The use of small-sided games to assess skill proficiency in youth soccer players

This study adopted an exploratory approach to investigate the use of small-sided games as a talent identification tool to determine youth soccer players’ skill proficiency. A total of 73 male youth soccer players (age = 13.3 ± 1.2 yr) were subdivided into two groups in accordance with their playing level (high-level: n = 36, low-level: n = 37). Within their levels, players completed 4 vs. 4 small-sided games on a 30 × 20 m playing surface under two conditions (condition 1: 5 × 3 minutes, condition 2: 3 × 5 minutes). Attempted and completed skill involvements were analysed using retrospective video analysis. Skill proficiency was determined as the total completed involvements relative to amount attempted. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance identified that high-level players displayed a significantly greater number of attempted and completed passes, touches, and total skill involvements compared with low-level players. Only the number of attempted passes and total involvements differed between conditions for high-level players. High-level players’ total skill proficiency was significantly greater than their lower level counterparts. This study supports the use of small-sided games as a tool to assess soccer-specific skill proficiency, which coaches and sporting practitioners can apply in a talent identification setting.