

WoS Categories

Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Citation

Journal: JOURNAL OF MENS HEALTH
Year: 2024
Volume: 20
Issue: 2
Pages: 1-10
ISSN: 1875-6867
eISSN: 1875-6859
DOI: 10.22514/jomh.2024.018
WoS UID: WOS:001179591300007

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