Athletic PerformanceBFR-SSGNCT07496944
Effects of Blood Flow Restriction and Small-Sided Games on Soccer Passing and Dribbling Stability Under Fatigue
A study testing Blood Flow Restriction + Small-Sided Games (BFR-SSG) in people with Athletic Performance, run by Beijing Sport University at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study aims to investigate whether applying blood flow restriction (BFR) during small-sided soccer games (SSG) can help soccer players maintain their passing and dribbling stability when they are fatigued. The study includes 40 young male soccer players. 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
- Athletic Performance
- What is being tested?
- Blood Flow Restriction + Small-Sided Games (BFR-SSG)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 20 Jan 2026to 22 Mar 2026
- 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
- Young male soccer players. Possess a systematic soccer specific training background and maintain a stable competitive state.
- Cleared by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), confirming that cardiovascular and metabolic systems can tolerate high-intensity physical testing and blood flow restriction interventions.
Who cannot join
- Any recent history of neuromuscular or musculoskeletal system injuries. Current smoking habit. Consumption of any sports nutrition supplements or drinks that could significantly affect muscle performance or neural excitability (e.g., creatine, caffeine, beta-alanine) within 3 months prior to the start of the study and throughout the experimental period.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
China1 site
China Football Institute, Beijing Sport University
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100084
About this study
Official title: Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined With Small-Sided Games on Passing and Dribbling Stability of Soccer Players Under Fatigue
This study aims to investigate whether applying blood flow restriction (BFR) during small-sided soccer games (SSG) can help soccer players maintain their passing and dribbling stability when they are fatigued. The study includes 40 young male soccer players. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups:
One group will wear pressurized BFR cuffs on their legs (80% of limb occlusion pressure) during a 4v4 training game.
The other group will act as a control, wearing the same cuffs but without any pressure (0% pressure) during the exact same training game.Both groups will complete a 6-week training program, practicing 3 times a week. Before and after the 6-week period, researchers will test the players' physical and technical skills (such as jumping, passing, and dribbling). Importantly, these tests will be conducted both before and immediately after a tiring 45-minute exercise routine to see which training method is more effective at preventing performance drops caused by fatigue.
Read the detailed description
This study utilizes a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group design. A total of 40 young male soccer players with systematic training backgrounds will be recruited. Following baseline testing, participants will be randomly assigned to either the BFR-SSG group or the SSG control group.The intervention spans 6 weeks, featuring three standardized 90-minute training sessions per week. The core intervention consists of a 4v4 small-sided game module (4 sets of 4 minutes). During this module, the BFR-SSG group will wear pneumatic cuffs inflated to 80% of their individual Limb Occlusion Pressure (LOP), while the control group will wear uninflated cuffs (0% LOP).Pre- and post-intervention assessments will systematically evaluate physiological adaptations (blood lactate, creatine kinase) , neuromuscular function (Countermovement Jump) , and sport-specific technical stability (Loughborough Soccer Passing Test and a 20m change-of-direction dribbling test). To specifically assess performance under metabolic stress, the technical and neuromuscular tests will be conducted at baseline and immediately following a standardized 45-minute fatigue-inducing protocol (Modified LIST). The primary goal is to quantify the attenuation rate of passing and dribbling performance under fatigue and determine if BFR combined with SSG provides superior chronic adaptations compared to SSG alone
- Conditions
- Athletic Performance
- Being tested
- Blood Flow Restriction + Small-Sided Games (BFR-SSG), Small-Sided Games (SSG) Control
- Keywords
- Blood Flow Restriction, Small-Sided Games, Soccer, Fatigue, Technical Stability
- Medical subject headings
- Fatigue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Blood Flow Restriction + Small-Sided Games (BFR-SSG)Behavioural
The intervention lasts for 6 weeks, with 3 standardized 90-minute soccer training sessions per week. During the core 20-minute intervention module, participants play 4v4 small-sided games (4 sets of 4 minutes, with 2 minutes of rest between sets). Cuffs are inflated to 80% LOP during the exercise phase and fully deflated during the rest intervals.
Small-Sided Games (SSG) ControlBehavioural
Participants complete the identical 6-week standardized soccer training program (3 sessions per week) and the 4v4 small-sided games module. However, the cuffs worn by the participants remain at 0% LOP (uninflated) throughout the entire duration of the small-sided games.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: BFR-SSG Group | Experimental | Participants are assigned to the blood flow restriction combined with small-sided games group. They wear compression cuffs inflated to 80% of their individualized Limb Occlusion Pressure (LOP) during the core small-sided games training. Receives: Behavioral: Blood Flow Restriction + Small-Sided Games (BFR-SSG) |
| Sham Comparator: SSG Control Group | Sham comparator | Participants are assigned to the control group. They undergo the exact same small-sided games training while wearing identical cuffs that remain uninflated (0% LOP) to serve as a placebo. Receives: Behavioral: Small-Sided Games (SSG) Control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) Performance
The LSPT assesses passing skill and stability. The score is the total time (in seconds) required to complete 16 passes, plus penalty time added for passing errors. To evaluate passing stability under fatigue, the performance attenuation rate is calculated by comparing scores obtained before and immediately after a standardized 45-minute fatigue-inducing protocol (Modified LIST).
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6). At both time points, the test is performed pre-fatigue and immediately post-fatigue.
20m Change-of-Direction Dribbling Test Technical Deficit
This test evaluates high-speed dribbling stability over a 20m slalom course. The primary metric is the "technical deficit," calculated by subtracting the time taken to complete the course without the ball (sprint) from the time taken with the ball (dribbling). This isolates technical stability from pure physical fatigue.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6). At both time points, measured pre-fatigue and immediately post-fatigue.
Secondary outcomes (3)
Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height
Maximum vertical jump height (in centimeters) measured using a 3D force plate. It evaluates the attenuation of lower limb neuromuscular function and explosive power under metabolic stress.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6). Measured pre-fatigue and immediately post-fatigue at both time points.
Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRT-1) Distance
Total running distance (in meters) completed before exhaustion to assess chronic adaptations in soccer-specific intermittent endurance.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 6). Tests are conducted on a separate day, at least 48 hours apart from the main testing day, to avoid residual fatigu
Creatine Kinase (CK) Concentration
Absolute creatine kinase concentration (U/L) measured from fingertip capillary blood to evaluate skeletal muscle micro-damage and chronic adaptation
Measured: Fasting baseline (Week 0), 24 hours after the first intervention session (Week 1), and 24 hours after the final intervention session (Week 6).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Mar 2026
- Study start20 Jan 2026
- Primary completion10 Mar 2026
- Study completion22 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Athletic PerformanceStudies 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
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned in a parallel manner to either the BFR-SSG experimental group or the SSG control group. Both groups undergo the identical 6-week soccer training protocol simultaneously, differing only in the blood flow restriction cuff pressure (80% LOP vs. 0% LOP) applied during the core small-sided games intervention phase.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Sport University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Yue Dou, Beijing Sport University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07496944
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026027H
- Acronym
- BFR-SSG
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared due to participant confidentiality and institutional data protectionpolicies.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined With Small-Sided Games on Passing and Dribbling Stability of Soccer Players Under Fatigue
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07496944
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- BFR-SSG / 2026027H
- Conditions
- Athletic Performance
- Keywords
- Blood Flow Restriction, Small-Sided Games, Soccer, Fatigue, Technical Stability
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Sport UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 22 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 27 Mar 2026 (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 aims to investigate whether applying blood flow restriction (BFR) during small-sided soccer games (SSG) can help soccer players maintain their passing and dribbling stability when they are fatigued. The study includes 40 young male soccer players. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups:
One group will wear pressurized BFR cuffs on their legs (80% of limb occlusion pressure) during a 4v4 training game.
The other group will act as a control, wearing the same cuffs but without any pressure (0% pressure) during the exact same training game.Both groups will complete a 6-week training program, practicing 3 times a week. Before and after the 6-week period, researchers will test the players' physical and technical skills (such as jumping, passing, and dribbling). Importantly, these tests will be conducted both before and immediately after a tiring 45-minute exercise routine to see which training method is more effective at preventing performance drops caused by fatigue.
Detailed description
This study utilizes a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group design. A total of 40 young male soccer players with systematic training backgrounds will be recruited. Following baseline testing, participants will be randomly assigned to either the BFR-SSG group or the SSG control group.The intervention spans 6 weeks, featuring three standardized 90-minute training sessions per week. The core intervention consists of a 4v4 small-sided game module (4 sets of 4 minutes). During this module, the BFR-SSG group will wear pneumatic cuffs inflated to 80% of their individual Limb Occlusion Pressure (LOP), while the control group will wear uninflated cuffs (0% LOP).Pre- and post-intervention assessments will systematically evaluate physiological adaptations (blood lactate, creatine kinase) , neuromuscular function (Countermovement Jump) , and sport-specific technical stability (Loughborough Soccer Passing Test and a 20m change-of-direction dribbling test). To specifically assess performance under metabolic stress, the technical and neuromuscular tests will be conducted at baseline and immediately following a standardized 45-minute fatigue-inducing protocol (Modified LIST). The primary goal is to quantify the attenuation rate of passing and dribbling performance under fatigue and determine if BFR combined with SSG provides superior chronic adaptations compared to SSG alone
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned in a parallel manner to either the BFR-SSG experimental group or the SSG control group. Both groups undergo the identical 6-week soccer training protocol simultaneously, differing only in the blood flow restriction cuff pressure (80% LOP vs. 0% LOP) applied during the core small-sided games intervention phase.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: BFR-SSG Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Blood Flow Restriction + Small-Sided Games (BFR-SSG)Participants are assigned to the blood flow restriction combined with small-sided games group. They wear compression cuffs inflated to 80% of their individualized Limb Occlusion Pressure (LOP) during the core small-sided games training. |
| Sham Comparator: SSG Control Group | Sham comparator | Behavioral: Small-Sided Games (SSG) ControlParticipants are assigned to the control group. They undergo the exact same small-sided games training while wearing identical cuffs that remain uninflated (0% LOP) to serve as a placebo. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Young male soccer players. Possess a systematic soccer specific training background and maintain a stable competitive state.
- Cleared by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), confirming that cardiovascular and metabolic systems can tolerate high-intensity physical testing and blood flow restriction interventions.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Any recent history of neuromuscular or musculoskeletal system injuries. Current smoking habit. Consumption of any sports nutrition supplements or drinks that could significantly affect muscle performance or neural excitability (e.g., creatine, caffeine, beta-alanine) within 3 months prior to the start of the study and throughout the experimental period.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Flow Restriction + Small-Sided Games (BFR-SSG)The intervention lasts for 6 weeks, with 3 standardized 90-minute soccer training sessions per week. During the core 20-minute intervention module, participants play 4v4 small-sided games (4 sets of 4 minutes, with 2 minutes of rest between sets). Cuffs are inflated to 80% LOP during the exercise phase and fully deflated during the rest intervals. | Behavioural | Experimental: BFR-SSG Group |
| Small-Sided Games (SSG) ControlParticipants complete the identical 6-week standardized soccer training program (3 sessions per week) and the 4v4 small-sided games module. However, the cuffs worn by the participants remain at 0% LOP (uninflated) throughout the entire duration of the small-sided games. | Behavioural | Sham Comparator: SSG Control Group |
Primary outcome
Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) Performance
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6). At both time points, the test is performed pre-fatigue and immediately post-fatigue.
The LSPT assesses passing skill and stability. The score is the total time (in seconds) required to complete 16 passes, plus penalty time added for passing errors. To evaluate passing stability under fatigue, the performance attenuation rate is calculated by comparing scores obtained before and immediately after a standardized 45-minute fatigue-inducing protocol (Modified LIST).
20m Change-of-Direction Dribbling Test Technical Deficit
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6). At both time points, measured pre-fatigue and immediately post-fatigue.
This test evaluates high-speed dribbling stability over a 20m slalom course. The primary metric is the "technical deficit," calculated by subtracting the time taken to complete the course without the ball (sprint) from the time taken with the ball (dribbling). This isolates technical stability from pure physical fatigue.
3 secondary outcomes
Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6). Measured pre-fatigue and immediately post-fatigue at both time points.
Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRT-1) Distance
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 6). Tests are conducted on a separate day, at least 48 hours apart from the main testing day, to avoid residual fatigu
Creatine Kinase (CK) Concentration
Time frame: Fasting baseline (Week 0), 24 hours after the first intervention session (Week 1), and 24 hours after the final intervention session (Week 6).
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 27 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared due to participant confidentiality and institutional data protectionpolicies.
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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 Blood Flow Restriction + Small-Sided Games (BFR-SSG) in people with Athletic Performance, run by Beijing Sport University at 1 site in China.
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 2 inclusion and 1 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 27 Mar 2026. 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 China. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) Performance (time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6). At both time points, the test is performed pre-fatigue and immediately post-fatigue.). 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?
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 27 Mar 2026.