Effects of Altering the Number of Players and the Dimensions of the Playing Area on the Possession Characteristics in Youth Australian Football

Abstract This research compared the effects of altering the number of players and the dimensions of the playing area on the possession characteristics in youth (under-14) Australian football. A modified ‘small sided game’ (SSG) 12-a-side version was compared to the full field ‘adult’ 18-a-side game. Games were video recorded and the possession characteristics later coded using the Dartfish Easy Tag program. It was found that the additional players in the 18-a-side version led on average to more tagged events (technical actions) per 18 minute period of play; however, there was a decrease in the number of tagged events per player. It was also observed that there were more scoring actions in the SSG 12-a-side game play than in the 18-a-side. The SSG 12-a-side version provided more technical actions per player in each play period and so it is suggested that it constructs a better educational experience, and therefore game development, than the 18-a-side game recommended for Australian football from under-11.