Research article - (2018)17, 379 - 391
Effects of Spatiotemporal Constraints and Age on the Interactions of Soccer Players when Competing for Ball Possession
Marcos R.T.P. Menuchi1,2,, Antônio R.P. Moro2, Paulo E. Ambrósio1, César A.B. Pariente1, Duarte Araújo3
1Santa Cruz State University, Ilhéus, Brazil
2Santa Catarina Federal University, Florianópolis, Brazil
3CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal

Marcos R.T.P. Menuchi
✉ State University of Santa Cruz, Department of Health Sciences, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, 45662-900, Ilhéus-BA, Brazil
Email: mrtpmenuchi@uesc.br
Received: 05-01-2018 -- Accepted: 25-05-2018
Published (online): 14-08-2018

ABSTRACT

Although there are several descriptions of interpersonal coordination in soccer teams, little is known about how such coordination is influenced by space and time constraints. In this study, we analyzed variations in interpersonal coordination under different marking intensities and across different age groups. Marking intensity was manipulated by changing the players’ game space and time of ball possession in a conditioned soccer game known as rondo. Five participants in each age category (U13, U15, U17, and U20) performed rondo tasks in four experimental conditions, in a total of 134 trials. The dependent variables considered were pass performance and eco-physical variables capturing the player-environment coupling, such as coupling of the marking between players. Our results demonstrate that in soccer: (1) markers and passers are tightly coupled; (2) the marker-passer coupling emerges from a flexible and adaptive exchange of passes; (3) the marker-passer coupling is stronger in markings of higher intensity and older age groups. Thus, the interactions between soccer players in marking can be analyzed as an emerging and self-organized process in the context of group performance.

Key words: Ecological dynamics, marking coupling, interpersonal coordination, soccer

Key Points
  • Marking and passers players are tightly coupled in game.
  • The marking coupling emerges from a flexible and adaptive exchange of passes.
  • The marking coupling is strengthened according to the marking intensity and to the category of football formation.








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