The Effects of Small-Sided Games and Behavioral Interventions on the Physical and Motivational Outcomes of Youth Soccer Players

Rareș-Mihai Pop, Vlad Teodor Grosu, Emilia Florina Grosu, Alexandru Zadic, Liliana Mâță () and Tatiana Dobrescu ()
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Rareș-Mihai Pop: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Vlad Teodor Grosu: Faculty of Mechatronics, Technical University, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Emilia Florina Grosu: Doctoral School of Physical Education and Sport, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Alexandru Zadic: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Liliana Mâță: Faculty of Science, “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, 600115 Bacău, Romania
Tatiana Dobrescu: Faculty of Movement, Sports, and Health Sciences, “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, 600115 Bacău, Romania

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: The objective of this study was to test the effects of two types of intervention, one based on small-sided games (SSGs), and the other one that had, in addition, a behavioral component consisting of goal setting, public posting, and positive reinforcement. The participants were 16 male soccer players aged 12–14 years old who participated in a couple of training sessions per week between August and November 2021. We used Playr Catapult GPS devices to assess the effect of the intervention on the total distance covered and total sprint distance in the task of playing SSGs. We used Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 to test the effect of the intervention on players’ aerobic capacity and the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire to investigate levels of motivational climate. Multiple two-way mixed ANOVAs were conducted and the results indicated that our intervention had a positive effect on the total distance and total sprint distance covered during SSGs. For aerobic capacity, even if the results were not significant, they indicate a high effect size. The effect of the intervention on task-oriented motivational climate and ego-oriented motivational climate was not significant. Discussions focus on the application of the intervention in team training settings.

Keywords: behavior modification; effort; motivation; SSGs; team sports (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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