Relationships between Players' Physical Performance and Small-Sided Game External Responses in a Youth Soccer Training Context

The aim of this study was twofold: 1) To compare players' physical performance and small-sided game (SSG) external responses among three young soccer age categories (i.e., under 14 (U14), under 16 (U16), and under 18 (U18)); and 2) to examine their relationships among physical performance and SSG external responses in each age category. Players' physical performance was evaluated via several tests and external responses were collected during a four vs. four plus goalkeepers SSG. Main results showed that while older players presented better linear straight sprinting tests (LSSTs) (U18 and U16 vs. U14, p < 0.01), repeated sprint ability (RSA) (U18 vs. U16 and U14 p < 0.01), and change of direction ability (CODA) (U18 and U16 vs. U14, p < 0.01, ES = 2.34-2.72) performances, these differences were not consistent with their SSG external responses (U16 vs. U14, p < 0.01; U18 vs. U16, p < 0.01). Conversely, higher number of associations between players' physical performance and SSG external responses were found in younger players in comparison to the older ones. These results suggest that while greater physical performance in younger players (i.e., U14) could allow them to exhibit higher external responses, greater physical performance did not influence older players' (i.e., U18) SSG external responses.