Football PlayersRST-SSG-CPETNCT07622511
Comparative Effects of Repeated Sprint Training and Small-Sided Games on Cardiopulmonary Threshold Responses in Football Players
A study testing Repeated Sprint Training and Small-Sided Games in people with Football Players, run by Istanbul Gelisim University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aimed to compare the effects of sprint interval training (SIT) and small-sided games (SSG) on cardiopulmonary threshold responses in football players. Participants were randomly assigned to SIT, SSG, or control groups and completed an 8-week training intervention. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 16 to 17 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Football Players
- What is being tested?
- Repeated Sprint Training and Small-Sided Games
- 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 May 2024to 15 Aug 2024
- 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 16 to 17 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Male football players aged 16-17 years
- Regular participation in football training
- Free from injury or illness during the study period
- Voluntary participation with informed consent
Who cannot join
- Current musculoskeletal injury
- Cardiovascular or respiratory disease
- Failure to complete the intervention program
- Use of medications affecting exercise performance
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Sport Sciences
Istanbul
About this study
This study aimed to compare the effects of sprint interval training (SIT) and small-sided games (SSG) on cardiopulmonary threshold responses in football players. Participants were randomly assigned to SIT, SSG, or control groups and completed an 8-week training intervention. Cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed before and after the intervention to evaluate aerobic and anaerobic threshold-related parameters.
Read the detailed description
The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the effects of sprint interval training and small-sided games on cardiopulmonary threshold responses in football players. Participants will undergo pre- and post-intervention cardiopulmonary exercise testing following an 8-week training program. Variables related to aerobic threshold, anaerobic threshold, and exercise performance will be evaluated between groups.
- Conditions
- Football Players
- Being tested
- Repeated Sprint Training, Small-Sided Games, Control
- Keywords
- Vo'2max, Sprint Interval Training, Aerobic Threshold, Anaerobic Threshold, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing, Football Players, Small-Sided Games
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Repeated Sprint TrainingBehavioural
Also called RST
Participants continued regular football training without additional intervention.
Small-Sided GamesBehavioural
Also called SSG
Small-sided game training sessions performed during the 8-week intervention period.
ControlOther
Participants continued regular football training without additional intervention.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated Sprint Training Group | Experimental | Participants performed Repeated Sprint Training sessions in addition to regular football training during the intervention period. Receives: Behavioral: Repeated Sprint Training |
| Small-Sided Games Group | Experimental | Participants performed small-sided game training sessions in addition to regular football training during the intervention period. Receives: Behavioral: Small-Sided Games |
| Control Group | Experimental | Participants continued their regular football training without additional intervention during the study period. Receives: Other: Control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Oxygen Uptake at Anaerobic Threshold (VO₂)
Assessment of oxygen uptake (VO₂, mL·kg-¹·min-¹) measured at the anaerobic threshold during cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Oxygen Uptake at Respiratory Compensation Point (VO₂)
Assessment of oxygen uptake (VO₂, mL·kg-¹·min-¹) measured at the respiratory compensation point during cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Secondary outcomes (1)
Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO₂max)
Assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Jun 2026
- Study start1 May 2024
- Primary completion1 Aug 2024
- Study completion15 Aug 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Football PlayersStudies 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 were randomly assigned to sprint interval training, small-sided games, or control groups and followed in parallel throughout the intervention period.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Gelisim University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Onur YİLDİRİM, PhD, Principal investigator, Istanbul Gelisim Universty Faculty of Sport Sciences,ty
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07622511
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ONUR-FOOTBALL-CPET-2026
- Other IDs
- IGU-SIT-2026
- Acronym
- RST-SSG-CPET
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 13 May 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Repeated Sprint Training and Small-Sided Games on Cardiopulmonary Threshold Responses in Football Players
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07622511
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RST-SSG-CPET / ONUR-FOOTBALL-CPET-2026
- Conditions
- Football Players
- Keywords
- Vo'2max, Sprint Interval Training, Aerobic Threshold, Anaerobic Threshold, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing, Football Players, Small-Sided Games
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Gelisim UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 May 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Aug 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Jun 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 aimed to compare the effects of sprint interval training (SIT) and small-sided games (SSG) on cardiopulmonary threshold responses in football players. Participants were randomly assigned to SIT, SSG, or control groups and completed an 8-week training intervention. Cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed before and after the intervention to evaluate aerobic and anaerobic threshold-related parameters.
Detailed description
The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the effects of sprint interval training and small-sided games on cardiopulmonary threshold responses in football players. Participants will undergo pre- and post-intervention cardiopulmonary exercise testing following an 8-week training program. Variables related to aerobic threshold, anaerobic threshold, and exercise performance will be evaluated between groups.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to sprint interval training, small-sided games, or control groups and followed in parallel throughout the intervention period.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated Sprint Training Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Repeated Sprint TrainingParticipants performed Repeated Sprint Training sessions in addition to regular football training during the intervention period. |
| Small-Sided Games Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Small-Sided GamesParticipants performed small-sided game training sessions in addition to regular football training during the intervention period. |
| Control Group | Experimental | Other: ControlParticipants continued their regular football training without additional intervention during the study period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 16 to 17 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Male football players aged 16-17 years
- Regular participation in football training
- Free from injury or illness during the study period
- Voluntary participation with informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Current musculoskeletal injury
- Cardiovascular or respiratory disease
- Failure to complete the intervention program
- Use of medications affecting exercise performance
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated Sprint TrainingAlso: RSTParticipants continued regular football training without additional intervention. | Behavioural | Repeated Sprint Training Group |
| Small-Sided GamesAlso: SSGSmall-sided game training sessions performed during the 8-week intervention period. | Behavioural | Small-Sided Games Group |
| ControlParticipants continued regular football training without additional intervention. | Other | Control Group |
Primary outcome
Oxygen Uptake at Anaerobic Threshold (VO₂)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Assessment of oxygen uptake (VO₂, mL·kg-¹·min-¹) measured at the anaerobic threshold during cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Oxygen Uptake at Respiratory Compensation Point (VO₂)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Assessment of oxygen uptake (VO₂, mL·kg-¹·min-¹) measured at the respiratory compensation point during cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
1 secondary outcome
Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO₂max)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
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 29 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Football Players
Not yet recruitingObservational study
A Prospective Study of Cognitive Changes in Retired and Late-Career Professional Soccer Players
Cognitive Impairment, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Not yet recruiting
Acute Effects of Breathing Resistance During Exercise in Football Players
Respiratory Muscle Function and Football Performance
Not yet recruiting
Blood Parameter Changes Following Aerobic Exercise in Professional Soccer Players
Exercise Physiology, Blood Parameters
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Q-Angle, Segment Length, Quadriceps, and Knee Alignment in Soccer Players
Soccer Players
Not yet recruiting
Effects of Sprint and Eccentric Hamstring Training in Elite Youth Soccer Players
Sprint Mechanical Output, Sprint Performance
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.
Onur YİLDİRİM, PhD principal investigator
Istanbul Gelisim Universty Faculty of Sport Sciences,ty
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Repeated Sprint Training and Small-Sided Games in people with Football Players, run by Istanbul Gelisim University 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 29 Oct 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 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?
Oxygen Uptake at Anaerobic Threshold (VO₂) (time frame: Baseline and Week 8). 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 29 Oct 2026.