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

Abstract

A player’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 × 2 m to 3 × 2 m) and the playing space (from 58× 38 m to 38 × 20 m), on the technical and tactical actions in youth football players. A quasiexperimental A‐B‐A design was implemented to assess the effect of the rule changes. The players (n= 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–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’ individual progression better (U‐12) as well as the players’ and teams’ collective development, and it will allow players to evolve from the individual development of previous stages.