This study compared the influence of changing floaters’ rules on player positioning in small-sided games (SSG) played by different age groups. A total of 48 youth soccer players (24 U-13 and 24 U-14) took part in the study, playing three different SSGs: regular 3vs3, 1-floater condition (one floater playing for both teams), and 2-floater condition (one floater per team, with alternate participation). Positional data were collected by 5 Hz GPS devices, generating individual (spatial exploration index) and collective (team’s length, width, length per width ratio, and stretching index) positional variables. The results revealed that the 2-floater format significantly reduced the length (p = 0.001), and both formats with floaters increased the width (p < 0.001). Also, the 1-floater format presented the lowest stretching index (p < 0.001). Concerning age-group differences, older players presented higher values of length (p < 0.001), length per width ratio (p < 0.001), and spatial exploration index (p < 0.001) than their younger counterparts. The 2-floater SSG format is a more facilitated and simplified version of numerically unbalanced SSGs, which might be considered by coaches when designing tasks adjusted to the level of the athletes.

这项研究比较了在不同年龄组玩的小型游戏（SSG）中，更改浮动规则对球员位置的影响。共有48名青年足球运动员（24名U-13和24名U-14）参加了这项研究，他们玩了三种不同的SSG：常规3vs3、1杆情况（两支球队都用一只漂浮物）和2杆情况（每支团队一名漂流者，并有其他参与）位置数据由5 Hz GPS设备收集，生成单个（空间探索指数）和集合（团队的长度，宽度，长度/宽度比和拉伸指数）位置变量。结果表明，2-漂浮形式显着减小了长度（p = 0.001），两种带浮子的形式都增加了宽度（p <0.001）。同样，1泡沫形式的拉伸指数最低（p <0.001）。关于年龄组差异，年龄较大的运动员比年龄较小的运动员具有更高的身高（p <0.001），每宽度长度的长度比（p <0.001）和空间探索指数（p <0.001）值。2坐式SSG格式是数字不平衡SSG的更方便和简化的版本，教练在设计适合运动员水平的任务时可以考虑使用。