Effects of Combined Training on Physical Performance in Young Soccer Players

During the 6-week intervention period, the combined training group performed 2 sessions per week of lower-body strength training and 2 sessions per week of small-sided games training in different formats. The strength training was performed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This training was finished at least one hour before the team's technical and tactical soccer training. The strength training program is designed to include movements for bilateral hip dominant, bilateral knee dominant, unilateral hip dominant, unilateral knee dominant and calf muscles. The exercises were selected to allow players to perform them on the field with minimal equipment, without the need for machines. In addition, small field games training was practiced two days a week. Repetitions in reserve and resistance training-specific ratings of the perceived exertion scale were used to determine training intensity and load.

The small-sided games group performed 2 sessions per week of small-sided games training program in different formats, without participating in any strength training. The small-sided games training was conducted twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays (8:00-10:00 p.m.) for 6 weeks. These training sessions started before the team's technical and tactical training. Extra balls are placed at the goals and along the field boundary lines, allowing play to restart immediately after the ball leaves the field. During the games, the offside rule was not applied. The game started with the foot when the ball left edge of the field. Other rules in the games were kept similar to those of official soccer. During the games, the coaches encouraged the players to exert maximum effort. The number of defenders, midfielders, and attackers in the teams was kept as equal as possible.