Different Pitch Configurations Constrain the Playing Tactics and the Creation of Goal Scoring Opportunities during Small Sided Games in Youth Soccer Players.

Joaquín González-Rodenas,Pedro de Matías-Cid,Rodrigo Aranda-Malavés,Rafael Aranda,Andrés Tudela-Desantes

doi:10.3390/ijerph181910500

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the tactical effects of different pitch configurations on the collective playing tactics and the creation of goal scoring opportunities (GSO) during small sided soccer games (SSG) in youth players. A total of 22 players performed a 7 vs. 7 + 1 floater (including goalkeepers) under three different pitch configurations (“Standard”, 53 × 38 m; “Long”, 63 × 32 m; and “Wide”, 43 × 47 m). Eleven tactical indicators related to the development and the end of the team possessions were evaluated by systematic observation. Friedman tests (non-parametric ANOVA for repeated measures) revealed that the long and wide configurations produced more counterattacks (p = 0.0028; ES = 0.3), higher offensive penetration (p = 0.007; ES = 0.41), and more GSO (p = 0.018; ES = 0.30) than the standard format. Regarding the creation of GSO, the wide configuration produced more assists in the form of crosses than the long and standard formats (p = 0.025; ES = 0.31), more utilization of wide subspaces to assist the final player (p = 0.022; ES = 0.35), more number of headers as the final action (p = 0.022; ES = 0.32), and less assists in the form of passes in behind the defense (p = 0.034; ES = 0.28), than the long configuration. The modulation of the pitch configuration during SSG produced different tactical demands, requiring players to implement different tactical solutions to create GSO.

Highlights

The key offensive aim of soccer is to disorder the defensive organization of the opposing team to achieve goal scoring opportunities (GSO) and goals
Regarding the tactical development of GSO and goals, existing literature found that the actions that led to goal were predominantly originated in central and advanced areas of the opposing half, while the crosses have been shown to represent around 30–40% of
The majority of goals and GSO seem to be produced by collective plays, so that the individual actions produced less than 20% of them [9,10,11]

Summary

Introduction

The key offensive aim of soccer is to disorder the defensive organization of the opposing team to achieve goal scoring opportunities (GSO) and goals. The last actions such as the assist and the final shot are decisive and both depend on the spatial–temporal relationship between the penultimate and the last player as well as the interaction between the offensive and defensive organizations [1,2,3,4]. The study of Kempe and Memmet [7] observed that showing high creativity in the last two actions before the actual shot on goal proved to be the best predictor for game success in elite soccer. Regarding the tactical development of GSO and goals, existing literature found that the actions that led to goal were predominantly originated in central and advanced areas of the opposing half, while the crosses have been shown to represent around 30–40% of

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Conclusion