Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
ISSN: 1303 - 2968   
Ios-APP Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
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©Journal of Sports Science and Medicine ( 2025 )  24 ,  729  -  738   DOI: https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2025.729

Research article
Impact of Small-Sided Game Formats on Electromyographic Responses in College Students
JuanFeng1,2, Alejandro Rodríguez Fernández3,4, Robert Trybulski5,6, Tomasz Grzywacz1, Piotr Sawicki1, Filipe Manuel Clemente1, 
Author Information
1 Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland
2 Chaohu University, Chaohu, China
3 Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Science, University of León, Leon, Spain
4 VALFIS Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Leon, Spain
5 Medical Department Wojciech Korfanty, Upper Silesian Academy, Katowice, Poland
6 Provita Żory Medical Center, Żory, Poland

Filipe Manuel Clemente
✉ Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland
Email: filipe.clemente5@gmail.com
Publish Date
Received: 04-07-2024
Accepted: 14-08-2025
Published (online): 01-12-2025
Narrated in English
 
 
ABSTRACT

This study examined the effects of three small-sided game (SSGs) formats -1v1, 3 3v3, and 6v6- on muscle activation and fatigue during balance and jump performance tasks in collegiate athletes. Sixty healthy university students were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 20 each) for a 5-day SSG training program on standardized artificial turf. Training duration and recovery intervals were controlled, with player number and pitch size as independent variables. Muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG) from the rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) during both the double-leg stance (DLS) balance task and the countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) task. Muscle activation and neuromuscular fatigue were quantified using the root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (MF) of the sEMG signal. Across all formats, CMJ elicited greater activation and fatigue than DLS (p < 0.001). The 6v6 format produced the highest activation (CMJ-RMS: 0.055 ± 0.012) and greatest fatigue (CMJ-MF: 62.5 ± 5.3 Hz), significantly exceeding 1v1 (p < 0.01). The 3v3 format showed peak DLS-MF (78.2 ± 6.7 Hz), higher than 1v1 (p=0.003), indicating optimal activation–fatigue balance. Temporally, 1v1 maintained higher DLS-MF on Days 1-3 (p < 0.05), reflecting short-term neuromuscular efficiency. RF activation was highest in 6v6 (p < 0.01), while BF fatigue resistance was greatest in 3v3 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 6v6 maximizes activation and fatigue, 3v3 provides balanced activation–fatigue, and 1v1 yields early neural efficiency but greater long-term fatigue. Future research should investigate longitudinal adaptations, sport-specific applications, and the influence of SSG formats on injury risk.

Key words: Football, conditioned games, electromyography, countermovement jump, neuromuscular activation, muscle fatigue, formats


           Key Points
  • 6v6 SSG format induced the highest muscle activation and fatigue, particularly in the rectus femoris suggesting to be suitable for strength-focused stimulus.
  • 3v3 SSG format produced a balance between muscle activation and fatigue, especially in the biceps femoris, indicating its potential for enhancing fatigue resistance and control during balance tasks like DLS.
  • 1v1 SSG format showed superior initial neuromuscular efficiency (higher DLS median frequency) in early sessions, but greater fatigue accumulation over time, suggesting it may be effective for short-term neural stimulus but less sustainable for prolonged performance.
 
 
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