Table 3. Mean and standard deviations of pre- and post-measurements, along with inferential statistics comparing the groups. freeBT (n = 16) LimitedBT (n = 16) Control (n = 15) Between-group ANOVA Pairwise comparisons YYIRT Pre 1415.5 ± 137.3 1452.0 ± 117.6 1444.5 ± 143.3 F = 0.335; p = 0.717; ηp2 = 0.015 freeBT ≈ limitedBT (p > 0.999; ES = 0.286) freeBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.207) limitedBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.057) Post 1557.5 ± 104.0 1622.5 ± 99.8 1454.7 ± 137.0 *F = 8.456; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.278 freeBT ≈ limitedBT (p = 0.344; ES = 0.638) *freeBT > control (p = 0.048; ES = 0.853) *limitedBT > control (p < 0.001; ES = 1.417) 10-m sprint (s) Pre 1.731 ± 0.073 1.730 ± 0.02 1.736 ± 0.02 F = 0.073; p = 0.930; ηp2 = 0.003 freeBT ≈ limitedBT (p > 0.999; ES = 0.022) freeBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.108) limitedBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.300) Post 1.697 ± 0.06 1.654 ± 0.03 1.740 ± 0.04 *F = 12.728; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.367 *freeBT > limitedBT (p = 0.042; ES = 0.956) *freeBT < control (p = 0.045; ES = 0.860) *limitedBT < control (p < 0.001; ES = 2.457) 30-m sprint (s) Pre 4.136 ± 0.032 4.133 ± 0.03 4.128 ± 0.05 F = 0.195; p = 0.824; ηp2 = 0.009 freeBT ≈ limitedBT (p > 0.999; ES = 0.097) freeBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.195) limitedBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.125) Post 4.134 ± 0.03 4.122 ± 0.04 4.127 ± 0.05 F = 0.335; p = 0.717; ηp2 = 0.015 freeBT ≈ limitedBT (p > 0.999; ES = 0.343) freeBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.175) limitedBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.111) RAST total time (s) Pre 23.43 ± 0.59 23.46 ± 0.62 23.51 ± 0.57 F = 0.062; p = 0.940; ηp2 = 0.003 freeBT ≈ limitedBT (p > 0.999; ES = 0.050) freeBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.138) limitedBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.084) Post 22.97 ± 0.58 22.44 ± 0.61 23.50 ± 0.57 *F = 12.747; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.367 *freeBT > limitedBT (p = 0.042; ES = 0.891) *freeBT < control (p = 0.045; ES = 0.922) *limitedBT < control (p < 0.001; ES = 1.797) RAST initial-final decline (%) Pre 1.388 ± 0.42 1.336 ± 0.51 1.472 ± 0.57 F = 0.286; p = 0.753; ηp2 = 0.013 freeBT ≈ limitedBT (p > 0.999; ES = 0.112) freeBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.170) limitedBT ≈ control (p > 0.999; ES = 0.252) Post 0.961 ± 0.41 0.748 ± 0.45 1.371 ± 0.42 *F = 8.310; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.274 *freeBT ≈ limitedBT (p = 0.505; ES = 0.495) *freeBT < control (p = 0.034; ES = 0.988) *limitedBT < control (p < 0.001; ES = 1.432) freeBT: small-sided games in free play; limitedBT: small-sided games with limited ball touches; YYIR: Yo-Yo Intermittent recovery test level 1; RAST: repeated ability sprint test; ≈: similar and not significantly different; *: significantly different; ES: effect size resulting from cohen’s d