Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects 
of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical 
and physiological responses

Bilel Cherni; Hamza Marzouki; Okba Selmi; Bruno Gonçalves; Karim Chamari; Yung-Sheng Chen; Anissa Bouassida

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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abstract:

Original paper

Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical and physiological responses

Bilel Cherni

^{1, 2}

,

Hamza Marzouki

^{2, 3}

,

Okba Selmi

^{2, 3}

,

Bruno Gonçalves

^{4, 5, 6}

,

Karim Chamari

^{1, 7}

,

Yung-Sheng Chen

^{8, 9, 10}

,

Anissa Bouassida

^{2, 3}

Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Saïd, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
Research Unit: Sport Sciences, Health and Movement, University of Jendouba, El Kef, Tunisia
High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, El Kef, Tunisia
Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
Portugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, Oeiras, Portugal
Naufar, Wellness and Recovery Center, Doha, Qatar
Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
Exercise and Health Promotion Association, New Taipei City, Taiwan
High Performance Unit, Chinese Taipei Football Association, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Biol Sport. 2025;42(2):187–197

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298

Online publish date: 2024/10/23

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EndNote

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AMA

Cherni B, Marzouki H, Selmi O, et al. Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects 
of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical 
and physiological responses. Biology of Sport. 2025;42(2):187-197. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298.

APA

Cherni, B., Marzouki, H., Selmi, O., Gonçalves, B., Chamari, K.,  & Chen, Y. et al. (2025). Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects 
of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical 
and physiological responses. Biology of Sport, 42(2), 187-197. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298

Chicago

Cherni, Bilel, Hamza Marzouki, Okba Selmi, Bruno Gonçalves, Karim Chamari, Yung-Sheng Chen,  and Anissa Bouassida. 2025. "Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects 
of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical 
and physiological responses". Biology of Sport 42 (2): 187-197. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298.

Harvard

Cherni, B., Marzouki, H., Selmi, O., Gonçalves, B., Chamari, K., Chen, Y.,  and Bouassida, A. (2025). Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects 
of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical 
and physiological responses. Biology of Sport, 42(2), pp.187-197. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298

MLA

Cherni, Bilel et al. "Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects 
of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical 
and physiological responses." Biology of Sport, vol. 42, no. 2, 2025, pp. 187-197. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298.

Vancouver

Cherni B, Marzouki H, Selmi O, Gonçalves B, Chamari K, Chen Y et al. Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects 
of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical 
and physiological responses. Biology of Sport. 2025;42(2):187-197. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298.

PlumX metrics:

We compared the physical and physiological responses of young soccer players of different ages U13 (Under 13 years), U15, and U17 and competitive levels (elite and sub-elite) during fixed-pitch size smallsided games (SSGs) performed under different formats. In a cross-sectional design, seventy-two male players (12 players in each group) performed 3-a-side and 4-a-side SSGs with a fixed-pitch size (40×20 m). The total distance covered (TD), peak velocity (Vpeak), the distances covered at different running speed zones (0 to < 7.0, 7.0 to < 14.0, 14.0 to < 18.0, and ≥ 18.0 km.h⁻¹), peak heart rate (HR_peak), HR_mean, expressed as percentage of the theoretical HR_maxTheo, and blood lactate concentration post-SSGs (BLa) were recorded. Players in the 3-a-side SSGs covered more TD, distances covered at different speeds and Vpeak than those of the 4-a-side SSGs across all age categories of both competitive levels (p < 0.05). The 3-a-side SSGs induced higher BLa in all elite groups (p < 0.05), and U13-sub-elite players (p=0.004). HR_peak(%HR_maxTheo) and HR_mean(%HR_maxTheo) were greater in the 4-a-side SSGs than the 3-a-side SSGs in most age categories of both competitive levels (p < 0.05). In the zone-3, the U13- and U15-elite covered more distance than U17 in both formats. In both formats, elite players covered larger TD and distances at zone-1 and zone-4 sub-elite players (p < 0.05). BLa was higher in U17-sub-elite compared to their elite counterparts in the 4-a-side SSGs. Our study shows that 3-a-side SSGs are physically more demanding than 4-a-side, especially for elite players. Tailoring training to age and competitive level is crucial for optimising player development.

keywords:

Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical and physiological responses

Bilel Cherni 1, 2 , Hamza Marzouki 2, 3 , Okba Selmi 2, 3 , Bruno Gonçalves 4, 5, 6 , Karim Chamari 1, 7 , Yung-Sheng Chen 8, 9, 10 , Anissa Bouassida 2, 3

Youth, Football training, GPS devices, Time-motion variables, Chronological age

Bilel Cherni

^{1, 2}

,

Hamza Marzouki

^{2, 3}

,

Okba Selmi

^{2, 3}

,

Bruno Gonçalves

^{4, 5, 6}

,

Karim Chamari

^{1, 7}

,

Yung-Sheng Chen

^{8, 9, 10}

,

Anissa Bouassida

^{2, 3}