Exercise TrainingCARDIO-TECH SSNCT07157150
The Effects of Rule Modifications in 3v3 and 4v4 Small-Sided Games on Cardiovascular and Technical Performance in Elite Football Players
A study testing Free Play SSG in people with Exercise Training and Exercise Physiology, run by Hamza Kucuk at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study explores how different small-sided football games affect players' heart and technical skills. We will compare two ways of playing: "Free Play," where players act freely, and "Controlled Pass," where passing rules are used. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Exercise Training, Exercise Physiology
- What is being tested?
- Free Play SSG
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 24 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Aug 2020to 1 Jun 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male elite football players
- Aged 18-30 years
- At least 5 years of professional football experience
- Currently training and competing at the professional level
Who cannot join
- Presence of cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal disease or injury that could interfere with participation
- Use of medication affecting cardiovascular function
- Inability to complete training sessions or follow study protocol
- Refusal to provide informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Ondokuz Mayis University
Samsun, Atakum, 55200
About this study
This study explores how different small-sided football games affect players' heart and technical skills. We will compare two ways of playing: "Free Play," where players act freely, and "Controlled Pass," where passing rules are used. Elite football players will participate in both types of games on small fields (3 vs 3 and 4 vs 4). We will measure heart responses (like heart rate) and how often players touch the ball. The goal is to help coaches choose the best game format to improve fitness and technical ability in training.
Read the detailed description
Small-sided games (SSGs) are widely used in football training because they combine technical, tactical, and physical demands in a single activity. However, the way rules are modified during these games can change how players respond both physiologically and technically. Despite the popularity of SSGs in elite football, limited evidence exists regarding how specific rule modifications influence cardiovascular strain and technical involvement in real training settings.
This study was designed to examine the effects of two rule conditions, Free Play and Controlled Pass, in both 3v3 and 4v4 SSG formats. The Free Play condition allows players to participate without additional restrictions, whereas the Controlled Pass condition requires a minimum number of passes before attempting to score. These modifications are expected to alter both the cardiovascular responses and technical actions of players.
A total of 24 elite male football players, aged 18 to 30 years, with at least five years of professional experience, were recruited to participate. All participants underwent baseline assessments and were then assigned to play both conditions in a randomized sequence. Each SSG session lasted eight weeks and was closely monitored by the research team. Heart rate responses were measured continuously using Polar heart rate monitors, and technical performance was evaluated through video-based notational analysis.
The primary outcomes of interest were maximum heart rate (HRmax) and percentage of HRmax, which provide indicators of cardiovascular load. The secondary outcomes were the number of ball touches, reflecting the degree of technical involvement during play. Statistical analysis included paired-samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Preliminary evidence suggests that Free Play conditions elicit greater cardiovascular load, especially in the initial sets of training, while Controlled Pass conditions promote higher technical engagement by increasing ball touches. The findings are expected to help coaches and practitioners make evidence-based decisions when designing training tasks for elite football players. Specifically, coaches may select Free Play conditions when the aim is to maximize physical conditioning and Controlled Pass rules when the aim is to enhance technical and tactical involvement.
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University (approval date: June 29, 2020; decision no: 8/26). All participants provided written informed consent prior to enrollment, and the study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
By addressing the gap in evidence on rule modifications in SSGs, this trial provides new insights into optimizing training design for elite football. Its findings may inform practical applications for strength and conditioning coaches, sport scientists, and football practitioners worldwide.
- Conditions
- Exercise Training, Exercise Physiology
- Being tested
- Free Play SSG, Controlled Pass
- Keywords
- Small sided games, physiological responses, lactate concentration, heart rate dynamics, aerobic capacity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Free Play SSGBehavioural
Other current and former name(s) or alias(es), if any, different from the Intervention Name(s), that the sponsor has used publicly to identify the intervention(s), including, but not limited to, past or present names such as brand name(s), or serial numbers
Controlled PassBehavioural
Participants train in 3v3 and 4v4 football games under Controlled Pass rules for 8 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Free Play | Experimental | Elite football players participate in 3v3 and 4v4 small-sided games without restrictions, allowing free play conditions. Receives: Behavioral: Free Play SSG |
| Controlled Pass | Experimental | Elite football players participate in 3v3 and 4v4 small-sided games where a minimum number of passes is required before attempting to score. Receives: Behavioral: Controlled Pass |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximum Heart Rate (HRmax)
HRmax recorded continuously using Polar heart rate monitors during 3v3 and 4v4 small-sided games under Free Play and Controlled Pass conditions.
Measured: During 8 weeks of training sessions
Percentage of Maximum Heart Rate (%HRmax)
Relative cardiovascular load calculated as percentage of HRmax, measured via Polar HR monitors across Free Play and Controlled Pass sessions.
Measured: During 8 weeks of training sessions
Secondary outcomes (1)
Number of Ball Touches
Technical performance indicator measured by video-based notational analysis of each participant's ball contacts during 3v3 and 4v4 games.
Measured: During 8 weeks of training sessions
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Sep 2025
- Study start1 Aug 2020
- Primary completion1 Jun 2022
- Study completion1 Jun 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Exercise TrainingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hamza Kucuk
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Hamza Kucuk, Ondokuz Mayıs University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07157150
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HKucuk-SSG-2025
- Acronym
- CARDIO-TECH SS
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 28 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 5 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data (e.g., age, heart rate responses, ball touches) that underlie the results of the study will be shared. Supporting documents, including the study protocol and statistical analysis plan, will also be available.
Publications
Şar, H., Çelgin, G. S., Arslanoğlu, C., Kızılörs, G., Arslanoğlu, E., Ceylan, L., & Küçük, H. (2025). The Effects of FIFA 11+ and Harmoknee Warm-Up Protocols on Flexibility, Vertical Jump and Shooting Speed in Female Football Players: A Comparative Study. Applied Sciences, 15(9), 4936. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094936
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Rule Modifications in 3v3 and 4v4 Small-Sided Games on Cardiovascular and Technical Performance in Elite Football Players
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07157150
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CARDIO-TECH SS / HKucuk-SSG-2025
- Conditions
- Exercise Training, Exercise Physiology
- Keywords
- Small sided games, physiological responses, lactate concentration, heart rate dynamics, aerobic capacity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Hamza KucukUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Aug 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jun 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study explores how different small-sided football games affect players' heart and technical skills. We will compare two ways of playing: "Free Play," where players act freely, and "Controlled Pass," where passing rules are used. Elite football players will participate in both types of games on small fields (3 vs 3 and 4 vs 4). We will measure heart responses (like heart rate) and how often players touch the ball. The goal is to help coaches choose the best game format to improve fitness and technical ability in training.
Detailed description
Small-sided games (SSGs) are widely used in football training because they combine technical, tactical, and physical demands in a single activity. However, the way rules are modified during these games can change how players respond both physiologically and technically. Despite the popularity of SSGs in elite football, limited evidence exists regarding how specific rule modifications influence cardiovascular strain and technical involvement in real training settings.
This study was designed to examine the effects of two rule conditions, Free Play and Controlled Pass, in both 3v3 and 4v4 SSG formats. The Free Play condition allows players to participate without additional restrictions, whereas the Controlled Pass condition requires a minimum number of passes before attempting to score. These modifications are expected to alter both the cardiovascular responses and technical actions of players.
A total of 24 elite male football players, aged 18 to 30 years, with at least five years of professional experience, were recruited to participate. All participants underwent baseline assessments and were then assigned to play both conditions in a randomized sequence. Each SSG session lasted eight weeks and was closely monitored by the research team. Heart rate responses were measured continuously using Polar heart rate monitors, and technical performance was evaluated through video-based notational analysis.
The primary outcomes of interest were maximum heart rate (HRmax) and percentage of HRmax, which provide indicators of cardiovascular load. The secondary outcomes were the number of ball touches, reflecting the degree of technical involvement during play. Statistical analysis included paired-samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Preliminary evidence suggests that Free Play conditions elicit greater cardiovascular load, especially in the initial sets of training, while Controlled Pass conditions promote higher technical engagement by increasing ball touches. The findings are expected to help coaches and practitioners make evidence-based decisions when designing training tasks for elite football players. Specifically, coaches may select Free Play conditions when the aim is to maximize physical conditioning and Controlled Pass rules when the aim is to enhance technical and tactical involvement.
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University (approval date: June 29, 2020; decision no: 8/26). All participants provided written informed consent prior to enrollment, and the study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
By addressing the gap in evidence on rule modifications in SSGs, this trial provides new insights into optimizing training design for elite football. Its findings may inform practical applications for strength and conditioning coaches, sport scientists, and football practitioners worldwide.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Free Play | Experimental | Behavioral: Free Play SSGElite football players participate in 3v3 and 4v4 small-sided games without restrictions, allowing free play conditions. |
| Controlled Pass | Experimental | Behavioral: Controlled PassElite football players participate in 3v3 and 4v4 small-sided games where a minimum number of passes is required before attempting to score. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Male elite football players
- Aged 18-30 years
- At least 5 years of professional football experience
- Currently training and competing at the professional level
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Presence of cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal disease or injury that could interfere with participation
- Use of medication affecting cardiovascular function
- Inability to complete training sessions or follow study protocol
- Refusal to provide informed consent
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Free Play SSGOther current and former name(s) or alias(es), if any, different from the Intervention Name(s), that the sponsor has used publicly to identify the intervention(s), including, but not limited to, past or present names such as brand name(s), or serial numbers | Behavioural | Free Play |
| Controlled PassParticipants train in 3v3 and 4v4 football games under Controlled Pass rules for 8 weeks. | Behavioural | Controlled Pass |
Primary outcome
Maximum Heart Rate (HRmax)
Time frame: During 8 weeks of training sessions
HRmax recorded continuously using Polar heart rate monitors during 3v3 and 4v4 small-sided games under Free Play and Controlled Pass conditions.
Percentage of Maximum Heart Rate (%HRmax)
Time frame: During 8 weeks of training sessions
Relative cardiovascular load calculated as percentage of HRmax, measured via Polar HR monitors across Free Play and Controlled Pass sessions.
1 secondary outcome
Number of Ball Touches
Time frame: During 8 weeks of training sessions
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Sep 2025.
- BackgroundŞar, H., Çelgin, G. S., Arslanoğlu, C., Kızılörs, G., Arslanoğlu, E., Ceylan, L., & Küçük, H. (2025). The Effects of FIFA 11+ and Harmoknee Warm-Up Protocols on Flexibility, Vertical Jump and Shooting Speed in Female Football Players: A Comparative Study. Applied Sciences, 15(9), 4936. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094936
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data (e.g., age, heart rate responses, ball touches) that underlie the results of the study will be shared. Supporting documents, including the study protocol and statistical analysis plan, will also be available.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Free Play SSG in people with Exercise Training and Exercise Physiology, run by Hamza Kucuk at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Maximum Heart Rate (HRmax) (time frame: During 8 weeks of training sessions). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07157150, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Sep 2025.