Clarifying the Impact of Small-Sided Games and HIIT on Anaerobic Endurance in Adolescent Hockey Players

Abstract

Background. Given the sport’s complex aerobic-anaerobic demands, optimizing training methodologies is crucial for improving players’ repeated sprint ability, sustaining effort throughout matches, and enhancing overall performance. While hockey requires significant anaerobic power for explosive movements and sprints, the intermittent nature of the game also places considerable demands on aerobic systems for recovery between high-intensity efforts. Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Small-Sided Games (SSG) and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in enhancing anaerobic endurance among adolescent field hockey players. Materials and methods. A total of 36 adolescent male hockey players (aged 15–17 years) participated in this study and were randomly assigned to three groups: SSG (n=12), HIIT (n=12), and an Active Control Group (ACG) (n=12). The intervention lasted for six weeks, with each training group engaging in their respective training modalities three times per week. Anaerobic endurance was evaluated through the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) both prior to and following the intervention. A Two-Way Mixed ANOVA was conducted to analyze the interaction between time (pre-test vs. post-test) and group assignment. Results. Both the SSG and HIIT groups demonstrated significant improvements in anaerobic endurance compared to the ACG. The SSG group exhibited a greater reduction in RAST values (5.03%) than the HIIT group (3.71%). Statistical analysis revealed a significant main effect of time and group (F = 14.80, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.47), indicating a meaningful impact of both interventions. Post hoc comparisons showed that the SSG group outperformed the HIIT group, though both significantly improved anaerobic endurance compared to the control. Conclusions. This study confirms the efficacy of both SSG and HIIT in enhancing anaerobic endurance in adolescent hockey players, with SSG demonstrating slightly superior benefits. The findings suggest that integrating sport-specific drills, as seen in SSG, may yield greater physiological and tactical improvements than traditional HIIT protocols. Further research is needed to explore long-term adaptations, injury risk, and the potential benefits of combining both training methods for optimal performance enhancement.

Keywords

• anaerobic endurance
• adolescent athletes
• field hockey
• repeated sprint ability