Effects of carbohydrate mouth rinse on performances of small-sided games in young male soccer players: A comparison between small and large pitch sizes

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 4, 198 - 205, 31.08.2025

Mustafa Şahin , Erşan Arslan , Yusuf Soylu

https://doi.org/10.31459/turkjkin.1689944

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the carbohydrate (CHO) mouth rinse (MR) intervention on performances in young male soccer players during small (S) and large (L) pitch sizes of 4-a-side small-sided soccer games (SSG). Sixteen amateur male soccer players (age: 16.9 ± 0.3 years; height: 173.2 ± 4.6 cm; body mass: 62.4 ± 4.9 kg) played three bouts of 4-a-side SSG with S or L size sided at 3-day intervals in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, and crossover study design. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE), the rating scale of mental effort (RSME), and the physical enjoyment scores (PES) were determined at the end of each game. Heart rate (HR) and total distance responses were continuously recorded during all games. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare interactions and main effects on psychophysiological responses and kinematic profiles between the SSG-S and SSG-L pitch sizes. SSG-S with the MR group induced higher RPE responses (p ≤ 0.05, d values 1.55 [large effect]) compared to SSG-L with the MR group. Conversely, SSG-L with MR group induced higher total distance covered and successful pass (p ≤ 0.05, d values ranging from 0.29 to 5.09 [small to very large effect]) compared to SSG-S with MR group. Our results support that the CHO-MR intervention could not be used as an effective ergogenic supplement for enhancing the performance of SSG, regardless of the pitch sizes.

Keywords

Ergogenic supplement , game-based training , psychophysiology , soccer , technical skills

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University of Social and Humanities Research Ethical Committee (30.01.2024/388052-02) and it was carried out in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association also known as a declaration of Helsinki.

Supporting Institution

The authors declare that the study received no funding.

References

• Arslan, E., Alemdaroglu, U., Koklu, Y., Hazir, T., Muniroglu, S., & Karakoc, B. (2017). Effects of passive and active rest on physiological responses and time motion characteristics in different small sided soccer games. J Hum Kinet, 60, 123. doi: 10.1515/hukin-2017-0095
• Arslan, E., Orer, G. E., & Clemente, F. M. (2020). Running-based high-intensity interval training vs. small-sided game training programs: Effects on the physical performance, psychophysiological responses and technical skills in young soccer players. Biol Sport, 37(2), 165. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2020.94237
• Belkhiria, C., Driss, T., Habas, C., Jaafar, H., Guillevin, R., & de Marco, G. (2017). Exploration and identification of cortico-cerebellar-brainstem closed loop during a motivational-motor task: An fMRI study. Cerebellum, 16, 326–339. doi: 10.1007/s12311-016-0801-1
• Birinci, Y. Z., Pancar, S., & Soylu, Y. (2025). Comparison of the acute effects of carbohydrate mouth rinse and coach encouragement on kinematic profiles during small-sided games in young male soccer players. Nutrients, 17(3), 546. doi: 10.3390/nu17030546
• Brietzke, C., Franco-Alvarenga, P. E., Canestri, R., Goethel, M. F., Vínicius, Í., Painelli, V. de S., Santos, T. M., Hettinga, F. J., & Pires, F. O. (2020). Carbohydrate mouth rinse mitigates mental fatigue effects on maximal incremental test performance, but not in cortical alterations. Brain Sci, 10(8), 493. doi: 10.3390/brainsci10080493
• Carter, J. M., Jeukendrup, A. E., & Jones, D. A. (2004). The effect of carbohydrate mouth rinse on 1-h cycle time trial performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 36(12), 2107–2111. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000147585.65709.6f
• Cermak, N. M., & van Loon, L. J. (2013). The use of carbohydrates during exercise as an ergogenic aid. Sports Med, 43, 1139–1155. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0079-0
• Chambers, E. S., Bridge, M. W., & Jones, D. A. (2009). Carbohydrate sensing in the human mouth: Effects on exercise performance and brain activity. J Physiol, 587(8), 1779–1794. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.164285
• Clemente, F. M., Afonso, J., & Sarmento, H. (2021). Small-sided games: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. PloS One, 16(2), e0247067. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247067
• Clemente, F. M., Martins, F. M. L., & Mendes, R. S. (2014). Developing aerobic and anaerobic fitness using small-sided soccer games: Methodological proposals. Strength Cond J, 36(3), 76–87. doi: 10.1519/SSC.0000000000000063
• Cramer, M. N., Thompson, M. W., & Périard, J. D. (2015). Thermal and cardiovascular strain mitigate the potential benefit of carbohydrate mouth rinse during self-paced exercise in the heat. Front Physiol, 6, 354. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2015.00354
• Filter, A., Olivares-Jabalera, J., Dos’Santos, T., Madruga, M., Lozano, J., Molina, A., Santalla, A., Requena, B., & Loturco, I. (2023). High-intensity actions in elite soccer: Current status and future perspectives. Int J Sports Med, 44(08), 535–544. doi: 10.1055/a-2013-1661
• Foster, C., Boullosa, D., McGuigan, M., Fusco, A., Cortis, C., Arney, B. E., Orton, B., Dodge, C., Jaime, S., & Radtke, K. (2021). 25 years of session rating of perceived exertion: Historical perspective and development. Int J Sports Med, 16(5), 612–621. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0599
• Gant, N., Stinear, C. M., & Byblow, W. D. (2010). Carbohydrate in the mouth immediately facilitates motor output. Brain Res, 1350, 151–158. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.04.004
• Gough, L. A., Faghy, M., Clarke, N., Kelly, A. L., Cole, M., & Lun Foo, W. (2022). No independent or synergistic effects of carbohydrate-caffeine mouth rinse on repeated sprint performance during simulated soccer match play in male recreational soccer players. Sci Med Football, 6(4), 519–527. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2021.2021277
• Hartley, C., Carr, A., Bowe, S. J., Bredie, W. L. P., & Keast, R. S. J. (2022). Maltodextrin-based carbohydrate oral rinsing and exercise performance: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med, 52(8), 1833–1862. doi: 10.1007/s40279-022-01658-3
• Henriksen, A., Grimsgaard, S., Horsch, A., Hartvigsen, G., & Hopstock, L. (2019). Validity of the polar M430 activity monitor in free-living conditions: Validation study. JMIR Form Res, 3(3), e14438. doi: 10.2196/14438
• Hill-Haas, S. V., Dawson, B., Impellizzeri, F. M., & Coutts, A. J. (2011). Physiology of small-sided games training in football: A systematic review. Sports Med, 41, 199–220. doi: 10.2165/11539740-000000000-00000
• Lane, A. M., Terry, P. C., Devonport, T. J., Friesen, A. P., & Totterdell, P. A. (2017). A test and extension of Lane and Terry’s (2000) conceptual model of mood-performance relationships using a large internet sample. Front Psychol, 8, 258140. do.: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00470
• Painelli, V. D. S., Brietzke, C., Franco-Alvarenga, P. E., Canestri, R., Vinícius, Í., & Pires, F. O. (2022). A narrative review of current concerns and future perspectives of the carbohydrate mouth rinse effects on exercise performance. SAGE Open Med, 10. doi: 10.1177/20503121221098120
• Pires, F. O., Pinheiro, F. A., Brietzke, C., Franco-Alvarenga, P. E., Veras, K., de Matos, E. C., Rodacki, A. L., & Ugrinowitsch, C. (2024). Carbohydrate mouth rinse failed to reduce central fatigue, lower perceived exertion, and improve performance during incremental exercise. Front Nutr, 11, 1329074. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1329074
• Přibyslavská, V., Scudamore, E. M., Johnson, S. L., Green, J. M., Stevenson Wilcoxson, M. C., Lowe, J. B., & O’Neal, E. K. (2016). Influence of carbohydrate mouth rinsing on running and jumping performance during early morning soccer scrimmaging. Eur J Sport Sci, 16(4), 441–447. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2015.1020345
• Rollo, I., Homewood, G., Williams, C., Carter, J., & Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L. (2015). The influence of carbohydrate mouth rinse on self-selected intermittent running performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 25(6), 550–558. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0001
• Sarmento, H., Clemente, F. M., Araújo, D., Davids, K., McRobert, A., & Figueiredo, A. (2018). What performance analysts need to know about research trends in association football (2012–2016): A systematic review. Sports Med, 48, 799–836. doi: 10.1007/s40279-017-0836-6
• Sarmento, H., Clemente, F. M., Harper, L. D., Costa, I. T. D., Owen, A., & Figueiredo, A. J. (2018). Small sided games in soccer – a systematic review. Int J Perf Anal Spor, 18(5), 693–749. doi: 10.1080/24748668.2018.1517288
• Silva, T. de A. e, de Souza, M. E. D. C. A., De Amorim, J. F., Stathis, C. G., Leandro, C. G., & Lima-Silva, A. E. (2013). Can carbohydrate mouth rinse improve performance during exercise? A systematic review. Nutrients, 6(1), 1–10. doi: 10.3390/nu6010001
• Soylu, Y., Arslan, E., & Kilit, B. (2023). Egzersiz ve keyif: Ergen ve yetişkin sporcular için ölçek uyarlama çalişmasi. Spormetre J Phys Educ Sport Sci, 21(1), 93–104. doi: 10.33689/spormetre.1183236
• Soylu, Y., Arslan, E., Kilit, B., & Lane, A. M. (2024a). Effects of coach encouragement on psychophysiological responses and technical actions in different small-sided soccer games. Int J Sport Exerc Ps, 22(9), 2169–2181. doi: 10.1080/1612197X.2023.2273274
• Soylu, Y., Chmura, P., Arslan, E., & Kilit, B. (2024b). the effects of carbohydrate mouth rinse on psychophysiological responses and kinematic profiles in intermittent and continuous small-sided games in adolescent soccer players: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, and crossover trial. Nutrients, 16(22), 3910. doi: 10.3390/nu16223910
• Stølen, T., Chamari, K., Castagna, C., & Wisløff, U. (2005). Physiology of soccer: An update. Sports Med, 35, 501–536. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200535060-00004
• Turner, C. E., Byblow, W. D., Stinear, C. M., & Gant, N. (2014). Carbohydrate in the mouth enhances activation of brain circuitry involved in motor performance and sensory perception. Appetite, 80, 212–219. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2014.05.020
• Watson, P., Nichols, D., & Cordery, P. (2014). Mouth rinsing with a carbohydrate solution does not influence cycle time trial performance in the heat. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 39(9), 1064–1069. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2013-0413
• Yılmaz, O., & Soylu, Y. (2024). A comparative study of the effects of small-sided game formats on internal load and technical responses in soccer. Pamukkale J Sport Sci, 15(2), 416–431. doi: 10.54141/psbd.1467311