Internal Load and Technical-Tactical Characteristics in Small-Sided Games: An Investigation in Adolescent Water Polo Players.

Andrea Perazzetti, Federico Carrozza, Francesca Martusciello, Milivoj Dopsaj, Daniele Ruffelli, Antonio Tessitore

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In one paragraph

Article in Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Andrea PerazzettiDegree Course in Sciences of Motor Activities, Sports and Psychomotor Education, Faculty of Law, Telematic University Giustino Fortunato, 82100 Benevento, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9835-2930

Federico CarrozzaSS Lazio Nuoto, 00145 Rome, Italy.

Francesca MartuscielloDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00135 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0009-0006-5451-6944

Milivoj DopsajFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-7153-2993

Daniele RuffelliSS Lazio Nuoto, 00145 Rome, Italy.

Antonio TessitoreDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00135 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3542-0991

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different small-sided game (SSG) formats on internal load, perceived enjoyment, and technical-tactical performance in elite youth water polo players. Twenty male athletes (U16, n = 10; U18, n = 10) performed in three 4 vs. 4 SSG formats with different time of ball possessions and size of field areas. Technical-tactical variables were assessed using the Team Sport Assessment Procedure (TSAP), while internal load and enjoyment were measured through session-RPE (s-RPE) and a 7-point enjoyment Likert scale (ENJ). Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models and Spearman correlations. SSG format significantly influenced internal load, with higher RPE values (F = 6.878;

Indexed as

enjoymentperformance analysisRPEsmall-sided gamesTSAPyouth athletes

Identifiers

PMID42347473

DOI10.3390/sports14060249

PMCPMC13307659

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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.