Network analysis in small-sided and conditioned soccer games: the influence of additional players and playing position
Praça, G. M. P.
;
Clemente, F.M.C.
; Andrade, A. G.P.A.
; Morales, J. C. P. M.
; Greco, P. J. G.
Kinesiology Vol. 50, Nº 1, pp. 1 - 29, June, 2018.
ISSN (print): 1331-1441
ISSN (online):
Scimago Journal Ranking: 0,48 (in 2018)
Digital Object Identifier:
Abstract
The purpose of this article was to investigate the influence of additional players and playing position on the network properties during 4x2 min small-sided and conditioned soccer games (SSCG). Eighteen young soccer players (age 16.4±0.7 years), six defenders, six midfielders and six forwards, voluntarily participated in SSCGs with different task conditions (4vs.3 – additional player inside the pitch -, 3vs.3+2 – two support players at the side of the pitch -, and 3vs.3 – condition with numerical equality). General (density, total links and clustering coefficient) and individual (degree centrality, degree prestige and page rank) network properties were analyzed in the SocNetV® software. Results showed higher values of density (F=59.354, p=0.001), total links (F=40.951, p=0.001) and clustering coefficient (F=21.851, p=0.001) during the 4vs.3 SSCG. Besides, midfielders showed higher values of centrality degree than defenders and forwards (F=10.669, p=0.001). Midfielders and forwards also showed higher values of degree prestige than defenders (F=5.527, p=0.005). These results indicate that both task condition and playing position influence the general and individual network properties during SSCGs. For this reason, it is suggested that both task condition and team composition need to be adjusted to the coaches’ purpose for each training session in order to maximize the possibilities of cooperation among the teammates.