Effects of Verbal Interventions During Small-Sided Games on The Tactical Performance of Young Soccer Players

This study aimed to analyze the effects of verbal interventions performed by the coach on the tactical performance of young soccer players. Twenty-four under-13 players and a coach with more than 10 years of experience participated in this study. Players were submitted to two conditions: experimental (small-sided games with verbal intervention) and control (small-sided games without verbal intervention). The players, in both conditions, played small-sided games in the format Goalkeeper+3 vs. 3+Goalkeeper, lasting 4 minutes. Tactical performance was analyzed using the Football Tactical Assessment System (FUT-SAT), considering the 10 fundamental tactical principles. The categorization of verbal interventions performed by the coach was performed through content analysis. The results show that the verbal interventions used (~90% instructive) positively influenced the defensive tactical performance, however, they had a negative impact on the offensive tactical performance. It is concluded that the coach’s verbal interventions can be important pedagogical tools to develop the tactical performance of young players. However, the predominance of direct instructions can compromise the offensive tactical performance during small-sided games in young players. Coaches, therefore, should judiciously select how and when to verbally instruct their players, to promote a more effective learning environment.