Purpose This study compared the physiological profiles and energy-system contributions of trained football players engaged in regular-passing and third-man-passing small-sided games (SSGs) that included 4 versus 4 and a goalkeeper. Methods Ten male trained football players participated in this crossover study. All participants were randomly assigned to either regular-passing SSG or third-man-passing SSG (4 vs 4 with a goalkeeper, 35-m × 17-m pitch size, and 6-min match duration). During these SSGs, physiological parameters including peak and mean heart rate, oxygen uptake (VO2peak and VO2mean), metabolic equivalents in VO2peak and VO2mean, and blood lactate concentrations (peak La- and delta La- [D La-]), were measured. Energy contributions (oxidative [WOxi], glycolytic [WGly], and phosphagen [WPCr] systems) and Global Positioning System (GPS) variables (total distance, total acceleration counts, mean speed, and maximum speed) were also analyzed. Results No significant differences in physiological parameters and GPS variables were found between regular- and third-man-passing SSGs. WOxi in kilojoules and percentages was significantly higher during both SSGs than WPCr and WGly (P < .0001, respectively). WPCr and WPCr + WGly values during third-man-passing SSGs were significantly higher than those during regular-passing SSGs (P < .05). Additionally, low to moderate positive correlations were observed between WOxi, WGly in kilojoules, VO2peak, VO2mean, peak La-, D La-, total acceleration counts, and mean speed (r = .39-.64). Conclusions Third-man-passing SSGs may be useful for increasing anaerobic capacity. More third-man-passing SSG sessions in preparation for football games may support high metabolic power and repeated powerful anaerobic performances in trained football players.
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