The importance of positional placement: Investigating the influence of different infield positions of floater players in small-sided soccer games

Small-Sided Games are a widely used and well-researched training method in soccer, valued for their flexibility in adapting to various training objectives through the modification of a numerous variables. However, certain areas still require further investigation. This study examined whether players’ infield positions affect performance when playing as floaters in different zones. 4 min Small-Sided Games were conducted as 6 vs. 6 matches with 2 floater players and goalkeepers, involving floaters as central and wide players in an outer zones and an inner zone condition. The analysis focused on match metrics (e.g., outcome of possession phases), running data across different speed zones, technical (e.g., number of ball possession actions) and tactical performance indicator (e.g., effective playing space or space control). Results indicate that central players contributed to a better average outcome per ball possession phase compared to wide players, reflected by their lower average scores (outer zones: 2.53 ± 1.18 vs. 3.33 ± 0.72, inner zone: 2.58 ± 1.12 vs. 2.81 ± 1.17, mean ± standard deviation). Furthermore, the zone played in, but not the player position, showed significant differences in terms of high-speed running (p < .01) and sprinting behavior (p < .05). Because data from each zone proved to be representative of regular matches, the findings suggest the following implications: For return-to-play, athletes can start in the central zone with fewer high-intensity runs; position-specific training should focus on usual roles, while new stimuli can be introduced by assigning players to unfamiliar positions.