Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39965796›Full record

Trial reportEuropean journal of sport science2025

Optimizing the number of players and training bout durations in soccer small-sided games: Effects on mood balance and technical performance.

Zouhaier Farhani, Hatem Ghouili, Wissem Dhahbi, Achraf Ammar, Mohamed Ben Aissa, Mohamed Mansour Bouzouraa, Khaled Trabelsi, Noomen Guelmami, Nizar Souissi, Ismail Dergaa and 2 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in European journal of sport science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Zouhaier FarhaniSport Sciences, Health and Movement (3SM), High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2181-5159
Hatem GhouiliSport Sciences, Health and Movement (3SM), High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9558-5448
Wissem DhahbiSport Sciences, Health and Movement (3SM), High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6221-546X
Achraf AmmarDepartment of Training and Movement Science, Institute of Sport Science, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0347-8053
Mohamed Ben AissaHigh Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7694-1059
Mohamed Mansour BouzouraaHigh Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0251-1443
Khaled TrabelsiHigh Institute of Sport and Physical Education Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
Noomen GuelmamiHigh Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4959-9726
Nizar SouissiPhysical Activity Research Unit, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Manouba, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1227-8221
Ismail DergaaSport Sciences, Health and Movement (3SM), High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8091-1856
Anissa BouassidaSport Sciences, Health and Movement (3SM), High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0971-0183
Lamia Ben EzzeddineHigh Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9051-9897

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effects of different bout durations (1 × 12 min, 2 × 6 min and 3 × 4 min) of three-a-side (3vs3) and four-a-side (4vs4) small sided games (SSGs) with goalkeepers, on the profile of mood state (POMS) scores, and technical performance (percentage of successful passes, percentage of successful tackles, percentage of successful duels, and percentage of ball loss) in soccer players.

methodsSixteen semiprofessional male soccer players participated in the study (age: 20.7 ± 0.7 years, height: 179.5 ± 6.1 cm, body mass: 67.2 ± 4.9 kg, body fat: 10.7 ± 0.7%). In randomized counterbalanced order, participants completed the six different conditioned SSGs (2 playing-formats × 3 bout-durations). POMS scores and technical performance data were collected during each bout of SSGs.

resultsThe data demonstrated that the continuous-bout-duration (1 × 12 min) of 4vs4 and 3vs3 SSGs was characterized by a significant decrease in total mood disturbance (TMD) compared to 2 × 6 min and 3 × 4 min (4vs4:p < 0.01; 3vs3:p < 0.001). Continuous bout duration showed a greater (p < 0.05) percentage of successful passes compared to 2 × 6 min (4vs4; d = 2.57 [very large] and 3vs3: d = 1.79 [large]) and 3 × 4 min (4vs4: d = 2.14 [very large] and 3vs3; d = 1.73 [large]). The percentage of successful tackles was only greater (p < 0.05) for 1 × 12 min in 4vs4 (2 × 6 min; d = 0.83 [moderate] and 3 × 4 min: d = 0.86 [moderate]) and successful duels in 3vs3 (2 × 6 min; d = 1.41 [large] and 3 × 4 min; d = 1.43 [large]).

conclusionThe bout durations in four- and three-a-side soccer games seem to influence behavioral and technical performance of the players. Therefore, coaches should consider longer continuous bouts when planning SSGs-based training to significantly decrease TMD and enhance technical-tactical performance in soccer SSGs.

Indexed as

AffectAthletic PerformancePhysical Conditioning, HumanSoccerHumansMaleTime FactorsYoung Adultfootballphysiologypsychologyrecoveryteam sporttraining

Identifiers

PMID39965796
PMCPMC11835465

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.