ABSTRACT
Soccer play places heavy demands on the aerobic pathways whilst at the same time requiring intermittent high-intensity activity. The ability to sustain exercise at high intensity is an important component of fitness for soccer. Whilst various forms of aerobic interval-training have been used traditionally for developing this ability, the use of soccer-specific drills has been advocated for the training of soccer players (Reilly and Bangsbo, 1998). The physiological responses to small-sided games testify to the potential of using this form of play for its training effects (MacLaren et al., 1988).
