Purpose. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of small-sided and conditioned games (SSG) on the internal load (heart rate [HR] and perceived exertion), external load (Global Positioning System variables), and lower limb power (squat jump [SJ] and countermovement jump [CMJ]).

Methods. Six collegiate male soccer players (age 20.3 ± 4.8 years; maximal oxygen uptake 42.9 ± 2.7 ml/kg/min; maximal HR 184.7 bpm) performed three 2-min bouts of 1 vs. 1 and two 3-min bouts of 3 vs. 3 format with a work-to-rest ratio of 1:1.5. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures tested the effects of bouts and SSG formats on the internal and external load and on the lower limb power.

Results. The 3^rd bout had significantly higher HRaverage and %HRmax values than the 2^nd bout (p = 0.027 and p = 0.026, respectively). The 1^st SSG bout presented higher total distance than the 2^nd bout (p = 0.007). The comparison among bouts revealed higher values of pace and player load intensity in the 1^st bout than in the 2^nd one (p = 0.015 and p = 0.019, respectively). No differences were found in SJ and CMJ among bouts (p = 0.981 and p = 0.307, respectively). SSG formats differed for total distance (p = 0.001; ES = 0.891; longer distance in 3 vs. 3 format), but not for %HRmax (p = 0.953; ES = 0.001).

Conclusions. Physiological and physical responses varied during bouts. Nevertheless, small differences between SSG formats were found. SSG bouts did not have significant impact on the lower limb power.