How football team composition constrains emergent individual and collective tactical behaviours: Effects of player roles in creating different landscapes for shared affordances in small-sided and conditioned games

The aim of the present study was to examine how team composition players with different roles constrains individual and collective tactical behaviours, ball possession effectiveness, during competitive 3 vs small-sided conditioned games (SSCGs) in youth soccer players. Fifteen male (under 15 yrs, mean age 13.2 ± 1.03 years, years practice: 4.2 1.10 years) from same club participated this study. For analysis purposes, on advice coaching staff, participants were categorised according their main performance role, resulting sub-samples 5 defenders (centre-backs = 2 full- backs 3), 7 midfielders (central wide 4) attackers (forwards). In order assess participant a notational system created four categories: i) ii) players’ offensive actions, iii) defensive iv), effectiveness. Analysis actions revealed that composed only higher frequency diagonal vertical passes relation attackers’ team. more dribbles teams midfielders. effectiveness achieved values shots goal compared These findings exemplified playing role emergence behaviours SSCGs.