- Spain
The present study aimed to analyse the performance of the Spanish men’s top (LaLiga1) and second (LaLiga2) professional football division teams for eight consecutive seasons (from 2011–2012 to 2018–2019). The variables recorded were... more
The present study aimed to analyse the performance of the Spanish men’s top (LaLiga1) and second (LaLiga2) professional football division teams for eight consecutive seasons (from 2011–2012 to 2018–2019). The variables recorded were Passes, Successful Passes, Crosses, Shots, Goals, Corners, Fouls, Width, Length, Height, distance from the goalkeeper to the nearest defender (GkDef) and total distance covered (TD). The main results were that (1) LaLiga1 teams showed lower values of Length from 2013–2014, and lower values of GkDef and TD from 2014–2015; (2) LaLiga2 teams showed fewer Passes and lower values of GkDef and TD from 2014–2015, and fewer Goals and lower values of Length from 2015–2016; and (3) LaLiga1 teams showed more Passes, Successful Passes, Shots and Goals and higher values of TD compared to LaLiga2 teams during the eight-season period. This study concludes that LaLiga1 teams showed fewer final offensive actions, LaLiga2 teams showed fewer Passes and Goals and the teams ...
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The development of algorithms applied to new technologies allows a better understanding of many of the movements in team sports. The purpose of this work was to analyze the validity, precision, and reproducibility of an algorithm to... more
The development of algorithms applied to new technologies allows a better understanding of many of the movements in team sports. The purpose of this work was to analyze the validity, precision, and reproducibility of an algorithm to detect angulation of changes of direction (CoDs) while running, of between 45° and 180°, both to the left and the right at different speeds, in a standardized context. For this, five participants performed a total of 200 CoDs at 13 km/h and 128 CoDs at 18 km/h while wearing three inertial sensors. The information obtained from the sensors was contrasted with observation and coding using high-resolution video. Agreement between systems was assessed using Bland–Altman 95% limits of agreement as well as effect size (ES) and % difference between means. Reproducibility was evaluated using the standard error (CV%). The algorithm overestimated the angulation of 90° and 135° to the right (Cohen’s d > 0.91). The algorithm showed high precision when the angulat...
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The objective of this study was to compare the external load of training sessions using as a reference an official competition match in women’s football in order to find if the training sessions replicate the competition demands.... more
The objective of this study was to compare the external load of training sessions using as a reference an official competition match in women’s football in order to find if the training sessions replicate the competition demands. Twenty-two semi-professional football players were analyzed during 17 weeks in the first phase of the competitive period of the 2020–2021 season of Spanish women’s football. In addition to the competition (Official Matches, OM), four types of sessions were distinguished: strength or intensity (INT), endurance or extensity (EXT), velocity (VEL), and activation or pre-competitive (PREOM). The external load variables recorded were total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR), sprint (Sprint), accelerations (ACC2), decelerations (DEC2), player load (PL), distance covered per minute (TDmin), high metabolic load distance (HMLD), and total impacts. The main results were that the external load demanded was different according to the type of session, being, in all ...
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The objective of the study was to assess the impact of the sampling frequency on the outcomes of collective tactical variables during an official women’s soccer match. To do this, the first half (lasting 46 min) of an official league... more
The objective of the study was to assess the impact of the sampling frequency on the outcomes of collective tactical variables during an official women’s soccer match. To do this, the first half (lasting 46 min) of an official league match of a semi-professional soccer team belonging to the Women’s Second Division of Spain (Reto Iberdrola) was analysed. The collective variables recorded were classified into three main groups: point-related variable (i.e., change in geometrical centre position (cGCp)), distance-related variables (i.e., width, length, height, distance from the goalkeeper to the near defender and mean distance between players), and area-related variables (i.e., surface area). Each variable was measured using eight different sampling frequencies: data every 100 (10 Hz), 200 (5 Hz), 250 (4 Hz), 400 (2.5 Hz), 500 (2 Hz), 1000 (1 Hz), 2000 (0.5 Hz), and 4000 ms (0.25 Hz). With the exception of cGCp, the outcomes of the collective tactical variables did not vary depending o...
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Authors submitted their contribution of the article to the editorial board.
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IntroductionThe recent development of Position System (GPS) devices has permitted the wider application of this technology in a variety of sports, providing an additional means of describing and understanding the physical demands on... more
IntroductionThe recent development of Position System (GPS) devices has permitted the wider application of this technology in a variety of sports, providing an additional means of describing and understanding the physical demands on players (Baiget, 2011). Player tracking describes the physical profile of the demands of each sport and it allows us to assess competition performance (Carling, Bloomfield, Nelsen, and Reilly, 2008).In the last few years, scientists have used portable GPS units to investigate the physical demands in training and match-play in different sports (Cummins, Orr, O'Connor, and West, 2013). Accordingly to that, GPS technology has been used in soccer (Buchheit, Mendez-Villanueva, Simpson, and Bourdon, 2010; Harley et al., 2010; Njororai, 2012), Australian football (Brewer, Dawson, Heasman, Stewart, and Cormack, 2010) and cricket (Petersen, Pyne, Dawson, Portus, and Kellett, 2010). Player tracking describes the physical profile of each sport and it assesses c...
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The goal of this study was to compare the physical demands of the same team in three different basketball competitions (EBA league (EBA), U18 regional league (U18L), and a U18 international tournament (U18T)) during the same season. Data... more
The goal of this study was to compare the physical demands of the same team in three different basketball competitions (EBA league (EBA), U18 regional league (U18L), and a U18 international tournament (U18T)) during the same season. Data from eleven U18 players (age: 16.92 ± 0.67 years) were collected using inertial movement units. As external load variables, Player Load (PL), accelerations (ACC), decelerations (DEC), changes of direction (COD), and jumps (JUMP) were expressed in their total (t) and high intensity (h) values. The analysis of variances (ANOVA) and effect size (ES, Cohen’s d) with their respective 90% confidence intervals were applied to identify differences between the competitions. U18T showed the highest values in PL, tACC, tDEC, hDEC, tCOD, tJUMP, and hJUMP (small to moderate ES). However, the hACC and hCOD values were greater in EBA (small ES) than in U18L and U18T. In conclusion, all three competitions presented different external load demands for the same group...
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The objective was to study the physical response to conditional performance in competition of different game formats Cita: Zurutuza, U.; Castellano, J. (2020). Comparación de la respuesta física, en términos absolutos y relativos a la... more
The objective was to study the physical response to conditional performance in competition of different game formats Cita: Zurutuza, U.; Castellano, J. (2020). Comparación de la respuesta física, en términos absolutos y relativos a la competición, de diferentes demarcaciones en tareas jugadas de fútbol. Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte, Vol 20(1), 190-200
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El presente trabajo constituye un ejemplo de la potencia informativa de los T-patterns -estructuras regulares y temporales de conductas obtenidas mediante el software Theme, version 6.0- y de su aplicacion, por primera vez, al... more
El presente trabajo constituye un ejemplo de la potencia informativa de los T-patterns -estructuras regulares y temporales de conductas obtenidas mediante el software Theme, version 6.0- y de su aplicacion, por primera vez, al conocimiento estrategico-tactico de un deporte que ha sido residualmente estudiado como es la escalada deportiva. En el seno de la metodologia observacional se ha construido ad hoc el instrumento de observacion Sport Climbing Observation Tool (SCOT) que ha permitido detectar T-patterns que reflejan el comportamiento desarrollado en la ascension de la via –presa, mano de agarre, inicio y final de contacto, chapaje, uso de magnesio y descansos– por los mejores escaladores –modalidad Lead– que participaron en el Campeonato del Mundo de 2011, celebrado en Arco (Italia). Mediante la informacion contenida en los T-patterns detectados se ha caracterizado la ascension en tramos (inicial, medio y final), describiendose operativamente la manera en la que los mejores esc...
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The purpose of this study was to describe the specific demands and structure of interrelationships of external load variables in order to generate a position-related time motion profile in elite basketball. Seventeen professional players... more
The purpose of this study was to describe the specific demands and structure of interrelationships of external load variables in order to generate a position-related time motion profile in elite basketball. Seventeen professional players from three different playing positions (6 guards, 4 forwards, and 7 centers) were analyzed in five friendly games. Player load per minute (PLmin) was used as an indicator of intensity to compare positions. Furthermore, high and total external variables of jumping (hJUMP and tJUMP), acceleration (hACC and tACC), deceleration (hDEC and tDEC) and change of direction (hCOD and tCOD), respectively, were used for the principal component analysis (PCA). The Kaiser criterion (eigenvalue > 1) was applied, and the Varimax rotation mode was used to extract multiple principal components. PCA showed that all positions had three or four principal components, but the configuration of each factor was different: tCOD, hCOD, hDEC and hJUMP for guards, hCOD, tCOD, ...
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The aim of this study was to analyze the variations of acute load (AL), acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR), training monotony (TM), and training strain (TS) of accelerometry-based GPS measures in players who started in three matches... more
The aim of this study was to analyze the variations of acute load (AL), acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR), training monotony (TM), and training strain (TS) of accelerometry-based GPS measures in players who started in three matches (S3M), two matches (S2M), and one match (S1M) during congested weeks. Nineteen elite professional male players from a Portuguese team (age: 26.5 ± 4.3 years) were monitored daily using global positioning systems (GPSs) over a full season (45 weeks). Accelerometry-derived measures of high metabolic load distance (HMLD), high accelerations (HA), and high decelerations (HD) were collected during each training session and match. Seven congested weeks were classified throughout the season, and the participation of each player in matches played during these weeks was codified. The workload indices of AL (classified as ACWR, TM, and TS) were calculated weekly for each player. The AL of HMLD was significantly greater for S2M than S1M (difference = 42%; p = 0.0...
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The objective was to model the teams’ style of play (SoP) in elite football and relate them to the match result. For this, the twenty Spanish first division teams in the 2016-17 season were analysed, using nine interaction performance... more
The objective was to model the teams’ style of play (SoP) in elite football and relate them to the match result. For this, the twenty Spanish first division teams in the 2016-17 season were analysed, using nine interaction performance indicators (IRi). A principal component (PC) analysis was applied. From two PCs four SoPs were established: deep or high-pressure defending, and elaborate or direct attack. The SoPs were distributed according to average performance obtained throughout the championship. The connection between the preferred SoP and the final result was estimated. Teams with elaborate offensive styles and teams defensively minded got better results. In addition, most of the teams showed variability in their SoP. The applications of the study are: 1) the IRi have served to identify SoP and can be used as a reference to optimize team performance; 2) teams should have a varied SoP repertoire, as well as being prepared to deal with different SoPs; 3) particular player profile...
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El objetivo del presente estudio es describir el perfil de las demandas físicas exigidas en competición a los jugadores de categorías de formación en tenis mediante el uso de la tecnología GPS. Para ello, se contó con la colaboración de... more
El objetivo del presente estudio es describir el perfil de las demandas físicas exigidas en competición a los jugadores de categorías de formación en tenis mediante el uso de la tecnología GPS. Para ello, se contó con la colaboración de 12 participantes (3 varones y 9 féminas) de las categorías Alevín, Infantil, Cadete y Junior, con una edad media de 14,06 ±2,22 años. Se monitorizaron un total de 28 partidos de competición pertenecientes al Máster Regional de la Comunidad de Aragón, obteniendo 30 registros gracias al uso de los dispositivos GPS MinimaxX Team Sports 4.0 (Catapult Innovation, Australia) con una frecuencia de muestreo de 10 Hz. Los principales resultados obtenidos dan información general de todas las categorías, que recorren una distancia media de 2868,80 ±357,08 metros y se desplazan a una velocidad media 2,60 ±0,40 m • s-1. Analizando cada categoría en particular, vemos como los Infantiles son los que menos metros recorren por unidad de tiempo 41,03 ±4,28 m • min-1 p...
The generalizability theory (G theory) is a multifaceted error theory that assumes that any measurement situation possesses infinite sources of variation. In the field of observation, it can therefore be applied to determine the influence... more
The generalizability theory (G theory) is a multifaceted error theory that assumes that any measurement situation possesses infinite sources of variation. In the field of observation, it can therefore be applied to determine the influence of these sources of error on measurements. By way of an example, this paper describes three applications of the G theory in the initial stages of observational research: 1) to study validity; 2) to estimate the required sample size; and 3) to study reliability. Currently available software applications (such as GT, EduG or, recently, SAGT) make it easier to conduct this kind of analysis and they provide researchers with procedures for ensuring that the decisions they need to make during the research process are justified prior to being implemented; for instance, calculating the required sample size so as to ensure the accurate generalization of results, or constructing a valid reliable observational instrument that can meet the arduous task of codi...
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The Use of Match Statistics that Discriminate Between Successful and Unsuccessful Soccer Teams Three soccer World Cups were analysed with the aim of identifying the match statistics which best discriminated between winning, drawing and... more
The Use of Match Statistics that Discriminate Between Successful and Unsuccessful Soccer Teams Three soccer World Cups were analysed with the aim of identifying the match statistics which best discriminated between winning, drawing and losing teams. The analysis was based on 177 matches played during the three most recent World Cup tournaments: Korea/Japan 2002 (59), Germany 2006 (59) and South Africa 2010 (59). Two categories of variables were studied: 1) those related to attacking play: goals scored, total shots, shots on target, shots off target, ball possession, number of off-sides committed, fouls received and corners; and 2) those related to defence: total shots received, shots on target received, shots off target received, off-sides received, fouls committed, corners against, yellow cards and red cards. Discriminant analysis of these matches revealed the following: (a) the variables related to attacking play that best differentiated between winning, drawing and losing teams w...
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Resumen es: El presente trabajo esta contextualizado en el ambito del futbol de formacion y tiene por objeto la estimacion de la calidad del dato de una herramienta ...
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The main aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between the number of ball touches for individual possession and physical/physiological demands during the large-sided soccer games (LSGs) of 7 vs. 7 players plus goalkeepers. During... more
The main aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between the number of ball touches for individual possession and physical/physiological demands during the large-sided soccer games (LSGs) of 7 vs. 7 players plus goalkeepers. During the exercise, the number of assigned touches for individual possession (1-touch, 2-touch and free-touch) was altered. Fourteen amateur soccer players (age: 24.4±4.7 years; height: 180±5.6 cm; weight: 77.9±5.6 kg) were monitored during exercise with 10 Hz GPS devices and heart rate (HR) monitors. The following variables were recorded: HR responses, total distance covered, distance covered in different speed ranges (0–6.9, 7.0–12.9, 13.0–17.9, 18.0–20.9 and >21 km·h–1), player load and number of accelerations. The number of ball touches altered physical and physiological demands during exercise. Higher HR responses and greater distances covered were recorded during the free-touch assignment (p<.05). No significant differences were found in 1-tou...
In the last two decades, the analysis of tactical knowledge has become a research channel of increasing interest, contributing to the development of ad-hoc tools to carry out this task. The aim of this study is to collect evaluation tools... more
In the last two decades, the analysis of tactical knowledge has become a research channel of increasing interest, contributing to the development of ad-hoc tools to carry out this task. The aim of this study is to collect evaluation tools which allow to measure the declarative tactical knowledge (DTK) in soccer. Five databases (Web of Sciences, Pub Med, SportDiscus, Psycinfo and Eric) were used for the literature search based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, according to five inclusion/exclusion criteria: (i) tools that determinate DTK in soccer players, (ii) come from primary sources, that is, published for the first time, (iii) show game-play scenarios in video sequences or static images via questionnaires, (iv) have been submitted to a process of validity and reliability, (v) and avoid the use of verbal language. Nine tools were selected and analyzed in this systematic review: Soccer decision-making tests (McMorris, in Perc...
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The use of instruments for the evaluation of a player’s procedural tactical knowledge (PTK) in sociomotor sports, such as football, is a line of research of growing interest since it allows a pertinent description of the player’s football... more
The use of instruments for the evaluation of a player’s procedural tactical knowledge (PTK) in sociomotor sports, such as football, is a line of research of growing interest since it allows a pertinent description of the player’s football competence. The aim of this study is to configure and validate an ad-hoc observational tool that allows evaluating the player’s PTK, understood as football competence, from the observation, coding and recording of the roles, the actions of the acquired subroles and the operational and specific principles of football in the attack and defense phases. Based on the Delphi method, a field format coding instrument was designed and validated where each criterion is a system of categories, exhaustive and mutually exclusive. The results showed excellent content validity (9.02 out of 10), and high values of intra-observer stability (k = 0.747) and inter-observer agreement (k = 0.665). Generalizability analysis showed an excellent reliability (G = 0.99). Add...
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Resumen La investigación que se está llevando a cabo en el mundo de la actividad física y el deporte a partir de la acción motriz está siendo cada vez más prolífica, también en el fútbol. El soporte científico que ofrece la metodología... more
Resumen La investigación que se está llevando a cabo en el mundo de la actividad física y el deporte a partir de la acción motriz está siendo cada vez más prolífica, también en el fútbol. El soporte científico que ofrece la metodología observacional a este campo permite describir la realidad ludopráxica con total rigurosidad y pertinencia. El trabajo que se presenta continua una línea de investigación iniciada hace ya algunos años sobre el estudio de la acción de juego en fútbol que nos ha permitido situar la búsqueda en un punto crucial. La pregunta global que nos hacemos gira en torno a ¿en qué medida lo observado se ajustaría a lo observable?, en el ámbito del fútbol y respecto a diferentes campeonatos, a los resultados alternativos que se van produciendo en la competición (cuando se va ganando, perdiendo o empatando), en las diferentes zonas del terreno de juego o respecto a la interacción desplegada por los equipos en cada instante. Es decir, que a partir de variables que tiene...
The purpose of this study was to compare physical demands between game quarters and specific playing positions during official basketball competition. Thirteen professional male basketball players from the Spanish 2nd Division were... more
The purpose of this study was to compare physical demands between game quarters and specific playing positions during official basketball competition. Thirteen professional male basketball players from the Spanish 2nd Division were monitored across all 17 regular-season home games. Physical demands were analyzed using a local positioning system (WIMU PRO™, Realtrack Systems S.L., Almería, Spain) and included peak velocity, total distance covered, high-speed running (>18 km·h-1), player load, jumps (>3G), impacts (>8G) and high-intensity accelerations (≥2 m·s-2) and decelerations (≤-2 m·s-2). A linear mixed model was used to test statistical significance (p < 0.05) between independent variables. Furthermore, standardized Cohen's effect size (ES) and respective 90% confidence intervals were also calculated. There was an overall decrease in all variables between the first and fourth quarter during competition. Specifically, total distance covered (p < 0.001; ES = -1....
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The main aim of this study was to determine the physical demands of different small-sided ball possession games (SSBPGs) according to player field position and compare these demands in relation to the most demanding passages of play (MDP)... more
The main aim of this study was to determine the physical demands of different small-sided ball possession games (SSBPGs) according to player field position and compare these demands in relation to the most demanding passages of play (MDP) in competitive matches. Global positioning system data were obtained from 25 football players (20.4 ± 2.1 yrs, 1.78 ± 0.66 m, 69.7 ± 6.1 kg) belonging to the reserve squad of a Spanish La Liga Club. Players were categorized according to positional groups; full back (FB), central defender (CD), midfielder (MF), wide midfielder (WMF) and forwards (FW). The variables analyzed were relativized to metres per minute (m·min-1): total distance covered (TD), TD at high speed (HSR; >19.8 km·h-1), TD at sprint (SPR; >25.2 km·h-1), the number of accelerations (ACC) and decelerations (DEC) at high intensity (> +/-3 m·s-2), the average metabolic power (& W·kg-1) and the high metabolic load distance (HMLD; >25.5 W·kg-1). The MDP were analyzed using a ...
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The purpose of this study was to compare average physical demands and the most demanding 60-s scenarios of basketball match-play between five different age groups. Sixty-four male basketball players from five different age groups were... more
The purpose of this study was to compare average physical demands and the most demanding 60-s scenarios of basketball match-play between five different age groups. Sixty-four male basketball players from five different age groups were monitored across eight regular-season home games. Physical demands were examined using a local positioning system and included total distance covered, distance >18 km·h-1, the number of accelerations (≥2 m·s-2) and decelerations (≤-2 m·s-2). All four game performance variables increased significantly (58.4 - 639.2%) when calculated with rolling average techniques in comparison to average physical demand values. Furthermore, the current investigation found that while Under-12 presented the highest result in relative total distance covered (p < .001; effect size = 0.58-2.01), they also showed the lowest values in the most demanding scenarios of match play and small-to-moderate effect sizes compared with their older counterparts. Both average physic...
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The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among physical demands of two friendly matches (FMs) and three task training sessions (TS1,2,3) combining in a different way: a Small-Sided Game (SSG), Mini-Goals (MG), a ball... more
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among physical demands of two friendly matches (FMs) and three task training sessions (TS1,2,3) combining in a different way: a Small-Sided Game (SSG), Mini-Goals (MG), a ball Circuit Training (CT) and a Large-Sided Game (LSG): SSG+MG+LSG (TS1), SSG+CT+LSG (TS2) and MG+CT+LSG (TS3). The TS and match demands in running intensities were monitored in fourteen professional soccer players (age = 23.2 ± 2.7 years, height = 178 ± 6 cm, body mass = 73.2 ± 6.9 kg, mean and SD, respectively) using 10-Hz global positioning system devices, and players’ perception of exertion was recorded after each session or match using a visual analogue scale. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA with a Bonferroni correction coupled with magnitude-based inferences were used. A principal component (PC) analysis was conducted on all variables to account for covariance. Three PCs were retained, explaining 76% of the variance: Component 1 explained 46.9% wit...
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The weekly training management and competition loads are important aspects to optimize the performance of professional basketball players. The objectives of the study were (a) to describe the weekly external load (EL), as well as the... more
The weekly training management and competition loads are important aspects to optimize the performance of professional basketball players. The objectives of the study were (a) to describe the weekly external load (EL), as well as the internal response (IR), of elite basketball players over two consecutive seasons with a different head coach and (b) to compare weekly loads of different competitive densities. The data were collected from 27 elite players from the same team competing in the Spanish first division league (ACB) and EuroLeague during 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 seasons. EL was measured using microsensor technology to determine PlayerLoad values, expressed in arbitrary units (AU). Session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) was used for IR quantification. Comparisons between the two seasons and of weeks with different competitive densities were made. The inter-week load variability was moderate-high for both seasons. The highest EL values were measured during the weeks with th...
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The study aimed to describe and compare the external training load, monitored using microtechnology, with the internal training load, expressed as the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), in elite male basketball training... more
The study aimed to describe and compare the external training load, monitored using microtechnology, with the internal training load, expressed as the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), in elite male basketball training sessions. Thirteen professional basketball players participated in this study (age=25.7±3.3 years; body height=199.2±10.7 cm; body mass=96.6±9.4 kg). All players belonged to the same team, competing in two leagues, ACB and the Euroleague, in the 2016/2017 season. The variables assessed within the external motion analysis included: Player Load (PL), acceleration and deceleration (ACC/DEC), jumps (JUMP), and changes of direction (CoD). The internal demands were registered using the sRPE method. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to determine relationships between the variables. A significant correlation was observed between the external load variables and sRPE (range r=0.71–0.93). Additionally, the sRPE variable showed a high correlation with the t...
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The aims of this study were, first, to analyse the differences between referees and assistant referees in 20- and 30-metre straight line sprinting test performance and in the maximum speeds registered in football matches; and, second, to... more
The aims of this study were, first, to analyse the differences between referees and assistant referees in 20- and 30-metre straight line sprinting test performance and in the maximum speeds registered in football matches; and, second, to analyse the differences between the maximum speeds registered in matches and in the straight line sprinting test. Twenty referees from the Spanish Third Football Division participated in this study. Participants were classified as field referees (FR; n=12, age=30.0±6.7 years; body height=178.1±6.6 cm; body mass=73.7±8.3 kg; BMI=23.2±1.8 kg·m-2) and assistant referees (AR; n=8, age=26.0±7.9 years; body height=177.2±7.3 cm; body mass=75.1±8.8 kg; BMI=23.9±3.1 kg·m-2). The maximum speed of each referee during an official competition match (Vmax match) and during a straight line sprint test (SLST) (Vmax 30 m sprint) was recorded using a global positioning system (GPS). The results show that no significant differences were found between FR and AR in the ...
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The effect of altered game formats on team performances during soccer practice can be harnessed by coaches to stimulate specific tactical behaviours. The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of using (i) small goals [SG],... more
The effect of altered game formats on team performances during soccer practice can be harnessed by coaches to stimulate specific tactical behaviours. The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of using (i) small goals [SG], (ii) goalkeepers [7G] and (iii) floaters [7GF] on the dispersion, shape and available space of teams during small-sided games (SSGs). Twenty-four male soccer players were distributed into four teams composed of five players, two goalkeepers and two floaters that performed six SSG bouts of 6 min, interspersed with 6 min of passive recovery. Offensive and defensive phases were also analysed separately in order to verify the preservation of basic principles of attacking (teams more stretched to create free space) and defending (teams more compact to tie-up space) during SSGs. The variables used to characterize the collective behaviour were: length [L], width [W], team shape [Sh], and team separateness [TS]. Results revealed that the teams showed diffe...