Assessment of tactical principles in youth soccer players of different age groups
The aim of this study was to analyze tactical behaviours performed by youth soccer players of different age groups according to ten core tactical principles of the game, in order to understand characteristics of each age group and their differences. The sample comprised a total of 300 youth soccer players (60 U11, 60 U13, 60 U15, 60 U17 and 60 U20) who have performed 17,239 tactical actions. Three tactical measures were analyzed (number of tactical actions, efficiency of tactical behaviours and tactical performance indices) Kruskal Wallis H and Whitney U tests were applied to compare the values of tactical measures. Data reliability was assured by the Kappa of Cohen index. The results indicated forty statistical differences relative to the number of tactical actions performed, thirty two statistical differences regarding the efficiency of tactical behaviours, and twenty statistical differences concerning tactical performance indices. In conclusion, one can conclude that as the age group increased, the players had a greater participation in the game, namely by performing of more tactical actions. In addition, the U15 and U17 groups presented no statistical differences in the efficiency of their tactical behaviours, while the U17 and U20 groups exhibited the biggest differences in the tactical performance indices. Key words: soccer, tactical performance, tactical behaviour, youth teams RESUMO Avaliacao dos principios tacticos em jovens futebolistas de diferentes idades O objetivo desse estudo consistiu na analise dos comportamentos taticos realizados por jovens jogadores de Futebol com base em dez principios taticos fundamentais do jogo, de modo a verificar as caracteristicas e as diferencas de cada grupo etario avaliado. A amostra foi constituida por 300 jovens jogadores (60 Sub 11, 60 Sub 13, 60 Sub 15, 60 Sub 17 e 60 Sub 20) que realizaram 17.239 acoes taticas. Foram analisados tres indicadores taticos (numero de acoes taticas, eficiencia dos comportamentos taticos e indice de performance tatica) Os testes de KruskalWallis H e Whitney U foram utilizados para comparar os valores obtidos. A fiabilidade foi avaliada pelo indice de Kappa de Cohen. Dos resultados emergiram quarenta diferencas estatisticamente significativas para o numero de acoes taticas realizadas, trinta e duas para a eficiencia dos comportamentos taticos e vinte para os indices de performance tatica. Em suma, e possivel afirmar que, a medida que o escalao etario aumentou, os jogadores demonstraram ter maior participacao no jogo, nomeadamente realizando mais acoes de jogo. Adicionalmente, os jogadores dos grupos Sub 15 e Sub 17 nao apresentaram diferencas estatisticamente significativas em relacao a eficiencia dos seus comportamentos taticos, enquanto os grupos Sub 17 e Sub 20 exibiram as maiores diferencas com relacao aos indices de performance tatica. Palavras chave: futebol, performance tatica, comportamento tatico, escaloes de formacao 4. revista:miolo 22/12/10 16:15 Page 147