Exploring how limiting the number of ball touches during small-sided games affects youth football players’ performance across different age groups

This study explored how the number of allowed ball touches per player possession affected performance different age groups (U9, U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19) during a Gk + 4vs4+Gk small-sided games. Each day, players randomly performed following three conditions (for total 6 days): i) free-play (FP); ii) maximum 2 (2 T); iii) 1 touch (1 T). Players’ positional data was used to compute time-motion positional-related variables, while video analysis capture technical performance. In general, no effects were identified in relation distances (team centroid, opponents’ nearest teammate, opponent). There small moderate decreases longitudinal synchronization playing with T U9 U17, but increase U15. general decrease distance covered running (small effects) when limited all groups. Limiting promoted increases successful passes U9, unsuccessful actions. Overall, emphasized passing skill it also contributed more actions lower physical demands. As so, coaches may use young (U9-U13) as they seem less able successfully cope T, using older due their higher ability interact environmental information.