Does Youth Soccer Players’ Group Cooperation Improve when Pitch, Goal, and Team Size Are Reduced?

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of the modification of the pitch size, goal size, and the number of players per team on the level of cooperation in youth soccer players (U-12). A quasi-experimental design was implemented to measure the effects of the changes in the number of players per team (8-a-side vs. 5-a-side), goal size (6 x 2 m vs. 3 x 2 m), and field size (58 x 38 m vs. 38 x 20 m) on the cooperation. Four soccer teams under-12 (n = 48 players) participated in three tournaments (standard rules; proposed rules; standard rules). The five variables of cooperation were measured using the “Sports Cooperation Questionnaire”: conditional cooperation, cooperation with the coach, disposition of unconditional cooperation, situational cooperation with teammates, and situational cooperation outside the field of play. Players presented the same level of cooperation in conditional cooperation, situational cooperation with teammates, and situational cooperation outside the field of play with both types of rules. The modification of rules involved a reduction of the cooperation with the coach and a disposition of unconditional cooperation. The causes of the reduction may be related to players’ adaptation to new tactical dispositions and game situations. Future studies are needed of player’s cooperation and different competition rules in youth sports.