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This study aimed to analyse technical action variations among 5, 7, 9, and 11-a-side game formats and investigate the effects of age groups (U8, U10, U12, and U14) on these actions. A total of 197 soccer players aged between 6.94 ± 0.7 and 13.46 ± 0.5 years participated, with three matches conducted weekly, totalling 48 matches. Two-way ANOVA was employed to analyse age group and game format as independent factors. The study revealed the influence of age group on players' technical actions variability: front pass success p < .001; side pass success p < .001; back pass success p < .001; short pass success p < .001; reception success p < .001; goal p < .002; unsuccessful short pass p < .001; unsuccessful long pass p < .001; ball contacts p < .001. Additionally, the study highlighted the impact of game format on success rates: front pass success p < .001; side pass success p < .001; back pass success p < .001; short pass success p < .001; reception success p < .001; goal p < .036; shot on target p < .001; ball contacts p < .001; interception p < .001. These findings enhance understanding of how game format and age group affect technical performance in youth soccer, emphasizing the need for interventions that optimize players’ development trajectories.
Brito et al. (Wed,) studied this question.