Number of players manipulation effect on space and concentration principles of the game representativeness during football small-sided and conditioned games

When planning training programs, coaches must secure that modified game conditions through which they intend to enhance the acquisition of tactical skills and decision-making represent real contexts of regular matches and promote similar performance behaviours. In this sense, this study aimed to analyse the effect of number of players manipulation on intra-teams’ coordination during offensive and defensive specific principles (space and concentration, respectively) application in Football small-sided and conditioned games. The intra-team coordination was measured through two dispersion variables-teams’ width and length-during offensive and defensive sequences of small-sided and conditioned games with number of players’ manipulation (3v3, 4v4 and 5v5). The playing phase (offensive or defensive) had a significant effect on width (F (1, 54) = 31.17, p < 0.01, η² = 0:37) and length (F (1, 54) = 5.09, p = 0.03, η² = 0.09). During offensive phase, teams’ width and length were significantly higher than during the defensive phase. The number of players also had a significant effect on teams’ width (F (2, 54) = 22.25, p < 0.01, η² = 0.45) and length (F (2, 54) = 24.18, p < 0.01, η² = 0.47). Were found differences between all game conditions for width. The length was significantly lower on 3v3 compared to 4v4 (p <0.01), and 5v5 (p<0.01). Given the constraints, teams had a tendency to maintain specific principles of the game (space and concentration) during attacking and defending. In addition, the increase of players on same space of play induce higher dispersion values both on attack as on defence.