Collective behaviour in high and low-level youth soccer teams. Issue 2 (3rd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Brien-Smith, Jade; Fransen, Job; Sheehan, William B.; Lenoir, Matthieu; Bennett, Kyle; Smith, Mitchell R.
• Is Part Of: Science and medicine in football. Volume 6:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 164
• Page End: 171
• Publication Date: 2022-04-03
• Subjects: Sports performance -- small-sided games -- constraints -- dynamical systems -- social network -- spatiotemporal analysis; Soccer injuries -- Periodicals; Soccer -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Soccer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 617.102763
• DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2021.1917774
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2473-3938

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: An expert/non-expert paradigm often helps understand the underpinnings of sports expertise; however, this method is scarcely extended to the complexities of collective behaviour in youth soccer. Aim: Therefore, the objectives of the current study are to investigate differences in the collective behaviour of youth soccer teams by expertise level. Methodology: Soccer players aged 15 to 20 years from high (n = 35) and low (n = 40) playing levels competed in two age-matched 5v5 small-sided games. For each game, teams' skill involvement (shot, pass, dribble, touch), passing networks (closeness, density, betweenness), and spatiotemporal characteristics (stretch index, effective area, length (L) & width (W), LpW ratio, synchrony) were measured using video footage and GPS coordinates. Results: High level teams had more attempted (p = .009), and completed skills (p = .003), particularly for the number of passes (p = .001) and shots (p = .012-.045). However, there were no significant between-group differences for either the passing networks or spatiotemporal characteristics. Conclusion: The findings from the current research suggest that the high-level teams can quickly and effectively move the ball within existing team structures and may better optimise their afforded space to execute desired skills when compared to the low-level teams.