Analysis of Playing Area Dimensions in Spanish Professional Soccer: Extrapolation to the Design of Small-Sided Games With Tactical Applications

Abstract

The aims of this study were to examine: (1) the width and length dimensions of the playing 2 area in 4v4 situations during competition, (2) the influence of the pitch zone where the ball is 3 on 4v4 dimensions, and (3) the influence of match status on the dimensions of 4v4 situations. 4 Data were collected from 25 matches from the Spanish La Liga of the 2007-08 season using 5 the Amisco ® system. Length, width and individual playing area of the rectangle that included 6 the nearest four players to the ball fromof each team were collected in a total of 8,727 4v4 7 game situations. The pitch-zone and match status were also considered for these 4v4 8 situations. To determine factors that affect 4v4 game situations, one-way ANOVA was used. 9 The influence of the pitch-zone where 4v4 situations took place showed significant 10 differences (p<0.001) between the zones where different principles of the game apply. The 11 areas of the 4v4 situations ranged from 14.70±4.69 x 17.18±6 m to 17.09±5.16 x 20.34±5.93 12 m, and the individual playing area of the 4v4 playing rectangle ranged from 46.33±20 to 13 35.48±16.95 m 2 , being larger in the central zones of the pitch. The length of the 4v4 rectangle 14 showed a significant reduction in the closer zones to the goal. Match status didseemed not to 15 affect the dimensions of these 4v4 game situations significantly. The findings of this study 16 suggest that the size of 4v4 situations proposed for training should be designed according to 17 the pitch-zone where playing actions take place.

The influence of the field orientation on physical demands in soccer small-sided games

“…13 This is also reflected in match play research which shows the relative 4v4 playing area size is wider than longer in all zones of the official playing area. 16 The significantly greater total distance covered during SSG length compared to SSG width is consistent with research by Casamichana et al 9 and Folgado et al 15 One possible explanation for these results is the fact that during the SSG width the goals are closer than the SSG length . This situation might increase the opportunities to shoot, decreasing the necessity to move to create goal-scoring opportunities.…”

“…SSG are one of the most popular soccer training methodologies, 16 but the significant differences between official games and both SSG formats in this study for nearly all external and internal workload variables assessed suggests extreme care should be taken if relying solely on the latter for player conditioning. In their research, Gimenez et al 11 emphasize that the training routines of professional soccer players rarely replicate the main set of high-intensity efforts experienced during official matches.…”

“…Each team was comprised of a goalkeeper and 4 outfield players (2 defenders, 1 midfielder and 1 forward), with this configuration chosen as it is one of the most popular SSGs used in training. 16 External and internal load variables were monitored and compared to official games. All official games, from the beginning of the study to the end of the season, were analyzed.…”

“…Researchers in this domain often expand on this and consider the relative playing area of an official soccer field to be wider than it is long. 14 In order to investigate this concept further Caro et al 16 analyzed the width and length dimensions of the relative playing area in all 4v4 situations during normal official games. In this novel project, the researchers report that the effective playing area size during these events is wider than it is long in all zones of the playing field.…”

“…In this novel project, the researchers report that the effective playing area size during these events is wider than it is long in all zones of the playing field. Based on these data Caro et al 16 suggest that to recreate match-play conditions, the playing area in soccer-specific 4v4-SSG should also be wider than they are long.…”