| Alashti
et al., 2021 |
2v2 (8×2
min / 1 min rest, 20×25 m), 4v4 (4×4 min / 2 min rest, 28×35
m), no GK, stop-ball rule |
HR measured
pre, 2nd, 8th, 14th, 20th min, and immediately post |
HR significantly
increased in both SSGs compared with control (p ≤ 0.05). Example:
in 2v2, HR rose from 71.27 ± 2.5 bpm pre to 187.51 ± 3.20
bpm at 20th min (~90% HRmax). In 4v4, HR increased from 69.09 ±
2.32 bpm pre to 182.45 ± 8.11 bpm at 20th min (~89% HRmax).
Larger SSG (4v4) elicited lower HR/%HRmax compared to 2v2. |
| Ascondo
et al., 2024 |
4v4 wheelchair
basketball, 4×4 min bouts, 2 min rest |
HR continuously
during bouts; tympanic temp, RPEres, RPEmus after each bout (S1–S4) |
Non-SCI
group had higher HRpeak and HRmean than SCI across all bouts (p <
.05–.01, ES = 0.73–1.39, moderate-large). SCI reported higher
muscular perceived load in S1–S2 (p < .05, ES = 0.75–0.82,
moderate) and higher respiratory perceived load in S4 (p < .05, ES
= 0.97). Within-group changes: SCI showed stable HR and Temp across bouts;
Non-SCI showed ↑ HRmean (S2, S3 vs S1, p < .05, ES = 0.29–0.57),
↑ HRpeak (S3, S4 vs S1, p < .05, ES = 0.42–0.65), ↑
RPEmusTL (S2–S4 vs S1, p < .05–.01, ES = 0.29–0.70).
Temp increased S4 vs S1 for pooled players (p < .01, ES = 0.28, small). |
| Baseri
et al., 2022 |
3v3 +
4 support players |
HRV (SDNN,
lnRMSSD) pre-SSG, post-SSG, post-recovery (24 h, 48 h) |
Significant
differences in SDNN HRV between AR vs. CWI (F = 4.86, p = 0.03, η2
= 0.31, moderate). CWI better restored vagal-related HRV: mean difference
+23.2, +242%. Within-condition changes (F = 60.82, p = 0.001,
η2 = 0.85, strong) confirmed significant drops from pre
to post-SSG (p = 0.001) and recovery improvements (p = 0.001). lnRMSSD also
differed between AR vs. CWI (F = 2.41, p = 0.033, η2 =
0.29); CWI showed greater effect (mean difference +0.81, +185.7%). |
| Bekris
et al., 2022 |
3v3 |
HR continuously
across 8 sets; RPE PRE, during sets 2 & 5, POST, and 24–72
h; blood lactate PRE, after set 2, set 5, and POST |
HR reached
168 ± 7 bpm (~87 ± 4% HRmax), peaking at 92 ±
3% HRmax after the 8th set (F(1.00,11.04)=5647.93, p < 0.001, η2=1.00).
Blood lactate increased significantly: 11.13 ± 2.23 mmol/L (after
set 2), 10.79 ± 2.24 mmol/L (set 5), 13.02 ± 1.60 mmol/L POST
(F(1.81,19.97)=44.06, p < 0.001, η2=0.80). RPE
progressively increased, peaking POST (~15 ± 1, Borg scale)
(F(3.43,37.76)=292.98, p < 0.001, η2=0.96), returning
to baseline by 72 h. |
| Bonato
et al., 2020 |
4v4, 4×4
min, 3-min rest, 36×24 m, no GK, evening session (20:00) |
HR monitored
continuously |
HRmean
across bouts: 172 bpm (90% HRmax), 174 bpm (91%), 178 bpm (94%), 173 bpm
(91%). No significant differences compared to HIIT. |
| Clemente
et al., 2017 |
1v1 (3×2
min) and 3v3 (3×3 min) |
HR monitored
across bouts; RPE pre and post bouts |
HRaverage
differed between bouts (p = 0.026, ES = 0.306, minimum). Bout 3 > Bout 2
(p = 0.027). %HRmax also higher in Bout 3 vs Bout 2 (p = 0.026, ES = 0.313).
No differences between formats (p = 0.953). RPE increased significantly
across bouts (p = 0.001, ES = 0.843). |
| Dellal
et al., 2015 |
2v2 (4×2
min, 20×15 m), 3v3 (4×3 min, 25×18 m), 4v4 (4×4
min, 30×20 m), with/without GK; 3-min passive recovery |
HRR measured
at 1, 2, 3 min post-exercise (beats lost/min) |
SSGs: HRR1
greater in 4v4 w/ GK, 3v3 w/ GK, and 4v4 vs 2v2 (F(5,126)=6.26, p<0.01).
HRR2 greater in 2v2 w/ GK, 2v2, 3v3 vs 4v4 (F(5,126)=4.51, p<0.01).
HRR3 lower in 3v3 w/ GK vs other SSGs (F(5,126)=7.09, p<0.01). End-exercise
HR: 2v2 = 186.4 bpm (89% HRmax), 2v2+GK = 183.7 (87.7%), 3v3 = 183.4
(87.5%), 3v3+GK = 180.2 (86.0%), 4v4 = 178.3 (85.1%), 4v4+GK
= 173.6 (82.9%). |
| Dello Iacono
et al., 2016 |
3v3 handball |
HR during
bouts |
No differences
between C-SSG and NC-SSG in %HRmean (85.6 vs 86.2%) and HRmax (192 vs 193
bpm). |
| Iturricastillo
et al., 2018 |
4v4 WB,
4×4 min |
Tympanic
temperature pre vs post; HRmean, HRpeak, Edwards’ TL, TRIMPMOD, RPEres,
RPEmus across bouts; Capillary blood lactate pre vs post |
Tympanic
temperature ↑ from 36.21 ± 0.60 °C to 36.97 ±
0.59 °C (Δ = +2.11%, p < .001, ES = 1.27). Internal
load: HRmean 156 ± 11 bpm, HRpeak 179 ± 13 bpm. Edwards’
TL = 67.5 ± 6.7 AU; TRIMPMOD = 55.3 ± 12.5 AU; RPEres TL =
100.6 ± 25.9 AU; RPEmus TL = 102.3 ± 29.7 AU. Negative associations:
Δ% sled towing correlated with Δ% temperature (r = -0.45,
p < .01). Lactate ↑ from 1.95 ± 1.30 mmol/L to 5.84
± 2.04 mmol/L (Δ = +199.5%, p < .001, ES = 2.99).
Higher lactate changes correlated with smaller declines in sprint and sled
towing (r = -0.42 to -0.55, p < .01). |
| Johnston
et al., 2014 |
Rugby league,
“offside” 6v6 SSG (2×8 min halves, 70×30 m),
with vs without contact (16 × 10 s bouts/half) |
Session
RPE 30 min post; wellness scale PRE, POST, 12 h, 24 h |
RPE higher
in contact (6.9 ± 0.4) vs non-contact (6.3 ± 0.6), p = 0.05,
ES = 0.41 (small). Wellbeing: greater reductions after contact (F(1,22)=10.88,
p=0.03, η2=0.338). Muscle soreness moderately higher after
contact (ES = 0.71). |
| Karadağ
et al., 2024 |
2v2 (20×25
m, 3×4 min, 3-min rest), 4v4 (30×35 m, 3×4 min), 8v8
(40×45 m, 3×4 min) |
HR measured
pre, immediately post, and 30 min post |
Intragroup:
MHR significantly ↑ post vs pre (p<0.05) and ↓ at 30
min vs post (p<0.05), but remained above pre (p<0.05). Example:
2v2 → 63.0 ± 3.46 (pre) → 181.5 ± 3.00 (post)
→ 78.0 ± 4.89 (30 min). 4v4 → 68.25 ± 4.46 →
175.25 ± 20.05 → 87.0 ± 11.56. 8v8 → 66.5 ±
5.77 → 125.7 ± 18.41 → 88.5 ± 9.33. Intergroup:
Post values higher in 2v2 & 4v4 vs 8v8 (p<0.05). No differences
pre or 30 min post between formats. |
| Kryściak
et al., 2023 |
1v1, 6×30
s (E1) vs 6×45 s (E2), 1:4 work-to-rest, 10×15 m pitch, side-boards,
no GK |
HR (%HRmax)
measured at rest (T0), after each bout (T1–T6), +15 min (T7),
+30 min (T8) |
%HRmax:
time effect (F(8,144)=1252.84, p≤0.0001, η2=0.99).
Mean 86.7–90.8% across bouts. No group effect during SSGs (F(1,18)=3.85,
p=0.065, η2=0.18). Post-exercise recovery faster in 45
s SSGs: at T7 (57.2% vs 63.5%, p=0.021, d=1.01) and T8 (52.4% vs 60.1%,
p=0.043, d=0.87). |
| Madison
et al., 2019 |
3v3 vs
4v4, as above |
HR monitored
continuously |
Large SSGs
showed higher internal load: HRmean 163 ± 16 bpm vs 157 ±
25 bpm (p=0.003, d=0.26), HRmax 194 ± 13 vs 188 ± 28 bpm (p=0.001,
d=0.27). GPS: greater distance in high-speed zones, max speed (26.1 ±
2.0 vs 23.7 ± 1.8 km/h, p=0.001, d=1.29), and metabolic power (8.7
± 0.9 vs 8.1 ± 1 W/kg, p=0.003, d=0.38) in large vs small
SSG. |
| Martínez-Serrano
et al., 2023 |
4v4 +
3 floaters SSG, TR1 (6v6+GK, 10v8 transitions), TR2 (7v7+GK,
10v8 transitions) |
RPE after
TR1 and TR2 |
No significant
differences between “HIGH” and “LOW” HSR groups:
TR1 RPE 6.82 ± 1.29 vs 6.00 ± 1.46 (p = 0.637, ES = 0.58).
TR2 RPE 6.71 ± 1.38 vs 6.00 ± 1.60 (p = 0.109, ES = 0.62).
Suggests RPE underestimated localized neuromuscular fatigue. |
| Mascarin
et al., 2018 |
4v4, 4×4
min, 3 min rest, ~120 m2/player |
HRV (LF,
HF, LF/HF, RMSSD, pNN50, SDNN) pre, 10 min, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h |
10 min
post: LF ↑ +92.5% (very likely), HF ↓ -65.7%
(very likely), LF/HF ↑ +386.2% (very likely). RMSSD ↓
-61.4% (very likely), pNN50 ↓ -90% (very likely). SDNN
trivial (-13.5%). By 24 h, indices returned near baseline; 48–72
h showed parasympathetic rebound (HF, RMSSD, pNN50 ↑; LF, LF/HF ↓). |
| McLean
et al., 2016 |
3v3, 6×2
min bouts, 15×20 m pitch, no goals/GK, unlimited touches; recovery
= 30 s (REC-30) vs 120 s (REC-120) |
Vastus
lateralis oxygenation (HHb, O2,Hb, tHb), HR, RPE during bouts
and recovery |
HHb: Higher
during recovery in REC-30 vs REC-120 (p<0.001, η2=0.725).
No differences during bouts. HR: Higher during recovery in REC-30 vs REC-120
(p=0.001, η2=0.849). HR during bouts ~80–90%
HRmax in both conditions; no condition effect (p=0.295). RPE: Increased
across bouts (p<0.001, η2=0.610). Condition ×
bout interaction (p=0.016): REC-30 showed earlier increases (from B1→B4,
B5, B6, p<0.01). Time-motion (GPS): No differences between conditions
in total distance (REC-30: 1365 ± 37.7 m vs REC-120: 1347 ±
37.7 m, p=0.638) or % time in speed zones (all p>0.05). |
| Mitrotasios
et al., 2021 |
4v4 +
2 GK, 6×4 min, 30×20 m |
HR during
games |
Mean HR
~89% HRmax, replicating competitive demands. |
| Modena
& Schena, 2024 |
3v3 vs
6v6, 4×4 min |
RPE post;
DOMS pre, post, 24 h; TQR pre, 24 h |
RPE: No
differences between formats (3v3: 5.5 ± 1.5 vs 6v6: 5.3 ±
0.7, p=0.328, trivial). DOMS: ↑ in both formats post (3v3: 17.7 →
33.2 mm, p=0.002; 6v6: 14.8 → 33.6 mm, p<0.001) and remained
↑ at 24 h (3v3: 25.4 mm, p=0.040; 6v6: 24.1 mm, p=0.015). TQR: ↓
at 24 h vs pre (3v3: 16.1 → 14.1, p=0.013, g=-0.75; 6v6: 16.2
→ 13.6, p=0.002, g=-1.21). |
| Mora et
al., 2025 |
7v7 +
2 GK, same as above |
GPS (TD,
LIR, HIR, VHIR, Sprinting, Vmean, Vmax, Acc, Dec) across 3×8-min
periods |
Pitch size
effect: LSG4 > SSG4 for TD (2709 ± 228 vs 2252 ± 156 m), HIR
(295 ± 68 vs 150 ± 44 m), VHIR (164 ± 47 vs 55 ±
33 m), Sprinting (125 ± 69 vs 18 ± 23 m), Vmean (113 ±
10 vs 94 ± 7 m/min), Vmax (25.2 ± 2.1 vs 21.4 ± 1.9
km/h), all p < 0.05. Bout duration effect: LSG4 vs LSG8: LSG4 showed
higher VHIR (164 ± 47 vs 118 ± 45 m, p = 0.01). Time effects:
LSG8 showed decrements in TD, LIR, Vmean across bouts 2–3 vs bout
1 (p < 0.05). LSG4 only dropped in bout 3. SSG4 remained constant
across bouts. No sig. differences in accelerations or decelerations among
formats (p > 0.05). |
| Papanikolaou
et al., 2021 |
4v4 vs
8v8 (as above) |
HR, RPE,
blood lactate post |
HR: Mean
%HRmax higher in 4v4 (88.7 ± 6.6%) vs 8v8 (81.5 ± 8.7%, p=0.024).
Peak HR 93.8% vs 88.6% HRmax (p=0.047). Time >90%HRmax: 14.6 ± 8.3
s vs 7.7 ± 8.2 s (p=0.027). RPE: Higher in 8v8 (8.7 ± 1.2)
vs 4v4 (6.2 ± 1.1, p=0.000). Lactate: ↑ post in both, higher
in 4v4 (p=0.002). |
| Pellegrino
et al., 2020 |
4v4, 125–300
m2, pre/post RSA |
Distances
covered in locomotor zones (0–21+ km/h) |
125 m2:
Post-RSA, distance in 7–14 km/h zone ↓ -129.98 m (CI
-193.49 to -66.46, ES=1.38, p<0.001). 250–300
m2: Compared with 125–150 m2, players covered
significantly more high-intensity distance (>18 km/h): pre (250 vs 125:
+48.3 m, ES=2.03; 300 vs 125: +45.5 m, ES=2.27), post (250
vs 125: +65.6 m, ES=2.58; 300 vs 125: +70.3 m, ES=3.15), all
p<0.05. |
| Ravier
& Marcel-Millet, 2020 |
3v3 handball
SSG with GK, intermittent 30 s play/30 s rest, 2×8 min, 2-min rest
between halves |
HR (mean,
peak, end), HRR30, HRR60, HRR300, HRR600; HRV (lnRMSSD, lnSDNN, lnSD1, lnHF,
lnLF) pre (10 min) vs post (10 min seated recovery) |
HR: HRmean
164.9 ± 8.3 bpm (85.7 ± 3.7% HRmax), HRpeak 179.9 ±
8.3, HRend 171.1 ± 7.6. Higher than RS (HRmean 146.4) and CT (129.2).
HRR: SSG HRR30 = 27.6 bpm, HRR60 = 50.0 bpm, nHRR60 = 29.2%. RS > SSG in
HRR30/60 (p < 0.05–0.001). HRV: lnRMSSD ↓ from 4.10
± 0.37 → 2.94 ± 0.69 (p < 0.0001, large ES).
lnSDNN ↓ 4.37 ± 0.30 → 3.54 ± 0.35 (p <
0.0001). lnSD1 ↓ 3.75 ± 0.37 → 2.59 ± 0.71 (p
< 0.0001). lnHF ↓ 3.59 ± 0.30 → 3.10 ±
0.77 (p < 0.01). Parasympathetic disruption greater than RS (lnRMSSD
2.94 vs 3.38, p < 0.01) and CT (3.65, p < 0.001). |
| Sansone
et al., 2019 |
3v3 basketball,
half-court (14×15 m), offense vs defense, long-intermittent (3×4
min, 2′ rest) vs short-intermittent (6×2 min, 1′ rest) |
External
load (PlayerLoad), %HRmax, Edwards’ TL during games |
PlayerLoad:
Offense > defense (148.0 ± 16.8 vs 137.1 ± 15.5 AU, p=0.008,
η2=0.517). Short > long regime (147.0 ± 18.2 vs
137.9 ± 14.6 AU, p=0.026, η2=0.404). %HRmax: Offense
> defense (91.1 ± 4.1% vs 88.7 ± 5.4%, p=0.020, η2=0.433).
No regime effect (90.0 ± 5.6 vs 89.8 ± 4.2%, p=0.893). Strong
task × regime interaction (p=0.002, η2=0.632).
Edwards’ TL: Offense-long > defense-short (56.6 ± 2.4 vs 52.4
± 4.4 AU, p=0.004, r=0.25). |
| Sjökvist
et al., 2011 |
4v4 SSG
+ interval running, as above |
HR response
(mean HR, %HRmax, time in HR zones), session-RPE |
HR: Mean
session HR = 76.7 ± 4.3% HRmax. Players spent 23.4 ± 1.1 min
>90% HRmax. No differences in HR responses across recovery intervals. S-RPE:
↑ after 24 h vs baseline (7.9 ± 0.4 → 8.4 ±
0.5, p<0.02), recovered by 48 h and 72 h. |
| Skala &
Zemková, 2023 |
4v4 +
GK, as above |
HR, GPS
load, fatigue VAS; Go/no-go task (GNG) pre vs post |
HR: HRavg
171.7 ± 7.1 bpm (86.6% HRmax), time >90%HRmax = 45.9% of SSG. External
load: TD 2753 m (91.8 m/min); HSR 379 m; VHSR 13.5 m; MSP 22.3 km/h. Fatigue
VAS: ↑ +41.6 AU (p<0.001, g=4.15). Response time (GNGt):
-3.36% (ns, p=0.119). Errors (GNGe): ↑ +87.1% (0.93
→ 1.71 errors, p=0.023, r=0.57). |
| Sparkes
et al., 2020a |
4v4 +
GK |
Mood disturbance
questionnaire (BAM+) pre, 0h, 24h |
Session
1: Mood ↑ 0h (+14.4 AU, ±5.3, moderate), recovered
24h. Session 2: Mood ↑ 0h (+12.8 AU, ±4.7, moderate),
remained ↑ 24h (+5.2 AU, ±3.8, small). |
| Sparkes
et al., 2020b |
4v4 +
GK, same as above |
Mood (BAM+)
pre, 0h, +24h |
Mood disturbance:
↑ at 0h after SSG+RES (+8.6 ± 9.1 AU, p=0.011,
d=0.72), recovered at +24h. RES+SSG: no sig. mood change (pre
→ 0h +3.2 ± 11.4 AU, ns). No differences between protocols
at +24h. |
| Sparkes
et al., 2022 |
4v4 +
GK, same format repeated 1 week apart |
GPS (TD,
MSR, HSR, MV, PlayerLoad, HI Acc, HI Dec) |
Repeatability:
TD ICC=0.63, CV=5.9%; MV ICC=0.55, CV=4.4%; PlayerLoad ICC=0.70, CV=7.5%.
Poor repeatability in MSR (CV=22.1%), HSR (CV=62.4%), HI Dec (ICC=0.30,
CV=29.0%). HI Acc ICC=0.81 (high). |
| Trecroci
et al., 2019 |
SST vs
AR, as above |
Internal
load (RPE), GPS (TD, metabolic power, HR, accelerations) |
SST vs
AR: Higher demands in SST (RPE 3.6 ± 1.2 vs 1.1 ± 0.6, p<0.0001;
TD 4.25 ± 0.51 vs 1.88 ± 0.33 km; metabolic power 3.74 ±
0.67 vs 1.90 ± 0.36 W·kg-1; HR >75% HRmax: 1103
s vs 102 s). Distances at accelerations/decelerations >1 m·s-2;
also higher in SST (all p<0.0001). |
| Trecroci
et al., 2021 |
SST vs
AR |
GPS, HR,
RPE during interventions; Muscle soreness (VAS), Total Quality Recovery
(TQR) at -72 h, 0 h, +72 h |
SST: RPE
3.6 ±1.1 AU vs AR 1.1 ±0.4 (p<0.001). Total distance
SST 4.1 ±0.4 km vs AR 1.8 ±0.3. HR>85%HRmax: 270 s SST vs
0 s AR. Acc/Dec 2–3 m·s-2;: 102 ±38 m /133
±42 m in SST vs 0 m AR. Confirms much higher physiological load in
SST. Muscle soreness: Significant interaction (F(1,16)=7.901, p=0.004, η2p=0.497).
AR ↓ soreness more from 0h→+72h (5.00 ±0.82
→ 1.83 ±0.96 AU, p<0.0001, ES=4.2) vs SST (5.22 ±0.83
→ 3.61 ±0.61 AU, p=0.033, ES=2.2). TQR: No sig. differences
(baseline 16.3 ±1.7 → +72h 15.4 ±1.4 SST; 16.4
±1.7 → 16.5 ±1.1 AR, p>0.05). |
