The Relationship between Different Large-Sided Games and Official Matches on Professional Football Players' Locomotor Intensity

Large-sided games (LSG) are commonly used in the training contexts for providing either technical/tactical or locomotor/physiological stimuli. Despite natural similarities with the official match, the locomotor profile seems to be different, which must be considered by the coaches to identify compensatory strategies for achieving the ideal dose of training. The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to investigate the locomotor demands imposed by LSGs and the official matches; and (2) to compare the effect of different pitch sizes’ LSG conditions in the locomotor demands. This study followed an observational design. Sixteen professional football players from the same team (26.3 ± 3.0 years old) were included. The study was conducted over four weeks. The same GK + 10 × 10 + GK play format with different pitch sizes (i.e., area per player ranging between 195 m2 to 291 m2) was analyzed. Three official matches were also collected in which the 10 most demanding minutes were considered for further comparisons. Only the same players who participated in matches were considered in comparison with the LSG. The data were obtained using a 10-Hz global positioning system technology. Total distance (TD) and mechanical work (MW) scores increased 20% and 23%, respectively, between the smallest and biggest pitch sizes (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in locomotor intensity metrics between opponents from different positions on the table (p = 0.001). The biggest LSG (i.e., 291 m2 per player) was the only one that required similar levels of locomotor intensity as required in the official full match. The present study demonstrates that LSG pitch size variation requires different locomotor intensities. Bigger pitch sizes cause an increase in TD and MW. In addition, considering the position on the table, the level of opponents induces different TD covered. Finally, the largest LSG simulates the official match more accurately.