Analysis of tactical behavior in full- and small-sided games: Comparing professional and youth academy athletes to enhance player development in soccer

Abstract

The present study aims to compare the tactical behavior of youth academy and professional players, in order to ascertain the contribution of full- and small-sided games for the development process. One hundred and eighty individuals were selected from three age groups (U-8, U-10 and U-12). A competition was held in which all teams faced each other once in each format (Full- and Small-Sided Games). In addition, 9 matches of the 2018 Brazilian Championship were analyzed. The paired t tests, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests was performed to the comparison between the tactical behavior of youth academy players in each game format with the professional players (p < 0.05). Youth academy matches generated more and shorter offensive sequences, interactions were less frequent and less variable, and players cooperated less with one another. In the small-sided game, specifically, there was a demand for ball circulation in terms of velocity and amplitude similar to that of professional matches. Elements were found that support the need to use small-sided games in training, as it provides similar stimuli to what players will find in the professional category in the future. The speed and width of ball circulation, a large number of shots on goal, and the constant exchanges of ball possession - which helps in the development of cooperative and oppositional relationships between the phases and moments of the game - are enough elements to sustain that the game settings discussed here are beneficial for player development.