{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T07:38:22Z","timestamp":1792654702706,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,22]],"date-time":"2026-08-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787356800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,22]],"date-time":"2026-08-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787356800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["European Journal of Sport Science"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:label\/>\n                    <jats:p>This study aimed to compare the acute effects of two 4v4 small\u2010sided game (SSG) formats, touch\u2010restricted SSG (SSGt) and free\u2010play SSG (SSGf), on serum brain\u2010derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, cognitive performance, and technical actions in young male soccer players. Thirty\u2010two young male soccer players completed two 4v4 SSG conditions in a randomized crossover design: SSGt (a maximum of two ball touches per possession) and an SSGf. Serum BDNF was measured before and after each session. Executive function was assessed with the Stroop task, cognitive load was evaluated with the Rating Scale of Mental Effort (RSME), and technical actions were analyzed through match performance metrics. Internal load was monitored using heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and blood lactate levels. Serum BDNF increased significantly only in the SSGt condition, with higher post\u2010exercise values than in the SSGf condition. Mental effort was also significantly greater in SSGt. Executive function performance improved only in SSGt, as reflected by faster completion time in the incongruent color\u2010word interference condition, whereas errors and corrections did not differ between conditions. Moreover, SSGt showed higher numbers of successful passes and shots, fewer unsuccessful passes, and lost balls, whereas interceptions were higher in SSGf. In conclusion, 4v4 SSG with a touch restriction may be a useful strategy for shaping acute neurotrophic, executive\u2010function, and technical\u2010action responses in soccer players. These findings suggest that touch restrictions may help coaches broaden the training stimulus of SSG by increasing cognitive demands without reducing technical effectiveness.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Trial Registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT07395765)<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/ejsc.70242","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,23]],"date-time":"2026-08-23T03:27:05Z","timestamp":1787455625000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Touch Restriction Versus Free\u2010Play Small\u2010Sided Games in Soccer: Acute Effects on Serum BDNF, Executive Function, and Technical Actions"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1772-6014","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yakup Z\u00fcht\u00fc","family":"Birinci","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sport Sciences Bursa Uluda\u011f University  Bursa T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4495-9796","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Serkan","family":"Pancar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sport Sciences Aksaray University  Aksaray T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0609-0601","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yusuf","family":"Soylu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sport Sciences Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University  Tokat T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2593-7196","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emre","family":"Sarand\u00f6l","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Bursa Uluda\u011f 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