Introduction: Video-analysis and global positioning system (GPS) are used to determine players` loads and drills during soccer activities. Small-sided games (SSGs) are generally utilized as skill-based conditioning drills, the workload intensity of which is a crucial feature. The aim of the study was to compare the equivalent distance (ED, i.e., the distance that a given player would have run, given the actually measured overall energy expenditure, had he been running at constant speed throughout the whole match) (di Prampero et al., 2015) determined during SSG in different pitch dimension with average ED during official matches (EDmatch). For this approach, the interchangeability of video analysis and GPS during SSGs is a crucial issue and was also assessed (Buchheit et al., 2014). Methods: Twentyfive elite soccer players (Italian Serie A) performed a total of 1033 and 1532 observations for collective possession plays (SSG-P) and SSGs with goalkeeper (SSG-G), respectively. SSGs were evaluated by GPS (10 Hz; accelerometer: 100 Hz, 16G Tri-Axis). For each player, a median of 39±14 SSG-P (mean ± SD) and 57±17 SSG-G were examined on different pitch dimensions. Each drill was normalized per meter covered in one minute (m/min) and area per player (m2 player). In addition, thirty-nine official matches (18±9 observations per player) were monitored by semi-automatic multiple cameras. Lastly, a typical training session with SSGs was monitored with both GPS and video-analysis to assess the interchangeability of the two methodologies. Results: A small typical error of the estimate (TEE: 0.07, 95% confidence intervals: 0.04/0.13) and a higher correlation (r2=0.99, P<0.001) were found between ED calculated from GPS and videoanalysis. A correlation (r2=0.788, P<0.001) between ED and area per player was found only for SSG-P. The regression line in SSG-P crossed EDmatch at an average area of 95±8 m2 player with a smaller dimension (36±1 m2 player) for central defenders (CD) than other roles (P<0.05). Discussion: A small TEE and a higher correlation permitted a comparison between GPS and video-analysis with these technologies. Due to a lower tactical and higher physical involvement than in SSG-G, ED increased with area per player and induced average EDmatch only during SSG-P, with a less area per player in CD. These findings may contribute to better assess workloads using SSG-P with respect to match intensity for each role. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR
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