Abstract
What are the most important field zones when goalposts are manipulated in soccer?
- Postgraduate Program in Exercise and Sport Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Studies in Soccer, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Brazil
Purpose
To compare the range and depth of ball circulation, the time of ball possession in each corridor and sector, and the zones of incidence of finalizations in small-sided and conditioned games (SSCG).
Methods
Overall, 27 under-15 soccer players performed 21 games, 7 games in each task condition (SSCGs with goalkeepers – SSCGG; without goalkeepers – SSCGWG; and with mini-goals – SSCGMG). The videos were analysed with the Soccer Analyser software. The range and depth of ball circulation were evaluated by the number of corridor variations (NCV) and the number of depth variations (NDV), respectively.
Results
In SSCGG and SSCGWG, there was a significant difference of the time in which the ball remained in each corridor. As for the number of finalizations in each field zone, SSCGG presented a significant difference in the central offensive zone with 42 finalizations; SSCGWG showed a higher number of finalizations in the defensive zones; and SSCGMG exhibited more finalizations in the right and left offensive zones. There was no significant difference in the NCV or NDV variables.
Conclusions
The manipulation of goalposts in SSCG was able to generate new behaviour patterns in the teams.
Keywords
soccer training, small-sided and conditioned games, performance analysis, tactical behaviour, task constraints