Influence of Relative Age Effects and Quality of Tactical Behaviour on Youth Performance

Based on a really interesting concept, the present study examines the associations between tactical performance indexes with quality of tactical behaviours and birth-date quarters of youth Soccer players.

The sample comprised a total of 534 youth players classified into four seasons of 3 months (January-March; April-June; July-September; October-December).

A system of tactical assessment in Soccer (FUT-SAT) was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were applied.

The tactical performance indexes were divided into terciles (low, moderate and high) in order to evaluate the influences of relative age effects and the quality of tactical behaviours.

The quality in the “penetration” and “offensive coverage” principles was positively related to moderate performance indexes.

Practical Application

Players with the highest quality in the “depth mobility” and “unity defensive” principles were more likely to present higher performance indexes.

Regarding the defensive phase, those with better qualities in the “delay”, “concentration” and “defensive unity” principles were more likely to have moderate performance index.

Additionally, better quality in the “defensive coverage” and “balance” principles corresponded to a higher likelihood of having a superior performance index.

Relative age effects were observed only in high defensive performance index.

The present results revealed a positive correlation between tactical performance indexes and quality of tactical behaviours.

Share this article:

Certificate in Youth Soccer Athletic Development (LTAD)

The Certificate in Youth Athletic Development in Soccer (LTAD) provides the latest training methods, research findings and detailed insights to help coaches prepare, train and

Real Madrid players celebrate lifting the trophy after winning the UEFA

Performance Analysis

Recovery Training in Football – To do or not to do?

Congested fixture schedules and high training loads are always challenging and at the elite level of the game seen as normal practice.

Raphael Villatore September 27, 2022

Vest with GPS system on the back of the footballer

Fitness Training

Performance Tracking in Professional Football

Article written by Jose Maria Oliva-Lozano Electronic Performance & Tracking Systems Sporting competition in this modern era, at the very elite level is rapidly moving

ISSPF September 20, 2022

Fitness Training

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Regular training and competition over the course of a season in European professional soccer is generally characterized by a pre-competition preparation period of five to

Hassane Zouhal September 20, 2022