Effect of the Modification of the Number of Players, the Size of the Goal, and the Size of the Field in Competition on the Play Actions in U-12 Male Football

• Main Authors: Antonio García-Angulo, José Manuel Palao, José María Giménez-Egido, Francisco Javier García-Angulo, Enrique Ortega-Toro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: children; player development; sport; competition; rules; technique; tactics
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/2/518

A player&#8217;s sports development involves a long process. The modification of rules for youth players seeks to adapt the sport to the child and his/her development. The manipulation of rules affects the technical and tactical skills demonstrated by players and, therefore, their development. The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of a reduction in the number of players (from 8 per team to 5 per team), the size of the goal (from 6 &#215; 2 m to 3 &#215; 2 m) and the playing space (from 58 &#215; 38 m to 38 &#215; 20 m), on the technical and tactical actions in youth football players. A quasi-experimental A-B-A design was implemented to assess the effect of the rule changes. The players (<i>n</i> = 40) played three tournaments using two competition formats (official rules, modified rules, and official rules). The results show that the use of the modified rules generated a greater number and variability in the technical&#8722;tactical actions, a greater number of actions with teammates in the pass line, a greater continuity in the game, a greater number of attack and defence actions in areas close to the goal, and favours team play. The experimental format fits the players&#8217; individual progression better (U-12) as well as the players&#8217; and teams&#8217; collective development, and it will allow players to evolve from the individual development of previous stages.