Using Small-Sided Games in Field Hockey: Can They Be Used to Reach Match Intensity?

Duthie, GM, Thomas, EJ, Bahnisch, J, Thornton, HR, and Ball, K. Using small-sided games in field hockey: Can they be used to reach match intensity? J Strength Cond Res 36(2): 498–502, 2022—Small-sided games (SSGs) are commonly used in field hockey to replicate or overload physical and tactical competition demands; however, little evidence is available regarding if specific SSG formats achieve this. This research investigated how speed and acceleration differed between 5-minute SSG formats (2v2, 3v3, and 4v4) and also compared with competition. Elite male field hockey athletes (n = 10) participated in the SSGs with standard rules, on pitches of 30 × 20, 35 × 25, and 40 × 30 m, respectively (∼150 m2 per athlete excluding goal keepers). Global Positioning System devices measured speed (m·min−1) and acceleration (m·s−2). Differences between mean speed and acceleration during SSGs and 5-minute maximal mean values from competition (calculated using moving averages) were quantified using linear mixed models and described using standardized effect sizes (ES) and 90% confidence intervals. Between SSG formats, there were nonsubstantial differences for mean speed and acceleration (ES range −0.4 to 0.8). Compared with competition, mean speed was substantially lower for all SSG formats (ES range −1.4 to −1.8), whereas mean acceleration was higher (ES range 3.9–4.8). The SSG formats examined had a lower mean speed and higher mean acceleration than the maximal mean ob...
Source: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Original Research Source Type: research