Effects of Blood Flow Restriction and Small-Sided Games on Soccer Passing and Dribbling Stability Under Fatigue

NCT07496944 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2026027H
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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. 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.

Conditions

Athletic Performance

Keywords

Blood Flow Restriction; Small-Sided Games; Soccer; Fatigue; Technical Stability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• 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).

  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.

  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

  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

  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

  Fasting baseline (Week 0), 24 hours after the first intervention session (Week 1), and 24 hours after the final intervention session (Week 6).

Study Arms (2)

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.

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.

Behavioral: Small-Sided Games (SSG) Control

Interventions

Blood Flow Restriction + Small-Sided Games (BFR-SSG) BEHAVIORAL

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.

Experimental: BFR-SSG Group

Small-Sided Games (SSG) Control BEHAVIORAL

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.

Sham Comparator: SSG Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Beijing Sport University: lead

Study Sites (1)

China Football Institute, Beijing Sport University

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100084, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue

Interventions

Antimony Sodium Gluconate

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Organic Chemicals; Gluconates; Sugar Acids; Acids, Acyclic; Carboxylic Acids; Hydroxy Acids; Carbohydrates

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Randomization and group allocation were performed by an independent researcher not involved in data collection or analysis. Group assignments were hidden using coding to ensure that the investigators and outcome assessors remained completely blinded to the intervention conditions throughout the entire study process.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Graduate Student

Model Details: 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.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 22, 2026
• First Posted: March 27, 2026
• Study Start: January 20, 2026
• Primary Completion: March 10, 2026
• Study Completion: March 22, 2026
• Last Updated: March 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)