Agility development in youth soccer: the efficacy of fixed-role small-sided games
PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of Fixed-Role Small-Sided Games (FRSSGs) on youth soccer players' agility and its components: reaction time, linear speed, and change-of-direction speed (CODS).MethodsThirty-one male U-12 regional soccer players were randomly assigned to the FRSSG...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1593906/full |
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| author | Ioan Neag Ion Mihaila Ion Mihaila Leonard Julien Fleancu Maura Stancu Vladimir Potop Vladimir Potop Vladimir Potop Dumitru Barbu Laurian – Ioan Păun Ilie Mihai Ilie Mihai |
| author_facet | Ioan Neag Ion Mihaila Ion Mihaila Leonard Julien Fleancu Maura Stancu Vladimir Potop Vladimir Potop Vladimir Potop Dumitru Barbu Laurian – Ioan Păun Ilie Mihai Ilie Mihai |
| author_sort | Ioan Neag |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of Fixed-Role Small-Sided Games (FRSSGs) on youth soccer players' agility and its components: reaction time, linear speed, and change-of-direction speed (CODS).MethodsThirty-one male U-12 regional soccer players were randomly assigned to the FRSSG group (n = 16; age: 10.63 ± 0.48 years) or the control group (CON) (n = 15; age: 10.89 ± 0.31 years). The intervention program lasted 18 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention tests assessed reaction time, linear sprint speed (10 m and 20 m), CODS (505 and zig-zag tests with/without the ball), and agility (Y-shaped with/without the ball and multiple-signal tests). Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and effect sizes (Cohen's d).ResultsSignificant baseline differences were observed between groups in 10-meter linear speed, and zigzag test performance (p < .05). Within-group improvements were observed for the FRSSG group in the 505 Test (−6.85%, p < .001, d = 1.375), Zigzag Test (−10.77%, p < .001, d = 2.148), CODS Zigzag Ball Test (−9.42%, p < .001, d = 1.434), Y-shape Ball Test (−9.49%, p < 0.001, d = 2.195), and Agility Multi-signal Test (−8.42%, p = .002, d = 0.821). Significant between-group differences favoring FRSSG were found for the 505 Test (p = 0.005, η2 = 0.038), Zigzag Test (p < .001, η2 = 0.435), CODS Zigzag Ball Test (p = 0.004, η2 = 0.04), and Y-shape Ball Test (p = 0.006, η2 = 0.027).ConclusionFRSSGs have been shown to effectively enhance agility and change of direction speed, both with and without the ball, in youth soccer players. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c85b971e733848bb88a75eb1e1dca94b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-c85b971e733848bb88a75eb1e1dca94b2025-08-20T02:18:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-04-01710.3389/fspor.2025.15939061593906Agility development in youth soccer: the efficacy of fixed-role small-sided gamesIoan Neag0Ion Mihaila1Ion Mihaila2Leonard Julien Fleancu3Maura Stancu4Vladimir Potop5Vladimir Potop6Vladimir Potop7Dumitru Barbu8Laurian – Ioan Păun9Ilie Mihai10Ilie Mihai11Doctoral School of Sports Science and Physical Education, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, University Center Pitești, Pitești, RomaniaDoctoral School of Sports Science and Physical Education, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, University Center Pitești, Pitești, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, University Center Pitești, Pitești, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, University Center Pitești, Pitești, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, University Center Pitești, Pitești, RomaniaDoctoral School of Sports Science and Physical Education, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, University Center Pitești, Pitești, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, University Center Pitești, Pitești, RomaniaInstitute of Physical Education and Sport, Moldova State University, Chisinau, MoldovaDepartment of Theory and Methodology of Motor Activities, University of Craiova, Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Motric Performance, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, RomaniaDoctoral School of Sports Science and Physical Education, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, University Center Pitești, Pitești, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, University Center Pitești, Pitești, RomaniaPurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of Fixed-Role Small-Sided Games (FRSSGs) on youth soccer players' agility and its components: reaction time, linear speed, and change-of-direction speed (CODS).MethodsThirty-one male U-12 regional soccer players were randomly assigned to the FRSSG group (n = 16; age: 10.63 ± 0.48 years) or the control group (CON) (n = 15; age: 10.89 ± 0.31 years). The intervention program lasted 18 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention tests assessed reaction time, linear sprint speed (10 m and 20 m), CODS (505 and zig-zag tests with/without the ball), and agility (Y-shaped with/without the ball and multiple-signal tests). Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and effect sizes (Cohen's d).ResultsSignificant baseline differences were observed between groups in 10-meter linear speed, and zigzag test performance (p < .05). Within-group improvements were observed for the FRSSG group in the 505 Test (−6.85%, p < .001, d = 1.375), Zigzag Test (−10.77%, p < .001, d = 2.148), CODS Zigzag Ball Test (−9.42%, p < .001, d = 1.434), Y-shape Ball Test (−9.49%, p < 0.001, d = 2.195), and Agility Multi-signal Test (−8.42%, p = .002, d = 0.821). Significant between-group differences favoring FRSSG were found for the 505 Test (p = 0.005, η2 = 0.038), Zigzag Test (p < .001, η2 = 0.435), CODS Zigzag Ball Test (p = 0.004, η2 = 0.04), and Y-shape Ball Test (p = 0.006, η2 = 0.027).ConclusionFRSSGs have been shown to effectively enhance agility and change of direction speed, both with and without the ball, in youth soccer players.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1593906/fullsoccertraining methodsyouth soccer playerperformanceyouth development |
| spellingShingle | Ioan Neag Ion Mihaila Ion Mihaila Leonard Julien Fleancu Maura Stancu Vladimir Potop Vladimir Potop Vladimir Potop Dumitru Barbu Laurian – Ioan Păun Ilie Mihai Ilie Mihai Agility development in youth soccer: the efficacy of fixed-role small-sided games Frontiers in Sports and Active Living soccer training methods youth soccer player performance youth development |
| title | Agility development in youth soccer: the efficacy of fixed-role small-sided games |
| title_full | Agility development in youth soccer: the efficacy of fixed-role small-sided games |
| title_fullStr | Agility development in youth soccer: the efficacy of fixed-role small-sided games |
| title_full_unstemmed | Agility development in youth soccer: the efficacy of fixed-role small-sided games |
| title_short | Agility development in youth soccer: the efficacy of fixed-role small-sided games |
| title_sort | agility development in youth soccer the efficacy of fixed role small sided games |
| topic | soccer training methods youth soccer player performance youth development |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1593906/full |
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