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.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
24 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Aug 2020
- Finished
-
Jun 2023
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 30 years
- Sex
-
Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male elite football players * Aged 18-30 years * At least 5 years of professional football experience * Currently training and competing at the professional level Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal disease or injury that could interfere with participation * Use of medication affecting cardiovascular function * Inability to complete training sessions or follow study protocol * Refusal to provide informed consent
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Exercise physiology are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a shuttle run shift key blood nutrients? study tests the question
- Can a hard cycling sprint change a Heart-Calming peptide?
- Can exercise type reshape appetite hormones? a trial puts aerobic, anaerobic, and HIIT to the test
- Cuffed training may unlock faster swim times
- Can training be timed to a Woman's cycle? a new study investigates
- Can All-Out sprints reshape the Thyroid's response?