Agility Development in Youth Soccer: The Efficacy of Fixed-Role Small-Sided Games

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Fixed-Role Small-Sided Games (FRSSGs) on youth soccer players' agility and its components: reaction time, linear speed, and change-of-direction speed (CODS). Methods: Thirty-one male U-12 regional soccer players were randomly assigned to the FRSSG group (n = 16; age: 10.63 ± 0.48 years) or the control group (CON) (n = 15; age: 10.89 ± 0.31 years). The intervention program lasted 18 weeks. Pre-and post-intervention tests assessed reaction time, linear sprint speed (10 m and 20 m), CODS (505 and zig-zag tests with/without the ball), and agility (Y-shaped with/without the ball and multiple-signal tests). Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and effect sizes (Cohen's d). Results: Significant baseline differences were observed between groups in 10-meter linear speed, and zigzag test performance (p < 0.05). Within-group improvements were observed for the FRSSG group in the 505 Test (-6.85%, p <0.001, d =1.3751.958), Zigzag Test (-10.77%, p <0.001, d =2.1484), CODS Zigzag Ball Test (-9.42%, p <0.001, d =1.86434), Y-shape Ball Test (-9.49%, p <0.001, d =2.195), and Agility Multi-signal Test (-8.42%, p =0.0023, d =0.82176). Significant between-group differences favoring FRSSG were found for the 505 Test (p =0.005, η² =0.038), Zigzag Test (p <0.001, η² = 0.435), CODS Zigzag Ball Test (p =0.004, η² =0.04), and Y-shape Ball Test (p =0.006, η² =0.027). Conclusion: FRSSGs have been shown to effectively enhance agility and change of direction speed, both with and without the ball, in youth soccer players