How playing area dimension and number of players constrain football performance during unbalanced ball possession games

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to analyse the external workload, tactical individual actions of passing, and perceived internal load during unbalanced small-sided games. Ball possession formats (4v3, 4v4 and 4v5) were played in three different playing area dimensions (20 × 15m, 25 × 20m and 30 × 25m) by under-23 football players. Data were analysed under opposition-based perspective, by fixing one team (4vX), and by cooperation-based perspective according to teammates (4v2+X) for each playing area condition. GPS monitors were used to collect and compute external workloads (distance covered while walking, running, sprinting, and maximal speed) and tactical individual actions (passing with dominant and non-dominant foot, and maximum passing speed), and Borg Scale CR10 to evaluate rating of perceived exertion (RPE). On both opposition- and cooperation-based perspectives, significant differences were found on external workload variables for all game formats, with smaller areas associated with more distances covered while walking and larger areas with running and sprinting. Likewise, 4v3, 4v4 and 4v2 + 3 revealed significant differences for tactical individual actions, where a larger area was associated with an increase in repetitions. Medium playing area, for both perspectives, was associated with a higher RPE. Overall, larger playing areas with higher number of players involved promoted more high-intensity running, while the same area with fewer number of players fostered tactical individual actions. Smaller areas allowed to reduce game pace, especially in formats with fewer players. Different unbalance scenarios under dissimilar playing area dimensions promote diverse performance outcomes on player’s action capabilities.

Practical Applications for Designing Soccer’ Training Tasks From Multivariate Data Analysis: A Systematic Review Emphasizing Tactical Training

“…Other modifications (opponent ability level, game status, numerical team imbalance, periodization). Previous studies have shown that the tactical actions performed by players from different age groups are different, even when the task constraint is the same (Nunes et al, 2020;Travassos et al, 2018). For example, Figueira et al, (2018) assessed the impact of mixed aged players as a means of improving young players' tactical skills and physical fitness.…”

Designing facilitated task constraints for different age groups in soccer: The impact of floaters’ rules

“…Previous research has revealed that the use of similar contexts of practice with players of different ages promoted variations on players' and teams' tactical actions. 6,7 For example, older players present higher values of area per team and stretching index 8 as well as higher distances between teams' centroids in SSGs 9 during SSGs in comparison with youngers.…”

Clustering ball possession duration according to players’ role in football small-sided games

“…Considering that different players' roles require different perceptual and motor skills [18][19][20], it would be important to understand how the ball possession duration was affected according to these positions' specificities Accordingly, coaches have been using small-sided games (SSG), which consists of game-based situations performed in smaller spaces, with adapted rules and often with a fewer number of players. Considering that different rules emphasize different information [21,22], and consequently, different behaviours from the players, some research revealed that increasing the pitch area and playing in superiority stressed the passing actions [23], providing insightful information for coaches regarding on how to adjust the task constraints to emphasize ball possession. Despite the considerable amount of research exploring how different task constraints affects tactical behaviour of players and particularly ball possession, little is known how the manipulation of players capabilities and roles, constraints ball possession and the exploration of individual tactical actions.…”