Após cerca de 15 meses que compreenderam a elaboração do projeto, definição do design experimental, seleção e recrutamento da amostra, recolha e tratamento dos dados, escrita, correções, revisões e mais correções e revisões, eis que é finalmente publicado o produto final.
O artigo Manipulating task constraints in small-sided soccer games: Performance analysis and practical implications, em que contei com o inestimável e precioso apoio dos professores António Paulo Ferreira e Anna Volossovitch (FMH – UTL), compõe a edição especial “Training Control and Performance Assessment in Sport” do The Open Sports Sciences Journal (Volume 5).
Aqui no Linha de Passe registo com enorme satisfação a ocasião, disponibilizando o respetivo resumo (abstract) e o link onde poderão aceder, gratuitamente, a este e a outros artigos científicos da autoria ou coautoria de investigadores nacionais e internacionais conceituados na área das Ciências do Desporto, em particular na análise do desempenho e no desenvolvimento da excelência no desporto (Ricardo J. Fernandes, Júlio Garganta, José Maia, Isabel Mesquita, Maria Teresa Anguera, Carlos Lago-Peñas ou Mark Williams).
Abstract
Since an awareness of key task constraints can be extremely beneficial for coaches, the lack of scientific background about the effects of altered game rules/conditions on individual or team performances during soccer practice is surprising. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of different small-sided game (SSG) playing rules (“free-form”, “two touches” and “four passes to score”) on the offensive performance of young soccer players. Eight U-13 male soccer players were divided into two balanced teams. The experimental protocol consisted of three testing sessions separated by one-week intervals. In each session, teams faced each other in the three SSG conditions (3vs.3+goalkeepers) during periods of ten minutes interspersed with five minutes of passive recovery. Simple (i.e. Duration of ball possession, Players involved, Ball Touches, Passes, Shots, and Result of the Offensive Sequence) and composite (i.e. Players involved/ Duration, Ball Touches/Duration, Passes/Duration, Ball Touches/Players involved, Passes/Players involved, Passes/Ball Touches, and Goal/Shots) performance indicators were used to characterize the offensive performance of both teams. Results revealed that the factor “playing rule” had a significant effect on simple and composite indicators (p < 0.05). It was concluded that manipulating task constraints, such as game rules, can direct practitioners towards intended behaviors, and consequently promote skill acquisition and improve performance in youth soccer. Further research is needed to extend the knowledge about the modification of playing rules in team sports practice.
Keywords: Constraints-led approach, performance, rules modifications, small-sided games, technical component, youth soccer.
Aproveito ainda o ensejo para, mais uma vez, agradecer à direção do clube Juventude Desportiva Monchiquense, na pessoa do atual presidente, e a todos os jovens que, a título de jogador ou colaborador, tornaram este trabalho possível.