Manipulation of playing field’s length/width ratio and positional players’ orientation: activity profile and motor behavior demands during positional possession small sided games in young élite soccer players

The aim of this study was to examinate the impact of changes in pitch length/width ratio and floaters' orientation on physical conditioning and motor behavior demand of positional possession small-sided games (SSGs) in young élite soccer players. .22 young male élite players belonging to Torino FC U15 participated in the study (mean+/-S.D.; age 14+/-1 years, height 168+/-8 cm, weight 56 +/-8 kg, experience in soccer ≥ 5 years ).Participants were divised into two groups (A and B) composed by 11 footballer. All players participated in 4 vs 4 + 3 floaters small sided games on two different pitch format with opposite length/width ratio (Large: 25 x 35 m; Long: 35 x 25 m) and two different floater players' positioning (Vertical: floaters attacking depth. Orizontal: floaters attacking width). Floaters played always with the team possessing the ball. Considering this, 4 game format were setted: Large-Vertical (LA-V), Large-Orizontal (LA-O), Long-Vertical (LO-V), Long-Orizontal (LO-O). Both group A and group B performed 4 matches per 3 minutes of game play (one on each format), interspersed by 3 min of passive recovery, in which technical advices were given by the coach. Physical and motor behavior demand were monitored using portable GPS (GPSports, SPI HPU, Canberra, Australia). A significative difference (p < 0,001) were found between Large and Long length/width ratio in motor behavior variables (Mooving Large vs Mooving Deep), between the format Vertical and Orizontal (p < 0,001) in the variable Mooving Large and between players and floaters in all the analized variables (D/min, ED/min, % of time at high speed running (%THS); % of time at high acceleration (%THA); > 2 m•s2,% of time at high deceleration (%THD) < −2 m•s2, Metabolic Power ;% of time at high power (%THP) > 20 W•kg-1) ( p< 0,05). These results point out the physical and motor behavior demand in ball possession small sided games (SSGs). Furthermore, the different physical tasks required by various pitch formats play positions were enlightened. This information can help coaches to set up training session based on small sided games (SSGs).