What Youth Soccer Match Data Tells Us About Gender, Position, and Tactics | STRIKES™ Applied Sport Science:

by | Dec 30, 2025 | S.T.R.I.K.E.S | 1 comment

STRIKES™ Applied Sport Science:

What Youth Soccer Match Data Tells Us About Gender, Position, and Tactics

By Dr. Joshua Villalobos, PhD
Founder, Synergy Athletic Solutions

As youth soccer continues to professionalize, governing bodies and clubs are increasingly asked to justify how players are trained, why certain tactical decisions are made, and whether development environments truly reflect the demands of the game.

At Synergy Athletic Solutions, our mission is to bridge sport science with real-world coaching systems. One way we do this is through STRIKES™, our methodology for evaluating readiness, training, and performance within youth soccer systems.

This article summarizes findings from our original research examining in-game activity profiles of U13 soccer players by gender, playing position, and team tactical formation, and translates them into applied coaching insight.

Study design showing youth soccer players grouped by gender, tactical position, and team formation for match activity analysis

Study design illustrating how gender, position, and team tactical formation were examined in U13 club-level soccer players.

Why this matters

Before debating tactics or training models, governing bodies and Directors of Coaching must understand what was measured and under what conditions.

Study Purpose: Moving Beyond Assumptions

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of:

  • Gender

  • Tactical playing position (Forward, Midfielder, Defender)

  • Team tactical formation (4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1)

on in-match physical activity profiles of youth soccer players.

Participants

  • 20 U13 club-level players

    • 10 boys

    • 10 girls

Measurements

Using cleat-embedded Adidas® miCoach accelerometers, we quantified:

  • Total distance covered

  • Distance at walking, jogging, running, high-tempo, and sprinting intensities

  • Total number of sprints

These methods allowed us to objectively assess how youth players actually move during competition, not just how they train.

Key Findings: What the Data Showed

Key findings showing youth soccer match activity differs by gender and playing position but not tactical formation

Youth soccer match activity profiles vary by gender and playing position, but not by team tactical formation.

Differences in match activity for youth soccer forwards, midfielders, and defenders based on movement intensity

1. Playing Position Matters

Consistent with adult elite soccer literature, playing position significantly influenced match activity:

  • Midfielders covered the greatest total distance

  • Forwards performed the most high-tempo running and sprinting

  • Defenders spent a greater proportion of distance walking

These findings indicate that positional physical demands are already present at the youth level

2. Gender Differences Exist in Match Demands

Comparison of male and female youth soccer players showing differences in total distance and high-tempo match activity

Comparison of distance distribution across movement intensities between male and female U13 players.

Key observations:

  • Boys covered greater total distance and more distance at jogging intensity

  • Girls covered a greater percentage of total distance at high-tempo intensity

These findings reinforce that training prescriptions should not be gender-neutral by default, especially during adolescence.

3. Tactical Formation Did Not Change Physical Output

Despite rotating teams through three common formations:

  • 4-4-2

  • 4-3-3

  • 4-5-1

No significant differences were observed in match activity related to formation.

This does not mean tactics are irrelevant. Instead, it suggests that:

  • At younger ages

  • With limited tactical experience

  • And simplified positional roles

Physical output is driven more by position and player capacity than by formation alone

From Research to STRIKES™: A Systems Perspective

At Synergy, we interpret performance through a systems lens:

Performance = Readiness × Training

This study reinforces why systems—not isolated tactical choices—drive development.

STRIKES™ helps clubs evaluate:

  • Whether players are physically prepared for positional demands

  • Whether training environments reflect match realities

  • Whether tactical decisions align with player readiness

Coaching considerations slide connecting youth soccer match activity research to player development and training design

 

Applied coaching considerations derived from youth match-activity research.

Applied Coaching Takeaways (STRIKES™ in Action)

For Coaches and Directors of Coaching

  1. Match physical preparation to playing position
    Youth players adapt physiologically to the demands they are exposed to.

  2. Integrate position-specific training within team sessions
    Conditioning should mirror competitive movement patterns.

  3. Be patient with positional transitions
    Changing positions alters physical demands; adaptation takes time.

  4. Do not rely on formation alone to drive physical development
    Systems and training quality matter more than shape.

These insights align directly with STRIKES™ principles of Structure, Training Environment, and Individualization

Why This Matters for Governing Bodies

For soccer federations and leagues, this research highlights the importance of:

  • Evidence-based coach education

  • Position-specific development guidelines

  • Objective performance monitoring at youth levels

Early investment in systems-driven development improves long-term player outcomes.

Why This Matters for Parents

For parents navigating youth soccer pathways:

  • Physical workload varies by position and gender

  • Development is shaped by environment, not just talent

  • Objective data protects against premature labeling

Healthy systems create more opportunity, not less.

Final Thought: Systems Before Strategy

While tactics remain essential to the modern game, this study suggests that youth development must prioritize readiness and training quality before tactical complexity.

STRIKES™ provides a framework to do exactly that—grounded in research, applied in practice, and scalable across clubs.

Learn More

📺 Watch the full STRIKES™ Applied Sport Science Channel:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRZkYLDVE6-SVs67jzJN7Yg

📖 Read the original research:
👉Youth-Soccer-Match-Demands-Gender-Position.pdf

⚽ Partner with Synergy Athletic Solutions:
👉 https://synergyathleticsolutions.com/