Effect of Small Sided Game Duration with Floater Player on Internal and External Load of Female Handball Players

Abstract Introduction. The present study deals with the effect of the duration of small-sided games (SSGs) with a floater player on the external (covered distance) and internal (heart rate) load of the elite female players. Material and methods. The research group consisted of nine professional elite female team handball field players (age 22.8 ± 4.5 years) playing in the first international league for female players in the Czech Republic. Their height was 170.4 ± 6.4 cm, weight 67.7 ± 9.2 kg, and maximal heart rate 200.2 ± 3.3 beats∙min-1. The duration of the SSGs was 4 (SSG4) minutes, 5 (SSG5) minutes, and 6 (SSG6) minutes. Results. The highest heart rate value of 177.2 ± 9.9 beats / minute resp. 88.5 ± 4.4% HRmax was measured in SSG5. The lowest mean heart rate values were measured at SSG6 of 172.01 ± 15.7 beats / min resp. 85.9 ± 6.8% HRmax. Most time 38 resp. 34% of the drill time, players were in the 85-90% HRmax load intensity zone of SSG4 and SSG5. There was a statistically significant difference in load intensity zones of 80-85% HRmax and ≥ 95% HRmax between SSG5 and SSG6 and p = .008 (η2p = 0.22) and .013 (η2p = 0.26), respectively. In the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) evaluation, there was a statistically significant difference in SSG6 and SSG4 p = .003 (η2p = 0.27) and between SSG6 and SSG5 p = .004 (η2p = 0.25). The total longest distance in SSG6 was 786.8 ± 41.9 m, but in the one-minute drill the longest average distance in SSG4 was 136.2 ± 21.1 metres per minute. Conclusions. SSGs with a floater are a suitable means for training technical and tactical activities in handball with an overlap into fitness training in women’s handball. According to our results, the intensity of the load will not decrease if we increase the game time to six minutes and also the covered distance will not decrease during the game.