Effects of goal configuration on external load and heart-rate responses during 8v8 small-sided football games

This study compared external load and heart-rate responses across possession play without goals (WGoals), Mini-goals, and full-sized goals with goalkeepers (2GK) game conditions during SSGs in professional football players. Sixteen male professional players completed the three SSG conditions in a repeated-measures design, each comprising two 8-min bouts separated by a 5-min passive recovery. External load variables were monitored using 50-Hz GPS technology, while maximum heart rate was recorded throughout each session. Goal configuration significantly influenced locomotor, mechanical, and physiological responses, including total distance (p<.001), relative distance (p<.001), external load (p<.001), and maximum heart rate (p < .001). Compared with WGoals and 2GK, the Mini-goals condition elicited greater high-intensity running (HSR) distance (both p ≤ .002), higher acceleration frequency (p<.005), higher external load (p < .001), and higher maximum heart rate (both p<.001). In contrast, the 2GK condition resulted in lower total and relative distance, moderate-intensity running distance, acceleration and deceleration distances, and high metabolic load distance than the outfield conditions (p < .05). Peak speed did not differ between conditions. Goal configuration was associated with distinct external-load and heart-rate profiles during 8v8 SSGs. Under the conditions tested, Mini-goals elicited the greatest high-intensity, mechanical, and cardiovascular demands, whereas the 2GK condition reduced several external-load measures.