Effects of the pitch configuration design on players' physical performance and movement behaviour during soccer small-sided games. Issue 3 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coutinho, Diogo; Gonçalves, Bruno; Santos, Sara; Travassos, Bruno; Wong, Del P.; Sampaio, Jaime
• Is Part Of: Research in sports medicine. Volume 27:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 298
• Page End: 313
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: Tactical variables -- Global Positioning System; time-motion analysis -- spatial references -- soccer -- variability -- complex system; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine du sport -- Périodiques; 617.102705
• DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2018.1544133
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1543-8627

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to identify the effects of different pitch configurations on youth players positional and physical performances. Forty players participated in a Gk + 5vs5 + Gk small-sided game under four conditions: regular condition (regular), pitch with the direction of competitive matches; sided condition (sided), goals were changed to width; different pitch orientation (≠orientation), performed in side-to-side line compared to competitive matches; dynamic pitch (dynamic), boundaries were randomly changed every minute by: regular pitch; decrease 6 m width; diamond shape. The following variables were considered: players' effective playing space, distance between teammates' dyads time spent synchronized, average speed and a ratio between the distance covered at different intensities and distance covered while recovering. Overall, players exhibited better performances in pitches that are more representative of the environmental information seen during competitive matches (regular and ≠orientation). However, coaches may also use different boundary conditions to promote the players' ability to adapt to different context information.