Heart rate responses and distance coverage during 1 vs. 1 duel in soccer : effects of neutral player and different task conditions

Abstract

Objectives. — The aim of this study was to determine the effects of using neutral players and different task conditions in 1 vs. 1 small-sided games (SSG) on amateur soccer players’ heart rate responses and distance coverage. Equipment and methods. — Ten amateurs’ soccer players (26.4±5.3 years old, 8.0±3.2 years of practice) from a Portuguese regional league participated in this within-subject repeated measures study. The heart rate responses, distance coverage, speed and acceleration were recorded by using heart rate monitors with GPS throughout all SSG. Results. — Two-way MANOVA results revealed that neutral players (F = 43.6; P = 0.001; 2 p=0.017; Power = 1.00; small effect size) and task conditions (F = 84.7; P = 0.001; 2p=0.038; Power = 1.00; small effect size) had significant main effects and small practical effects on heart