Research Information System
Biology Of Sport, vol.38, no.4, pp.609-616, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
This study aimed to compare the effects of 6-weeks combined core strength and small-sided
games training (SSGcore) vs. small-sided games (SSG) training on the physical performance of young soccer
players. Thirty-eight amateur soccer players (age: 16.50 ± 0.51 years) were randomly assigned to either a SSGcore
(n = 20) or a SSG group (n = 18). The SSGcore group performed upper and lower body core strength exercises
combined with SSG including 2-, 3- and 4-a-sided soccer games third a week. The SSG group performed only
the SSG periodization. Baseline and after the 6-week training period the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level
1 (YYIRTL-1), 5–20-m sprint test, countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), triple-hop distance (THD),
zigzag agility with ball (ZAWB) and without ball (ZAWOB), three corner run test (TCRT) and Y-balance test. The
SSGcore group demonstrated meaningful improvements in 20 m sprint time (SSGcore: -9.1%, d = 1.42; SSG:
-4.4%, d = 0.76), CMJ (SSGcore: 11.4%, d = 2.67; SSG: -7.7%, d = 1.43), SJ (SSGcore: 12.0%, d = 2.14; SSG:
5.7%, d = 1.28), THD (SSGcore: 5.0%, d = 1.39; SSG: 2.7%, d = 0.52) and TCRT (SSGcore: -3.7%, d = 0.69;
SSG: -1.9%, d = 0.38). Furthermore, the SSGcore group demonstrated meaningfully higher improvement responses
in both leg balance score (d = ranging from 2.11 to 2.75) compared with SSG group. These results suggest
that the inclusion of core strength training to a SSG periodization is greatly effective to improve speed and
strength-based conditioning in young soccer players.