Unveiling the Impact of Anaerobic Soccer Training and Small-Sided Games on Soccer Player’s Body Composition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2025.4.04Keywords:
anaerobic soccer training, small sided games, body composition, amateur soccer playersAbstract
Background. While soccer research has concentrated on enhancing physical, technical, tactical, and mental abilities, this study uniquely shifts the focus to body composition, a relatively unexplored area, particularly among amateur soccer players.
Objectives. This study aimed to compare the effects of Anaerobic Soccer Training (AnST) and Small-Sided Games (SSG) on a range of body composition parameters, including body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), total body water (TBW), body fat mass (BFM), percentage of body fat (PBF), fat-free mass (FFM), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in amateur soccer players.
Materials and methods. Thirty amateur soccer players (mean age: 19 ± 0.63 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: AnST (n=15) and SSG (n=9). Both groups underwent a four-week training intervention with three sessions per week. Body composition was assessed before and after the intervention using the INBODY 270 device. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and independent t-tests for normally distributed variables, while the Wilcoxon test was applied to non-normally distributed data.
Results. The AnST group showed a significant reduction in BFM and PBF compared to the SSG group (p < 0.05). Additionally, AnST led to more substantial increases in SMM and TBW (p < 0.05), while no marked difference in BW was observed between groups. BMI decreased in both groups due to muscle mass redistribution.
Conclusions. The findings of this study underscore the superiority of AnST over SSG in enhancing body composition parameters, particularly by increasing SMM and reducing BFM. These results provide valuable insights for optimizing soccer training programs at both amateur and professional levels, enlightening coaches, athletes, and other stakeholders in the sports industry.
Keywords: anaerobic soccer training, small sided games, body composition, amateur soccer players.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mochammad Ilham Ramadhani, David Agus Prianto, I Dewa Made Aryananda Wijaya Kusuma, Dewa Ayu Praba Amustikarani, Alex Aldha Yudi, Ketut Chandra Adinata Kusuma
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