Collective behaviour in high and low-level youth soccer teams

O’Brien-Smith, J; Fransen, J; Sheehan, WB; Lenoir, M; Bennett, K; Smith, MR

Collective behaviour in high and low-level youth soccer teams

O’Brien-Smith, J Fransen, J

Sheehan, WB Lenoir, M Bennett, K Smith, MR

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Publisher:: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Science and Medicine in Football, 2021
Issue Date:: 2021-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	O’Brien-Smith, J
dc.contributor.author	Fransen, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3355-1848
dc.contributor.author	Sheehan, WB
dc.contributor.author	Lenoir, M
dc.contributor.author	Bennett, K
dc.contributor.author	Smith, MR
dc.date.accessioned	2021-09-14T03:14:18Z
dc.date.available	2021-09-14T03:14:18Z
dc.date.issued	2021-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Science and Medicine in Football, 2021
dc.identifier.issn	2473-3938
dc.identifier.issn	2473-4446
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150527
dc.description.abstract	Background: An expert/non-expert paradigm often helps understand the underpinnings of sports expertise; however, this method is scarcely extended to the complexities of collective behaviour in youth soccer.Aim: Therefore, the objectives of the current study are to investigate differences in the collective behaviour of youth soccer teams by expertise level.Methodology: Soccer players aged 15 to 20 years from high (n = 35) and low (n = 40) playing levels competed in two age-matched 5v5 small-sided games. For each game, teams’ skill involvement (shot, pass, dribble, touch), passing networks (closeness, density, betweenness), and spatiotemporal characteristics (stretch index, effective area, length (L) & width (W), LpW ratio, synchrony) were measured using video footage and GPS coordinates.Results: High level teams had more attempted (p = .009), and completed skills (p = .003), particularly for the number of passes (p = .001) and shots (p = .012-.045). However, there were no significant between-group differences for either the passing networks or spatiotemporal characteristics.Conclusion: The findings from the current research suggest that the high-level teams can quickly and effectively move the ball within existing team structures and may better optimise their afforded space to execute desired skills when compared to the low-level teams.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Science and Medicine in Football
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/24733938.2021.1917774
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.title	Collective behaviour in high and low-level youth soccer teams
dc.type	Journal Article
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Students
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-09-14T03:14:17Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

Background: An expert/non-expert paradigm often helps understand the underpinnings of sports expertise; however, this method is scarcely extended to the complexities of collective behaviour in youth soccer.Aim: Therefore, the objectives of the current study are to investigate differences in the collective behaviour of youth soccer teams by expertise level.Methodology: Soccer players aged 15 to 20 years from high (n = 35) and low (n = 40) playing levels competed in two age-matched 5v5 small-sided games. For each game, teams’ skill involvement (shot, pass, dribble, touch), passing networks (closeness, density, betweenness), and spatiotemporal characteristics (stretch index, effective area, length (L) & width (W), LpW ratio, synchrony) were measured using video footage and GPS coordinates.Results: High level teams had more attempted (p = .009), and completed skills (p = .003), particularly for the number of passes (p = .001) and shots (p = .012-.045). However, there were no significant between-group differences for either the passing networks or spatiotemporal characteristics.Conclusion: The findings from the current research suggest that the high-level teams can quickly and effectively move the ball within existing team structures and may better optimise their afforded space to execute desired skills when compared to the low-level teams.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150527