Influence of pitch size and age category on the physical and physiological responses of young football players during small-sided games using GPS devices.

This study aimed to compare the physical and physiological responses of young football players of different categories during small-sided games (SSGs) played on different pitch sizes. Forty-eight (24 U-13 and 24 U-14) athletes played a 3 vs. 3 + 1 SSG in two experimental conditions: regular (36 × 27 m) and large pitch sizes (40 × 29 m). The total distance covered, the distances covered at different speed zones (0 to 6.9 km/h, 6.9 to 14.3, and 14.3 to 21.4), maximum heart rate, and mean heart rate were recorded. The results showed that older athletes covered larger distances during SSGs (p = 0.001; d = 0.937; large effect) and lower distances at the lowest (0-6.9 km/h) speed zone (p = 0.001; d = 0.657; moderate-to-large effect). Neither the physical nor physiological variables (except for distance covered between 14.3 and 21.4 km/h) differed between pitch sizes. This result indicates that pitch size may not impact the physical or physiological responses of U-13 and U-14 players during SSGs, but differences between categories were found. In conclusion, the development of tactical skills may be desirable to better explore the available space in the same age categories.

The influence of technical skills on decision making of novice volleyball players / A influência da habilidade técnica na tomada de decisão de jogadores iniciantes de voleibol

Abstract The aim of this study was to verify the influence of the technical skills level on the decision making of novice volleyball players on service, reception and set actions. The sample was composed of 80 novice athletes of school volleyball teams of both sexes. Based on the results from the Volleyball Skills Test Battery, the sample was divided into three groups: low, intermediate and high technical level, by means of One-Way ANOVA. The intermediate group was excluded from further analyses. Decision making was assessed with the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI). For data analysis purposes, the independent student-t test was used, adopting significance level of p≤0.05. The results showed that players with low skill level in service and set actions also had lower performance on the decision-making test when compared to players with high technical level. On the other hand, in the reception action, no differences were found among groups. It was therefore concluded that the technical level seems to influence the decision making in service and set actions in novice volleyball players.

Resumo O estudo objetivou verificar a influência do nível da habilidade técnica na tomada de decisão de jogadores iniciantes de voleibol nas ações de saque, recepção e levantamento. A amostra foi composta por 80 atletas iniciantes de equipes escolares de voleibol de ambos os sexos. Com base nos resultados na Bateria de Testes de Habilidades de Voleibol, a amostra foi dividida em três grupos: baixo, intermediário e alto nível técnico, por meio da ANOVA One-Way. O grupo intermediário foi excluído das análises posteriores. A tomada de decisão foi avaliada por meio do Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI). Utilizou-se o teste t student independente para análise dos dados, adotando um nível de significância de p≤0,05. Os resultados encontrados demonstraram que os jogadores com baixo nível de habilidade nas ações de saque e levantamento, também obtiveram um pior desempenho no teste de tomada de decisão quando comparado aos jogadores de alto nível técnico. Por outro lado, na ação de recepção, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos. Conclui-se que o nível técnico parece influenciar na tomada de decisão na ação de saque e levantamento dos jogadores iniciantes de voleibol.