The aim of this study was to identify differences between the external and internal loads on soccer players in small-sided games with different content orientations. We assumed that the way to score a goal (gain a point) significantly affects the movement characteristics and reaction of the circulatory system of players during the games. The research group consisted of 18 players (n = 18) from the junior team (age: 16.5 ± 0.21 years, VO2max 56.06 ± 2.84 ml.kg-1.min-1, HRmax 196.42 ± 5.31 b.min-1) from the football club in Slovakia who participate in the highest level competitions. Based on the data obtained using sports testers and software from Polar Team PRO, we evaluated the external and internal loads on the monitored players such as the total distance, distance covered during high-intensity run (17 km/hod <) and sprint (over 24 km/h< ), number of accelerations (2 m·s-2<), number of decelerations (2 m·s-2<), time spent in HR zones 4 and 5, HRmax and HRavg. To determine statistical significance, we used the non-parametric statistical method, i.e., the Kruscal-Wallis H-test. We set the level of statistical significance at the 5% (1%) level. During the games, the HR values ranged from the submaximal to the maximum load intensity zones; however, we did not identify statistically significant differences in the time spent in the HR 4 and 5 bioenergetic zones, max heart rate and average heart rate. The players attained the highest accelerations in SSG3 (30.50 ± 6.19) and overcame the highest decelerations in SSG1 (30.83 ± 4.62); however, there were no significant differences in these indicators in the chosen games. The distance covered at high intensity (17 km/h<) was the largest in SSG1 (91.17 ± 14.72 m) and the smallest in SSG3 (48.83 ± 36.07 m), but not significant. The differences in total distance covered were not statistically significant. The obtained results suggest that the number of high-intensity accelerations and decelerations (2 m·s-2<) was not significantly affected by the way of scoring a goal.
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