Exploratory Behavior and the Temporal Structure of Soccer Small-Sided Games to Evaluate Creativity in Children

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this work, the position of the goals was modified to analyze the effects on the exploratory behavior and the team tactical pattern, which can be meaningful variables to study creativity in team sports. Twenty-four male soccer school players under the age of 12 participated in this study. Participants were divided into four teams of one goalkeeper and 5 players. Each team played six small-sided games of 5 min in three different goals positioning situations. The positioning-derived data of each player were collected using 10 Hz GPS units, were exported, and then computed using Matlab® dedicated routines. The positioning-derived variables were: team length and width, sector and corridor, centroid speed and its distance to the own goal, the centroid angle, and the speed of spread rate. They were analyzed by means of a PCA and the dynamic overlap order parameter. Results showed that changing the position of goals did not affect significantly the exploratory behavior. PCA analysis and Tucker’s Congruence Coefficient revealed that the task constraints could be characterized by a high mutual atypicality, and hence, originality. The use of the dynamic overlap, the PCA, hPCA, andTucker’s Congruence Coefficient to assess the degree of creativity in team sports were discussed. In conclusion, modifying the position of the goals can foster original behaviors of young athletes and increase the tactical repertoire of players.