Between-format differences and variability of technical actions during small-sided soccer games played by young players

Purpose. This study purposes were: (i) to analyse variations of individual frequencies of technical actions between two small-sided game (SSG) formats (3 3 and 6 6) in under-8 soccer players; (ii) to test the variability of technical actions executed by very young players during 3 3 and 6 6 SSG formats. Methods. Overall, 12 young male football players (age: 7.58 0.5 years; practice: 2.5 0.5 years) from the same Portuguese team voluntarily participated in the study. both 3 3 and 6 6 formats were played twice, interspaced by one week, to test the variability of technical actions. Codification of actions involved conquered balls (Cb), received balls (Rb), lost balls (Lb), attacking balls (Ab), neutral balls (Nb), not-succeeded shots (NSS), and succeeded shots (SS).