The influence of ball-touches number on physical and physiological demands of large-sided games

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between the number of ball touches for individual possession and physical/physiological demands during the large-sided soccer games (LSGs) of 7 vs. 7 players plus goalkeepers. During the exercise, the number of assigned touches for individual possession (1-touch, 2-touch and free-touch) was altered. Fourteen amateur soccer players (age: 24.4±4.7 years; height: 180±5.6 cm; weight: 77.9±5.6 kg) were monitored during exercise with 10 Hz GPS devices and heart rate (HR) monitors. The following variables were recorded: HR responses, total distance covered, distance covered in different speed ranges (0-6.9, 7.0-12.9, 13.0-17.9, 18.0-20.9 and >21 km·h-1), player load and number of accelerations. The number of ball touches altered physical and physiological demands during exercise. Higher HR responses and greater distances covered were recorded during the free-touch assignment (p<.05). No significant differences were found in 1-touch and 2-touch protocols. These results may help coaches to modify different variables in LSGs concerning physical and physiological demands of soccer.