Comparison of small-sided games and sprint training program on the testosterone, cortisol, blood cell count, and physical fitness indices in teenage soccer players

The purpose of this study was to comparison of SSG and sprint on testosterone, cortisol, blood cell count, and physical fitness indices in teenage soccer players.

In this experimental study, thirty-six teenage athletes (13.55±0.53) were randomly divided into control, SSG, and sprint groups. The subjects in the sprint group underwent 45-minutes short bursts of sprinting. The SSG group exercise program 45-minutes consisted of 8×3 minutes with 3 minutes of active recovery between sets was performed on a small Football pitch without a goalkeeper. In contrast, the control group continued their usual routine activities for 4 weeks (3days/week). Basal levels of K-TEST, RSA, and YO-Y0 tests, as well as blood indices of testosterone and cortisol and blood cells, were measured before commencement and after 4 weeks of training.

The results indicate that sprint training led to a significant increase in testosterone, T/C ratio, RBC, and WBC compared to the control group and significantly decrease in cortisol and agility performance. SSG also caused a significant increase in testosterone, testosterone to cortisol ratio, RBC, WBC, SII, and aerobic performance, with a significant decrease in cortisol and agility performance. Additionally, in the control group, cortisol showed a significant increase, and the testosterone to cortisol ratio was significantly decreased (p<0.05).

The present study revealed that both sprint and SSG training individually can have desirable effects on testosterone, cortisol, T/C ratio, WBC, and RBC and agility test. Sprint and SSG were found to be effective for these factors. The SSG training program increases WBC, SII and aerobic performance.