J 2025

Acute effects of different warm-up duration on internal load and external load responses of soccer players in small sided games

YILMAZ, Osman; Furkan OZTURK and Ladislav BAŤALÍK

Basic information

Original name

Acute effects of different warm-up duration on internal load and external load responses of soccer players in small sided games

Authors

YILMAZ, Osman; Furkan OZTURK and Ladislav BAŤALÍK ORCID (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, LONDON, BioMed Central, 2025, 2052-1847

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

30230 Other clinical medicine subjects

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.100 in 2023

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

DOI

UT WoS

001464132100001

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-105003256765

Keywords in English

Small-Sided Games; Warm-up duration; Psychophysiology; Technical skills

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Changed: 5/5/2025 13:14, Mgr. Tereza Miškechová

Abstract

V originále

Background Soccer is a dynamic sport that involves high-intensity running, changes of direction, jumping and contact. Therefore, a proper warm-up duration is of great importance to optimize players'performance and minimize the risk of injury. Methods This study examined the responses of amateur young 16 players (age = 17.00 +/- 0.81 years; height = 177.38 +/- 5.50 cm; weight = 64.50 +/- 5.45 kg) 25 min (min), 15 min and 8 min warm-up duration in 4 v 4 small-sided games (SSGs) with mini-goal formats. Participants are assessed using the Participant Classification Framework, they are categorized under Tier 2: Trained/Developmental. The SSG interventions were randomly assigned to three training intervention groups. The features of SSG are determined as size; 25 x 32 m, bout; 4 x 4 min, resting; 4 min. Before the SSG, same protocol was applied at different times in all warm-ups. Warm-up protocols consisted of 13 sections. The intervention time in each section decreased parallel to the total 25 min, 15 min and 8 min warm-up times. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR) responses, distance covered and technical activities were consistently recorded during all SSG sessions. A one-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to assess significant differences in performance among the different warm-up duration. Results After the interventions, HR, total player load (TPL), successful passes (SP), unsuccessful passes (USP), interceptions and lost ball results demonstrated significant difference between the 25-min, 15-min and 8-min warm-up durations (p < 0.05). Total distance, velocity, RPE and enjoyment results showed no significant difference between the 25-min, 15-min and 8-min warm-up duration (p > 0.05). Results indicate that a 15-min warm-up duration provides an optimal balance between physiological and technical preparation, leading to improved HR responses, SP and interceptions compared to the 25-min and 8-min warm-ups. The 25-min warm-up decreased USP and lost ball occurrences compared to the 15-min and 8-min warm-ups. The 8-min warm-up resulted in a lower TPL, indicating reduced physiological demands. Conclusions The 15-min warm-up duration emerged as an optimal protocol, offering a time-efficient approach that enhances both technical performance and physiological readiness while avoiding unnecessary fatigue. This finding provides practical implications for coaches and practitioners in designing warm-up routines that maximize match readiness without overexertion.