Are small-sided games an efficient re-warm-up strategy in women football? A randomised crossover study

Abstract

This study investigated the acute effects of three re-warm-up conditions (small-sided games (SSG), jogging, and inactivity) on physical performance in youth female footballers. Sixteen under-15 players (14.06 ± 0.66 years) participated in a randomised crossover design over three weeks. Each intervention consisted of 4 min of either SSG (4v4, 25 m × 25 m), jogging, or passive rest, applied after a standardised warm-up. Physical performance was assessed using 10 m and 30 m sprint tests and the countermovement jump (CMJ) at six time points: baseline (Pre-Wu), immediately after warm-up, and at 5-, 10-, and 15-min post-re-warm-up. SSG produced meaningful improvements in CMJ height, with increases of +5.9% to +6.9% vs. baseline (ε² = 0.22–0.36, p < 0.01). Jogging also improved CMJ (+0.9% to +4.6%), although with slightly smaller effect. In the 30 m sprint, SSG helped maintain performance (≤1.0% variation), whereas jogging resulted in consistent performance decline (+1.9% to +3.1% slower than baseline, p < 0.05). Passive rest led to significant decrements in both CMJ and sprint performance (CMJ −5.6% at 15 min; 30 m sprint +2.1% to +3.0% slower, p < 0.05). No between-condition differences were observed for the 10 m sprint. In conclusion, both SSG and jogging are effective short re-warm-up strategies for preserving or enhancing CMJ performance, but SSG demonstrates greater practical relevance, sustaining jump performance while preventing sprint deterioration.