Tactical awareness, decision making and skill in youth soccer players (under-14 years)

The purpose of this study is to assess the technical-tactical knowledge of high performance soccer players. The sport performance of sixteen 14-year-olds who play for the Spanish soccer club Albacete Balompie was analysed in a modified game as "seven-a-side match" using video assessment (Game Performance Evaluation Tool, GPET), this tool evaluates decision making and execution: control, dribbling, passing, shooting, getting free, set, marking, clearance, tackling, locking, trapping/interception, and defence help/double teaming. The players were interviewed twice to ascertain their basic knowledge. In the first interview they were asked about their knowledge of invasion games, taking soccer as a reference. In the second interview their procedural knowledge was analysed using video sequences of real game play from a "seven-a-side match". The results revealed that players acquired game performance (decision-making and execution) before specific game knowledge. They also performed better in response selection than response execution, and showed a greater command of offensive play and individual aspects of the game, both in terms of knowledge and game situations.