@Article{Cherni2025,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
volume="42",
number="2",
year="2025",
title="Fixed pitch size small-sided games in young soccer players: effects 
of different age categories and competitive levels on the physical 
and physiological responses",
abstract="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 max Theo, 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 max Theo) and HR mean (%HR max Theo) 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.",
author="Cherni, Bilel
and Marzouki, Hamza
and Selmi, Okba
and Gonçalves, Bruno
and Chamari, Karim
and Chen, Yung-Sheng
and Bouassida, Anissa",
pages="187--197",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.144298"
}