@article{ref1,
title="The older, the wider: On-field tactical behavior of elite-standard youth soccer players in small-sided games",
journal="Human movement science",
year="2015",
author="Olthof, Sigrid B. H. and Frencken, Wouter G. P. and Lemmink, Koen A. P. M.",
volume="41",
number="",
pages="92-102",
abstract="PURPOSE: Young soccer players need excellent tactical skills to reach the top. Tactical behavior emerges through interactions between opposing teams. However, few studies have focused on on-field tactical behavior of teams with talented soccer players. Therefore, this study aimed to determine teams' tactical behavior during small-sided games in two age categories, Under-17 and Under-19. <br><br>METHODS: Positional data of thirty-nine elite-standard soccer players were collected during twenty-four small-sided games to calculate longitudinal and lateral inter-team distances, stretch indices and length per width ratios. Corresponding interaction patterns and game-to-game variability were also determined. <br><br>RESULTS: Under-19 showed a significantly larger lateral stretch index and a significantly lower length per width ratio compared with Under-17. Furthermore, teams of both age groups showed similar large proportions of in-phase behavior. Variability of tactical performance measures within and between games was similar for Under-17 and Under-19. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Variability within games seems to be functional for attacking teams for creating goal-scoring opportunities. In conclusion, the main difference was that Under-19 adopted a wider pitch dispersion than Under-17, represented by a larger lateral stretch index and smaller length per width ratio. Coach instructions and training exercises should be directed at exploiting pitch width to increase the pursuit of goal-scoring.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0167-9457",
doi="10.1016/j.humov.2015.02.004",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2015.02.004"
}