New study reveals best football drill for heart and ball control

NCT ID NCT07157150

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tested how rule changes in 3v3 and 4v4 football games affect elite players' heart rate and ball touches. Twenty-four male professional players did both free-play and controlled-pass games. Researchers measured heart rate and counted ball touches to see which format boosts fitness and skill best.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to

If successful, this study could help coaches design small-sided games that improve both fitness and technical skills in elite football players.

What could go wrong

This is a small, completed study with only 24 elite male players. Results may not apply to other groups or real match conditions.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Ondokuz Mayis University

    Samsun, Atakum, 55200, Turkey (Türkiye)