Individual performance in passing tests predicts age‐independent success in small‐sided soccer possession games

Abstract

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A Novel Approach for Comparison of Reception Performance in a Technique Test and Small-Sided Games

“…For example, dribbling speed along curved paths was shown to predict a higher possibility of scoring a goal in a one-on-one soccer match [ 14 , 17 ]. Moreover, high validity of performance ratings in technical skills compared to performance in SSG was also reported in a study of young players (7-to-13 years old) [ 15 ]. These results showed that technical skills could explain 60% of the average number of successful passes and percentage passing success [ 15 ].…”

“…Moreover, high validity of performance ratings in technical skills compared to performance in SSG was also reported in a study of young players (7-to-13 years old) [ 15 ]. These results showed that technical skills could explain 60% of the average number of successful passes and percentage passing success [ 15 ]. In addition, performance in one-on-one soccer-tennis matches was compared to performance in five 11-on-11 soccer matches, and the results showed that players with high levels of success in soccer-tennis were likely to perform better in soccer matches [ 16 ].…”

“…Low validity of technical skill scores in match performance was also found in two other studies [ 11 , 12 ]. However, studies have shown that performance of technical skills can predict performance of dribbling and passing in SSG and match play [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The ball projection test measured the players’ technical reception skills.…”

“…Some studies have found that high performance in technical skills can predict performance in SSG or in full-scale soccer matches [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. For example, dribbling speed along curved paths was shown to predict a higher possibility of scoring a goal in a one-on-one soccer match [ 14 , 17 ].…”

Dribbling speed predicts goal‐scoring success in a soccer training game

“…Exploring the predictors of success in specific roles or activities, such as goal‐scoring success, requires one to use inter‐individual analyses of performances. Such analyses are commonly used in evolutionary biology, 18,19 and recent application in soccer has demonstrated their utility for identifying the traits associated with success in attacking and defending performance 12,20‐23 . Dribbling speed is considered critical to the outcome of soccer matches, 24 and Wilson et al 12,25 showed that a multidimensional metric of dribbling speed, as measured along several curved paths, was a strong predictor of individual attacking performance when the objective was to take on and beat a single defender.…”