Tactical awareness, decision making and skill in youth soccer players (under-14 years)

• Main Authors: Sixto González-Víllora, Luis Miguel García-López, David Gutiérrez-Díaz, Juan Carlos Pastor-Vicedo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Alicante 2013-07-01
• Series: Journal of Human Sport and Exercise
• Subjects: Decision making; Sport skill; Soccer; Football; Youth players; Ecological dynamics
• Online Access: https://www.jhse.ua.es/article/view/2013-v8-n2-tactical-awareness-decision-making-and-skill-in-youth-soccer-players-under-14-years

The purpose of this study is to assess the technical-tactical knowledge of high performance soccer players. The sport performance of sixteen 14-year-olds who play for the Spanish soccer club Albacete Balompie was analysed in a modified game as “seven-a-side match” using video assessment (Game Performance Evaluation Tool, GPET), this tool evaluates decision making and execution: control, dribbling, passing, shooting, getting free, set, marking, clearance, tackling, locking, trapping/interception, and defence help/double teaming. The players were interviewed twice to ascertain their basic knowledge. In the first interview they were asked about their knowledge of invasion games, taking soccer as a reference. In the second interview their procedural knowledge was analysed using video sequences of real game play from a “seven-a-side match”. The results revealed that players acquired game performance (decision-making and execution) before specific game knowledge. They also performed better in response selection than response execution, and showed a greater command of offensive play and individual aspects of the game, both in terms of knowledge and game situations.