What is it about?
This study applied exploratory data analysis (EDA) to understand how rotating roles — offensive (OF), defensive (DF), and wildcard (W) — in small-sided games (SSGs) impact physical load (GPS data), technical performance, and perceived exertion (RPE) in U16 and U19 elite youth soccer players. By combining normalized GPS metrics, video-coded technical actions, and RPE, the study revealed clear patterns: defensive roles produced the highest physical and mental demands, while technical accuracy differed by age group. The EDA approach provided rich visualizations and correlations that go beyond traditional analysis.
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Why is it important?
Because EDA allows coaches and sports scientists to uncover hidden patterns in training data, it enables the design of more adaptable, precise, and versatile training sessions. This study demonstrates that coaches can tailor drills not just by format or pitch size, but also by strategically rotating roles to manage load and skill development. It also highlights the value of combining subjective measures like RPE with objective GPS data, paving the way for data-driven, individualized training plans in youth soccer.
Perspectives
What excites me most about this study is how it demonstrates that sports science doesn’t have to be locked into rigid, traditional analyses. By using exploratory data analysis (EDA), the authors moved beyond just collecting GPS numbers or RPE scores—they actually created a story from the data. The heatmaps and correlations don’t just confirm hypotheses; they spark new questions, inviting coaches and researchers to think differently about how we structure training. To me, this research shows the huge untapped potential of EDA in sport: the ability to visualize hidden patterns, adapt drills dynamically, and personalize load in ways that weren’t imaginable with one-size-fits-all training plans. It’s a reminder that when we bring flexible, data-driven thinking into football, we don’t just train players better—we redesign the entire training experience.
PhD Jaime B. Matas-Bustos
Universidad de Granada
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: An Exploratory Data Analysis on the Influence of Role Rotation in a Small-Sided Game on Young Soccer Players, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, June 2021, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136773.
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