Are there differences in the technical actions performed by players from different playing position during small-sided games?

• Published in: Revista brasileira de cineantropometria & desempenho humano Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 300 - 308
• Main Authors: Silva, Marcelo Vilhena, Brito e Sousa, Raphael, Praça, Gibson Moreira, Morales, Juan Carlos Pérez, Chagas, Mauro Heleno, Greco, Pablo Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Florianopolis Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Desportos 2018; Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
• Subjects: SPORT SCIENCES; Physical education and training; Educação Física e Treinamento; Task performance analysis; Futebol; Soccer; Análise de desempenho de tarefas
• ISSN: 1415-8426; 1980-0037; 1980-0037
• DOI: 10.5007/1980-0037.2018v20n3p300

This study aimed to compare technical actions of soccer players from different playing position during small-sided games in which teams were composed of players from the same position (e.g., three defenders). In total, 14 U-14 soccer players (14.43 ± 0.16 years), four defenders, four midfielders and four forwards, as well as 2 non-evaluated goalkeepers, participated in this study. The incidence of technical actions performed by players was analyzed through proportion chi-square test and omega effect sizes, and significance level was set at 5%. Results showed no differences in technical actions performed by players from different playing positions (p>0.05, small effect size). Thus, it is suggested that the 3v3 small-sided game, with teams composed of athletes with the same playing position, is characterized by a more general training stimulus, which can be particularly useful during the first years of deliberate practice.