Table 1. Description of the training regimens employed over the intervention period.

	SSG	SSG	HIIT	HIIT
	Session 1	Session 2	Session 1	Session 2
Week 1	442’/3’ rest Format of play: 2v2	442’/3’ rest Format of play: 2v2	442’&15’’:15’’ @ 90%VIFT/3’ rest	442’&15’’:15’’ @ 90%VIFT/3’ rest
Week 2	442’/3’ rest Format of play: 2v2	442’/3’ rest Format of play: 2v2	442’&15’’:15’’ @ 90%VIFT/3’ rest	442’&15’’:15’’ @ 90%VIFT/3’ rest
Week 3	442’/3’ rest Format of play: 2v2	442’/3’ rest Format of play: 2v2	442’&15’’:15’’ @ 90%VIFT/3’ rest	442’&15’’:15’’ @ 90%VIFT/3’ rest
Week 4	442’/3’ rest Format of play: 2v2	442’/3’ rest Format of play: 2v2	442’&15’’:15’’ @ 90%VIFT/3’ rest	442’&15’’:15’’ @ 90%VIFT/3’ rest
Week 5	444’/3’ rest Format of play: 4v4	444’/3’ rest Format of play: 4v4	444’@ 85%VIFT/3’ rest	444’@ 85%VIFT/3’ rest
Week 6	444’/3’ rest Format of play: 4v4	444’/3’ rest Format of play: 4v4	444’@ 85%VIFT/3’ rest	444’@ 85%VIFT/3’ rest
Week 7	444’/3’ rest Format of play: 4v4	444’/3’ rest Format of play: 4v4	444’@ 85%VIFT/3’ rest	444’@ 85%VIFT/3’ rest
Week 8	444’/3’ rest Format of play: 4v4	444’/3’ rest Format of play: 4v4	444’@ 85%VIFT/3’ rest	444’@ 85%VIFT/3’ rest

SSG: small-sided games; HIIT: high-intensity interval training; VIFT: final velocity at 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test; @: at; ‘: minutes; ’’: seconds.