A Novel Approach for Comparison of Reception Performance in a Technique Test and Small-Sided Games

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between soccer players’ performance of receptions of passes in tests of both isolated technical skills and more match-realistic situations in small-sided games (SSGs). In addition, this study investigated whether the involvement in SSGs (number of receptions) correlated with the quality of receptions in the respective SSGs. The participants were 13 male outfield youth soccer players from teams in the first division of the regional U18 league. The quality of receptions was scored by educated coaches according to set criteria of performance. Statistical analyses of correlations were determined using Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient (rs). The main results were (1) a significant correlation in the quality of ball reception between 4vs1 SSGs and 5vs5 SSGs (rs = −0.61, p < 0.01) and (2) a trend towards moderate correlation between the quality of ball reception using a ball projection machine and 5vs5 SSGs (rs = −0.48, p = 0.10). (3) A significant correlation was found between the number of receptions in 5vs5 SSGs and the quality score of receptions in 5vs5 SSGs (rs = −0.70, p < 0.01). The trend towards moderate correlations between 5vs5 SSGs and the isolated technical reception test could imply the importance of training in the technical aspects of ball reception. Moreover, it seems as though the players with the best reception performance are the players who are most involved in SSGs, that is, having the most receptions.

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Screening Youth Soccer Players by Means of Cognitive Function and Agility Testing

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.1177/00315125211040283 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003151252110402

Author(s):

Nicola Lovecchio ◽

Gianluca Manes ◽

Luca Filipas ◽

Matteo Giuriato ◽

Antonio La Torre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motor Skills ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Inhibitory Response ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Early Age ◽

Unique Combination ◽

Simple Method ◽

Gross Motor Skills ◽

Youth Soccer

Talent identification in sports is a heavily debated topic. Previous studies have separately explored either executive functions or gross motor skills to predict the success of top-level soccer players or, more generally, to characterize elite performance in soccer. However, at mid-childhood, the possibility to scope sport-specific requirements remains elusive. We aimed in this study to investigate a valid and simple method of testing for a unique combination of cognitive and speed abilities for identifying promising soccer players at mid-childhood. We measured cognitive functions by means of a Stroop smartphone application and agility with a T-Drill Ball-success test, in two groups of (a) elite- ( n = 31) and (b) low-division ( n = 37) Italian 7-year-old male soccer players. We administered the tests in a randomized order to both groups. We found better inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and soccer-specific agility in high-division versus low-division players ( p < .001). Inhibitory response and agility were positively associated with the augmented quality of the performance from low-division players to high-division players ( r = .55; p = .0001). These results suggest that, even at an early age, cognitive control together with soccer-specific skills is associated with better performance.

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The effects of positional role on tactical behaviour in a four-a-side small-sided and conditioned soccer game

Kinesiology ◽

10.26582/k.51.2.15 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 261-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Guilherme Machado ◽

Maickel Bach Padilha ◽

Sixto González Víllora ◽

Filipe Manuel Clemente ◽

Israel Teoldo

Keyword(s):

Team Cohesion ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Soccer Game ◽

Similar Quantity ◽

Analyse Data

In soccer, different tactical behaviours of individuals are necessary to perform well as a team. The demands put on players from different positional roles can be manipulated in training through small-sided and conditioned games and tactical behaviours might be stimulated. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of positional role in tactical behaviour of U-17 youth soccer players based on core tactical principles in a four-a-side small-sided and conditioned game. The sample was comprised of 268 U-17 youth Brazilian soccer players. They were of five positional roles: centre backs; fullbacks; defensive midfielders; offensive midfielders; and forwards. The instrument used to collect and analyse data was the System of Tactical Assessment in Soccer (FUT-SAT). Results revealed that players of different positional roles showed no differences in the quantity of tactical actions performed. Moreover, forwards showed lower quality of tactical behaviour in the defensive phase (M=69.1, SD=16.0; p<.05) compared to fullbacks (M=77.0, SD=13.1; p<.05) and worse in actions far from the ball that ensured team cohesion in the defensive phase (M=69.7, SD=22.8; p<.05) compared to fullbacks (M=80.1, SD=18.4; p<.05). This study showed that the four-a-side format allows U-17 players to perform a similar quantity of tactical actions regardless of their positional role, but the player’s positional role influence quality of their tactical behaviour. Therefore, this structure might be used for trainings that promotes similar tasks and stimuli for players’ development that do not focus on specific tactical roles.

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Relationship Between Madrasah Head Leadership and Teacher's Participation with Quality of Madrasah Tsanawiyah State District, Labuhan Batu District

Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal ◽

10.33258/biohs.v1i2.49 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 181-185

Author(s):

Chairunnisa ◽

Syarbaini Saleh

Keyword(s):

Correlation Coefficient ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Work Participation ◽

Moderate Correlation ◽

Analysis Techniques ◽

Teacher Work ◽

Study Population ◽

The Relationship

The research method uses correlation research, which is research that seeks to see the relationship between variables. The study population was all MTs teachers in Labuhan Batu District totaling 83 people. The sample was taken using proportional random sampling technique, so that the sample was taken as many as 75 people. The instrument used was a questionnaire, data analysis techniques were carried out with data descriptions, and hypothesis testing using simple regression and multiple regression. After the research data were analyzed, the following results were obtained: 1) There was a positive and significant relationship between the leadership of the madrasah head (X1) and the madrasah quality (Y) at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Labuhan Batu with moderate correlation levels with the correlation coefficient value of 0.092. While the value of the strength of the relationship that occurs between the two variables is 0.092 or 8%. 2) There is a positive and significant relationship between teacher's work participation (X2) and the quality of madrasah (Y) in Laban Batu Madrasah Tsanawiyah with moderate correlation levels with the correlation coefficient value of 0.390. While the value of the strength of the relationship that occurs between the two variables is 0.390 or 15.2%. 3) There is a positive and significant relationship between madrasah head leadership (X1) and teacher work participation (X2) with madrasah quality (Y) in Laban Batu Tsanawiyah Madrasah with moderate correlation levels with a correlation coefficient value of 0.512. While the value of the strength of the relationship that occurs between the two variables is 0.512 or 26.2%. The two independent variables go hand in hand with the dependent variable, meaning that the better the madrasa head leadership and teacher work participation, the better the madrasah quality.

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The relative age effect in Brazilian soccer: so what?

Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte ◽

10.33155/j.ramd.2020.03.007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 65-70

Author(s):

Dalmo Roberto Lopes Machado ◽

Pedro Pugliesi Abdalla ◽

Ana Claudia Rossini Venturini ◽

André Pereira Dos Santos ◽

Nilo Cesar Ramos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Partial Correlation ◽

Technical Skills ◽

Age Effect ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Chi Square ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Relative Age ◽

Relative Age Effect ◽

Significant Difference

Objectiveː our purpose was a) to describe the Relative Age Effect occurrence in Brazilian elite youth soccer players; b) to identify the association between Relative Age Effect and technical skills and c) to examine how Relative Age Effect can affect Physical Fitness. Method: Eighty-one Brazilian elite soccer players from three age-group teams (U-15, U-17 and U-20) were classified by birth quartiles according to their date of birth. Relative Age Effect was determined when there was a statistically significant difference between players who were born in BQ1 (January through March) to the other birth quartiles (Chi-Square). The association between Relative Age Effect and Technical Rankings was verified by the correlation. The partial correlation controlled for date of birth and for maturity offset was also performed. Relative Age Effect on Physical Fitness was verified by the variance (ANOVA) of its components on each team’s birth quartiles. Results: Players born in BQ1 were the most selected in U-15 (60%) and U-17 (35%) teams, but not in U-20 (25%). A low to moderate (Rho = 0.04 to 0.53) correlation was found between birth quartiles and Technical Rankings, while date of birth and maturation (partial correlation) effects were identified in the U-15 team. Although birth quartiles do not affect Physical Fitness (ANOVA), it may favour some Physical Fitness components (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The greater risk of Relative Age Effect in younger teams is due to the greater emphasis on technical skills. When date of birth and maturation are controlled for, the association between Technical Rankings and birth quartiles is reduced. There was no evidence that Relative Age Effect affected the players’ game performance.

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