Assessing the Efficiency of Reduced Positional Games in Soccer: A Multivariate Analysis of Technical and Tactical Indicators According to Different Playing Systems

Background. Reduced positional games (RPG) are considered as a recognized training method for developing the physical, technical and tactical qualities of young footballers. They simulate real-life match situations, encouraging frequent interaction with the ball and rapid tactical decisions. Adapted to the specific needs of players according to their position, RPG contribute to improving physical fitness, game intelligence and team cohesion. Objectives. The study aimed to assess the impact of RPG on players’ technical and tactical performance, comparing them to standard training. It seeks to determine how RPG optimize key indicators such as possession, passing, shooting, goals scored and error reduction, while exploring their influence on tactical synchronization and team cohesion. Materials and methods. The study involved 30 matches between five experimental teams and five control teams. The protocol adopted a mixed factorial design, incorporating both between-subjects and within-subjects factors. The between-subjects factor “Group” comprises two levels (experimental teams and control teams), while the within-subjects factors “Match” (three successive matches) and “Playing system” (two tactical configurations: 1-3-2-1 system and 1-2-3-1 system) make it possible to examine variations in performance indicators as a function of the playing context. Results. The results of this study showed that teams trained with RPG significantly improved their performance. Ball possession increased by 24%, completed passes by 106%, and shots by 50%. Furthermore, it was noted an increase of 43% in goals scored, while passes lost and goals conceded decrease by 22.6% and 29% respectively. These benefits are independent of the game system used, and JRP also enhances communication and synchronization between players. Conclusions. RPG are an effective training tool for improving players’ technical and tactical performance. Applying this approach increases possession, passing, shooting and goals scored, while reducing errors and goals conceded. These findings offer promising prospects for coaches, bringing training methods into line with the demands of modern soccer and fostering players’ individual and collective development. Keywords: reduced positional games, system of play, training, technical, tactical, soccer.